India has been known for its mysticism and spirituality in all over the world. Our country has always enjoyed the rich tradition of spirituality right from the history. From Kedarnath Temple in the north to Kamakhya Devi Temple in the east, there are many such places of mysticism in India which are beyond normal. Travelling to such a place of spiritual importance is always an overwhelming experience for many and hence, Kasar Devi in Uttrakhand is one such place which I have always wanted to visit. Here at Kasar Devi, one can experience both spirituality and solitude in abundance.
About The place - Kasar Devi Temple
Kasar Devi temple is situated in a small village known as 'Kasar' in the Almora district of Uttrakhand. It is located on the Bageshwar Highway of Almora district and can be easily reached by private vehicle using Google maps.
RELIGIOUS NOTE: The structure of the temple is believed to have its history dated from 2nd century. Here, the Hindu Goddess, Maa Durga revealed herself in the form of 'Maa Katyayani' (one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga) to kill the two devils known as 'Simbha' and 'Nisumbha'. (This is also the historical significance of the place)
But, Kasar Devi is also well known for its spiritual magnetic fields. Even the scientists from NASA have proven that this place comes under 'Van Allen Belt' as the place has an enormous geo-magnetic field.
SCIENTIFIC NOTE: The American Scientist, Van Allen Belt was the person to find that Earth is surrounded by rings which are filled with high energy protons. The energy of the belt can be affected by the magnetic storms coming from the sun. There are only three places in the world which come under the influence of Van Allen Belt as per NASA or where the geo-magnetic field is high.
Kasar Devi is one among the three, apart from Machu Pichi in Peru and Stone Henge in Great Britain where high positive radiations can be felt and hence, it is believed to be a perfect place for meditation.
Transportation: There is no direct public transport from major cities like Delhi or Haldwani to Kasar Devi, but one can reach the place after multiple breaks.
If coming by bus, then one has to reach Almora bus stop, and then can further go till Kasar Devi by a local bus or shared cab.
If coming by train, then one has to come till Kathgodam railway station (approx. 100 Km away from Kasar devi) and can further travel in shared cabs or local buses of Uttrakhand.
Nearby Places to visit:
There are many beautiful and worthy places to visit in Kumaon region of Uttrakhand by keeping Kasar devi as the center of attraction. One must have a proper itinerary to cover the places given below:
1. Chittai Temple ( Golu devta ) - (Approx. 9 km)
2. Binsar Wildlife Santuary - (Approx 15 km)
3. Crank's Ridge - (At Kasar Devi)
4. Jageshwar Temple - (Approx. 36 km)
5. Katarmal Temple - ( Approx. 90 km)
6. Baijnath Temple - (Approx. 70 Km)
Here is my story :
Though I wanted to cover all the places listed above, but due to the travel mishap, I did not have enough time to cover Jageshwar, Katarmal and Baijnath Temple. (I had to return to Haldwani to take back our car from the service centre.) So, we decided to cover Chittai temple, Crank's Ridge and Kasar Devi temple. We went to the Chittai temple first.
The temple is famous for its local God - Golu Devta, who is also known as the God of Justice. The temple is full of letters written by the locals and visitors to the Golu Devta. It is believed that Golu Devta listens to person's wish if he/she asks something with true conscience.
I was really curious to read few letters and when I read four to five letters of the locals, my heart filled with kindness and immense faith. Since, the temple belongs to a famous local deity, so one can see a number of visitors from Kumaon region. Rest, the temple is a must visit place only to see those letters written to God.
The next destination was of course, Kasar Devi Temple. The temple does not only provide a spectacular view of the Almora town, but also gives an exquisite moment of introspection. There is a small walk uphill through the shady groves to reach the temple from the point where the cars and shared cabs are parked. The walk through the Cedar, Deodar and Oak trees is itself enchanting. The whole experience can be felt and my words would never justify the beauty of the place.
When you keep walking around, you will see the panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. The whole area is known as Crank's Ridge and is famous as 'Hippie Hill' of Almora. It is called so because it was once a hub of many writers, poets and artists. The place became famous among Indians when Swami Vivekanand also came here to meditate. The place has something extraordinary which attracted many great philosophers over the time.
Kasar Devi temple is a must go place for a person who has a flair for writing, meditation and spirituality.
