Coordinates: 29.92°N 79.

62°E

Baijnath, Uttarakhand
Baijnath is a small town on the banks of the Gomati river in the
Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The place is most noted for its Baijnath
ancient temples,[1] which have been recognized as Monuments of town
National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India in
Uttarakhand.[2] Baijnath has been selected as one of the four places[3] to
be connected by the 'Shiva Heritage Circuit' in Kumaun, under the
Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Government of India.[4][5]

Baijnath, then known as Kartikeyapura, was the seat of the Katyuri kings
who ruled over an area consisting of combined parts of Garhwal and
Kumaun in modern-day state of Uttarakhand, India and Doti in Modern
day Nepal.

Contents
History
Geography
Heritage
Commerce and tourism
Transport
Image Gallery
References
External links

History
The first permanent settlement of the area was a town named Karvirpur top to bottom: Baijnath Skyline, Baijnath Group
of Temples and Baijnath Lake
or Karbirpur.[6][7] The ruins of this town were used by Katyuri King
Narsingh Deo to establish his capital in the area.[8][9] Baijnath remained
the capital of Katyuri Dynasty, who ruled the area from 7th-13th century
AD., it was then known as Kartikeyapura. The katyuri kingdom then
consisted of combined parts of Garhwal and Kumaun in modern-day state
of Uttarakhand, India and Doti in Modern day Nepal.
Baijnath
Nepalese invader Kranchaldev invaded Baijath in 1191, and defeated the
Katyuri kings[10] The weakened Katyuri Kingdom later disintegrated in
the 13th century giving rise to 8 different princely states. Baijnath
remained under the rule of Baijnath Katyurs,[11] descendants of Katyuri
kings, till 1565 until king Balo Kalyan Chand of Almora annexed
Baijnath to Kumaun.[12] Location in Uttarakhand, India
 In 1791, the Gorkhas of
Nepal while expanding
their kingdom westwards
Baijnath
across Kali River,
invaded and overran
Almora,[13] the seat of
the Kumaon Kingdom
and other parts of
Kumaon. The Gorkhas
were defeated by the
East India Company[14]
in Anglo-Nepalese War
in 1814[15][16][17] and
were forced to cede Baijnath (India)
Kumaon to the British as
Coordinates: 29.92°N 79.62°E
Descriptive Board at the Temple Site
part of the Treaty of Country India
by Archaeological Survey of India.
The board depicts the temples to be
Sugauli in State Uttarakhand
made between 9th and 12th Century 1816.[18]:594[19] District Bageshwar
Ad by Katyuri Kings. Established 850 AD
Founded by Narsingh Deo
In 1901 it was a small village with a population of 148.[20] Languages
• Official Hindi

Geography Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)

Vehicle UK 02
registration
Website uk.gov.in (http://uk.g
ov.in)

Baijnath is located at 29.92°N 79.62°E,[21] 20 km northwest of Bageshwar city,

in Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand. It has an average elevation of 1,130 metres
(3,707 feet). Baijnath is situated in the Katyur valley of the Kumaon Himalayas
Baijnath Lake at the left bank of Gomati river. Nearby villages include Dangoli, Gagrigol,
Haat, Teet Bazar, Purara, Noghar, etc.

An artificial lake near the temple compound was announced in 2007-2008.[22] It was completed and inaugurated on 14 January
2016 by Harish Rawat, the then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.[23] The lake is full of "Golden Mahaseer" fishes. Although
fishing is strictly restricted at this site, the lake is a major tourist attraction where tourists offer chana to fishes. The nearby market
is Garur which is supposed to be one of the oldest in the region.

Heritage
There is a famous Baijnath Mandir (Lord Shiva) on the bank of the river which is said to have been built by the Kumaon Katyuri
king in around 1150 A.D. and it was Capital of the Katyuri dynasty of kings who ruled Uttaranchal during 12th and 13th century,
Baijnath was once known as Kartikyapura. One of the most important places to visit in Baijnath is the historically and religiously
significant Baijnath Temple constructed in the twelfth century. The temple holds significance because, according to Hindu
mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga. Dedicated to
SivaVaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians, the Baijnath temple is actually a temples’ complex built by the Katyuri kings with the
idols of Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. Also the town of Baijnath draws its name from the temple.
 Situated on the left bank of the Gomti River at an elevation of 1,126 m, the
temples are constructed in stone. The main temple that houses a beautiful idol of
Parvati is chiseled in black stone. The temple is approached from the riverside
by a flight of steps made of stones constructed by the orders of a Katyuri queen.
On the way to the main temple, just below the house of the Mahanta, is the
temple of Bamani. Legend goes that the temple was built by a Brahmin woman
and dedicated to Lord Shiva. it is believed that it was built in one night by
katyuri kings.

