Uttarakhand tourism starting package tours to ‘Puranic Manskhand’ temples of Kumaon
Uttarakhand tourism starting package tours to ‘Puranic Manskhand’ temples of Kumaon
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, April 10
With an aim to popularize the ancient ‘Puranic’ temples of ‘Manaskhand’ region of Kumaon as mentioned in the Hindu scriptures of ‘SkandPuran’, Uttarakhand tourism department in collaboration with Indian Railways, is starting a ‘Manaskhand’ corridor yatra from last week of April this year.
“Under this trial phase of yatra to ‘Manaskhand’ temples in Kumaon region, a special train will run from Pune in Maharashtra to Tanakpur in Kumaon on April 22 The train will carry over 300 pilgrims in two groups who will visit ‘Manaskhand’ temples in Kumaon region,” said Kirti Chand Arya, District Tourism Officer, Pithoragarh. The first train will start from Pune on April 22 and reach Khatima on April 24, 2024.
It is going to be the first such attempt by tourism department to arrange religious tourism to temples and places described in ‘Manaskhand’ of ‘Skandpuran’, the oldest ‘Puran’ of ancient Hindu scriptures.
The yatra will be conducted in two groups. The first group, that will arrive from the special train at Khatima on April 24, will visit Purnagiri temple in Tanakpur sub-division of Champawat district and would then be taken to Baleshwar, Maneshwar temples and Mayawati in Champawat, Hat Kalika , Patal Bhubaneswar temples in Pithoragarh, Jageshwar and Golu Devta temple at Chitai, Nanda Devi, Kasar Devi, Katarmal, in Almora and Gurudwara Nanakmatta in Udham Singh Nagar and Naina Devi temple in Nainital.
“The second batch that will be taken to Bhimtal from Khatima and will proceed towards Almora to visit Nanda Devi and Chitai temples from where it will proceed towards Chaukori, Hat Kalika, Patal Bhubaneswar in Pithoragarh district and on its return journey towards Tanakpur, will visit Nanakmatta, Khatima via Lohaghat, Champawat and Purnagiri temple in Tanakpur.
The tour package to ‘Manaskhand’ temples will be of 7 days and 6 nights duration in which the pilgrims will be taken to temples and other religious places of Tanakpur, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Almora in 7 days time and they will be briefed on ‘Puranic’ significance of these temples and it’s deities.” The temples of Tanakpur, Champawat, Hat Kalika, Patal Bhubaneswar of Pithoragarh, Jageshwar and Kasar Devi of Almora have been described in ‘Manaskhand’ of ‘SkandPuran’, “said the tourist officer.
