Deemed as one of the 'Shakti Peethas' or religious sites, the temple of Naina Devi is one of the most important places of worship in Nainital. The temple is situated on top of the Naina hillock and attracts thousands of devotees every year. Legend has it that Sati (or Parvati), the daughter of Prajapati Daksha became Lord Shiva's consort. Once when she was visiting her father, he insulted Lord Shiva. Unable to accept any desecration of her Lord, Sati killed herself. Upon hearing of his wife's death, Shiva went mad with rage and grief. Hoisting Sati's body across his shoulders, he began to pace the three worlds. Such was his wrath that all the other Gods trembled and everybody refused to intervene. Finally they appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu struck Sati's body with a volley of arrows thus severing them into tiny pieces. The places where the pieces fell and touched the ground were termed as the sacred Shakti Peeths. It is believed that Sati's eyes fell at the same spot where this temple is built. Thus the name Naina Devi. Naina Devi's temple can be reached by climbing to the top of the Naina hill. The gate to the temple is marked by a gigantic Peepal tree to the left. On the right are idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesh. Inside the temple are three deities. Mata Kali Devi, Maa Naina Devi and Lord Ganesh. | |
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Hanuman Garhi Temple
Hanuman Garhi, a famous Hindu temple of Lord Hanuman, is situated to the south of Tallital, approximately 3.5 km away from the Nainital bus stop. The temple is perched at an altitude of 6,401 feet from the sea level. It was built by Neem Karoli Baba, a famous local saint, around 1950. The presiding deity of Hanuman Garhi is Hanuman, a devotee of Lord Rama, who is depicted in the image as opening his chest and revealing the images of Lord Ram and Sita Mata in his heart.
Garjia Devi Temple
14 kms. from Ramnagar,on the way to Ranikhet, is a huge rock in the midst of river Kosi. This place has been named Garjia Devi after the deity. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees from different parts of the state. A large fair is held here on kartik Poornima. Ramnagar is the last bus terminus, from where Garjia Devi Temple is 14 kms.
Sita Bani Temple
Seeta Bani Temple is dedicated to Devi Sita, consort of Lord Rama. It is believed that she entered into the lap of Mother Earth here. Every year, a fair is held here during Ramanavami. It is located at a distance of 20 km from Ramnagar.
Kainchi Temple
Kainchi is a beautiful secluded mountain ashram located in the Kumoan Hills in Uttarakhand. The first temple was inaugurated in June 1964. It is approximately 17 kms from Nainital. Many hundreds of people visit the temples here every day, in season. Each year, during the June 15th bhandara, reportedly, more than one lakh (100,000) people are fed.
Ghorakhal Temple
Ghorakhal is a small place, perched at an altitude of 2000 meters above the sea level. It falls under Nainital district of Uttarakhand, approximately 36 km from Kathgodam Station and 4 km from Bhowali. 'Ghorakhal ' literally means ‘a pond for water to horses’. It is a picturesque site, with natural serenity and placidity. Ghorakhal is a must visit for all those who come to Nainital and Bhowali. It is the perfect destination for those who love to have a silent, serene and peaceful holiday, away from glitz-blitz of cities.
Church
Established in the ancient period of 1844, St John’s Church in the Wilderness is located on the northern end of Nainital, also referred to as Mallital.The story as per the pages of history dates back to the year 1844 when the Bishop of Calcutta, Daniel Wilson, had come on a visit to lay the foundation of the church. Since he fell ill, he had to rest in an unfinished house near the forest. Thus the church was named as St. John in the Wilderness Church. This church is a memorial for the victims of the 1880 landslide; the names of the victims are inscribed on a brass plaque.