Temples of Baijnath Around 2 km from Baijnath there is a temple of Bhagwati Mata Kot Bhramri
Devi Temple or (Kot Ka Mandir) (traces of Ma Bhramri can be found in the last
two paragraph of Chapter Eleven of Durga Shaptashati Path - The most sacred
Hindu Book equivalent to Gita and Ramayana), which once was a fort owned by the Katyuri Kings. Also there is a myth that
Adiguru Shankaracharya stayed on this temple overnight while en route to Badrinath. There is widespread belief among the local
populace that the goddess, (after whom the temple is named) Kot Bhramri Devi's, Goddess face should not be shown to anyone
except the priest of the temple if not followed this advice the entire Katur Valley will face ill luck and massive disaster will follow
hence backside of the goddess is worshipped, except during the annual festival of "Nandaashtmi" during Bhadrapad Ashtami or
Radha Ashtami during September month (the state government declares as State holiday) or when the Raj Jaat Yatra which takes
place once in twelve year. Since last 150 Years buffalo and Lamb used to be sacrificed in the name of Nandaashtami has been
stopped by The Honorable High Court of Nainital on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Animal Protection Society and as a
result under police protection this practice has stopped. Though the Goddess Ma Bhramri is Satvik but some 200 years back
during Nepalese Invasasion and their Kingdom, local deity Ma Nandadevi's status got installed at Kot Bhramri Mandir as a result
animal sacrifice got started some 200 years back.

Commerce and tourism

There are good lodging and boarding facilities at Baijnath with budget accommodation at the state run Tourist Reception Centre
(TRC) and good rooms with all modern amenities can be availed at very cheap rates. Two kilometres further is a heli-pad facility
for emergency landing for state and defence usage.

The chief occupation of its inhabitants are pensioners from retired services, State Government Teachers, Bankers, Post Officer
Employees, Forest Services, agriculture, retired and serving defence personnel, petty and large shopkeepers dealing into day to
day items and tea stall owners, butchers and finally point small scale taxi services.

There is a nearby market at Dangoli but main market remains two kilometers away at Garur which caters to household items,
daily use goods to people and is considered to be biggest market place in the region after Almora, Ranikhet and Bageshwar
District in Kumaon Hills up to Karanprayag District in Garhwal.

The market of Garur is one of the oldest in the region (since pre-independence days of the British Rule in India, but the market
expanded during 1970 to 2010 with the efforts of local area people. In this area Mohan Chandra Joshi is a well known Poet,
notable social worker and another one industrialist K D Pandey is also known for his vast development for Garur. In 2011 the
major banks and other government services - the polytechnic, post office and the only ATM of the region are situated in the
property owned by the Pandey Family. One can find modern shopping complex recently came up in Garur market build up by the
Pharswan family. Primarily, Garur is the last recognised and biggest Kumaon market prior to entering Garhwal via Kumaon en
route to Garur Gwaldam road.

Transport
Pantnagar Airport, located in Pantnagar is the nearest Airport, while Kathgodam railway station is the nearest railway station to
Baijnath. Baijnath is located at the junction of the Bageshwar-Gwaldam and the Almora-Gopeshwar road. It is connected to
Haldwani, Bhimtal, Almora and Ranikhet by the 'Kumaun Darshan' service of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.[24]

From Baijnath en route to Bageshwar Bridge which is motorable route up to 'Song' at sub town place called Kapkot whereby
thousands of foreign as well as domestic trackers come to trek on Sunderdhunga as well as Pindari Glaciers which are within a
trekable distance of one hundred km (fifty Up and fifty down trek on foot).

A discussion is being held on laying a railway track between Tanakpur to Bageshwar which if materialised would bring this
district on faster national connectivity and invite much larger tourist population by 2020.[25][26][27]

Image Gallery

References
1. Kohli, M. S. (2002). Mountains of India : tourism, adventure and pilgrimage. New Delhi: Indus Publ. Co. p. 148.
ISBN 9788173871351.
2. "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Uttranchal - Archaeological Survey of
India" (http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttranchal.asp). asi.nic.in. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
3. The other three include Jageshwar and Katarmal in Almora, and Devidhura in Champawat
4. Kala, Gaurav (12 October 2016). "Lord shiva's temple in kumaun will be refurnished" (http://www.jagran.com/uttar
akhand/dehradun-city-lord-shivas-temple-in-kumaun-will-be-refurnished-14852920.html) (in Hindi). Dehradun:
Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
5. Negi, Sunil (4 March 2017). "Picture of Baijnath lake will change by 32 Crore" (http://www.jagran.com/uttarakhan
d/bageshwar-picture-of-baijnath-lake-will-change-by-32-crore-15628246.html). www.jagran.com (in Hindi).
Bageshwar: Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
6. Oakley, E. Sherman. Holy Himalaya: The Religion, Traditions and Scenery of a Himalayan Province (Kumaon
and Garhwál) (https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Holy_Himalaya.html?id=ajsQAAAAYAAJ). Oliphant
Anderson & Ferrier. p. 98.
7. Handa, O. C. (2008). Panorama of Himalayan architecture. New Delhi: Indus. p. 217. ISBN 9788173872129.
8. Misra, N.N. (1994). Source materials of Kumauni history. Almora, U.P. Hills: Shree Almora Book Depot. p. 166.
ISBN 9788185865249.
 9. Epigraphia Indica (https://books.google.co.in/books?id=CWpDAAAAYAAJ). Manager of Publications. p. 114.
10. Bruce, Charles Granville. Twenty Years in the Himalaya - Scholar's Choice Edition (https://books.google.co.in/bo
oks?id=qCVWrgEACAAJ&dq=defeating+Katyuri+kings+in+1191&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6isW-7__OAhUK
K48KHYvtAOcQ6AEIIDAB). Scholar's Choice. ISBN 9781294961789. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
11. Kathoch, Y.S. A New History of Uttarakhand.
12. "Home to ancient Katyuri culture" (http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/community/story/237289.html).
Retrieved 4 August 2016.
13. Hamilton, Francis; Buchanan, Francis Hamilton. An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal: And of the Territories
Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha (https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7bYRAAAAYAAJ&prints
ec=frontcover&dq=The+name+Rajapur+is+also+mentioned+over+a+number+of+ancient+copper+plates&hl=en&
sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOnvO59u_OAhWBPo8KHSNVAooQ6AEIJDAC). A. Constable. Retrieved 2 September
2016.
14. Lamb, Alastair (1986). British India and Tibet, 1766-1910 (2nd, rev. ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
ISBN 0710208723.
15. Cross, John Pemble ; foreword by J.P. (2008). Britain's Gurkha War : the invasion of Nepal, 1814-16 ([Rev. ed.]
ed.). London: Frontline. ISBN 978-1-84832-520-3.
16. Naravane, M.S. (2006). Battles of the honourable East India Company : making of the Raj. New Delhi: A. P. H.
Pub. Corp. ISBN 978-81-313-0034-3.
17. Gould, Tony (2000). Imperial warriors : Britain and the Gurkhas. London: Granta Books. ISBN 1-86207-365-1.
18. Martin, Robert Montgomery. The History of the Indian Empire. Mayur Publications.
19. Summary of the operations in India: with their results : from 30 April 1814 to 31 Jan. 1823. Marquis of Hastings.
1824. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
20. Kartikeyapura (http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V06_223.gif) The
Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909, v. 6, p. 217.
21. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. - Baijnath (http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/39/Baijnath.html)
22. "साकार हुआ बै जनाथ म झील िनम ण का सपना : दास" (http://www.amarujala.com/uttarakhand/bageshwar/built-in-b
aijnath-dream-come-true-lake-das-hindi-news) (in Hindi). Garur: Amar Ujala. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
23. "सीएम करगे बै जनाथ झील का लोकापण" (http://www.amarujala.com/uttarakhand/bageshwar/will-cm-inaugurates-
baijnath-lake-hindi-news) (in Hindi). Garur: Amar Ujala. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
24. "सात को कुमाऊ ं दशन को रवाना होगा पहला दल" (http://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/nainital-15970658.html) (in
Hindi). Haldwani: Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
25. Prashant, Shishir. "Demand for Tanakpur-Bageshwar railway line resurfaces" (http://www.business-standard.com/
article/economy-policy/demand-for-tanakpur-bageshwar-railway-line-resurfaces-111111100007_1.html).
Dehradun: Business Standard. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
26. Markuna, Rajendra S. " 'Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail project need of the hour' " (http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-e
ditions/dehradun/tanakpur-bageshwar-rail-project-need-of-the-hour.html). Haldwani: Daily Pioneer. Retrieved
4 August 2016.
27. "ex mp tamta demands three railway lines" (http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/ex-mp-tamta-demand
s-three-railway-lines/46393.html). Pithoragarh: The Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2016.

External links
Baijnath Temple Uttarakhand (https://www.thedivineindia.com/baijnath-temple-uttarakhand/5826)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baijnath,_Uttarakhand&oldid=896868373"

This page was last edited on 13 May 2019, at 10:44 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using
this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.