Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, near Gangolihat town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand is a serene village that’s home to a mystical cave.
I recently embarked on a journey to the enchanting realm of Patal Bhuvneshwar, and it has claimed a special place in my heart as one of the destinations to keep going back to. The natural beauty of this place is truly breathtaking, with views of the snow clad Himalayas adding glory to the already beautiful hilltop village. While the cave temple is the highlight of this small village, there is so much more to discover and experience beyond it. In this piece, I will take you through my exploration of this place.
By the way, here’s a separate piece on exploring the mystical depths of the cave
The road leading to Patal Bhuvneshwar is not an easy one and since I was travelling without my family this time around, the road winding through rugged terrain and traversing hilly paths along the edges of deep valleys just felt more difficult. And the driver drove the car rashly so with each ascent, my travel sickness lurched, trying to challenge my determination. TMI I puked thrice on the way. However, with each twist and turn, my spirit soared higher :)
Upon reaching, I stayed at Parwati Resort as I stayed here last time with my parents and knew the place. But wait that’s no reason to pick this stay, the allure of this place transcends mere familiarity. What’s special is that it has got unparalleled views of the Himalayas and is just 900 meters walk from the cave temple. Every single day that I stayed here, I would wake up to the heavenly views of the first rays of the Sun falling on the Himalayas.
Every single moment I’d be humbled by the sheer magnificence that unfolded before me. One can spend hours gazing at this view, doing nothing, soaking in all the tranquility.
Apart from the natural beauty, Patal Bhuvneshwar offers a unique opportunity to experience the minimal lifestyle of the Pahadi people. They live harmoniously with nature, embodying a minimalistic way of life that is both humbling and inspiring. Interacting with them was a grounding and rewarding experience - perfect escape from the urban chaos.
What adventurous activities can one do here?
There are many hiking trails here. I would just follow the trails that run through the forests - that are home to some of the best gems - and enjoy everything along the way. Exotic fruits like plums and apricots, and a plethora of wild berries, (kafal - These are juicy wild berries that I literally ate off trees!) wild flowers that I brought back home. I would feel like the air is infused with the sweet scent of rhododendrons, and their blossoms painting the landscape in shades of red, pink, and white. Often, traversing through wildernessI would come across meadows and farming terraces dotted with cattle grazing peacefully, and Himalayan birds flying all over the skies. The natural beauty of this place is truly breathtaking.
Some things one can do here:
- Go birdwatching - Find locals (who’re usually acquainted with the bird species) and ask them to show you around places where you can spot rare exotic Himalayan birds. Even if you don’t do this - you will definitely come across some beautiful bird species anywhere you go here.
- Go flower & fruit picking (My personal favourite) - I love forests for their trees, flowers and fruits. Patal Bhuvneshwar is lined with thick oak and deodar trees on all sides. Rhododendrons - indigenous to this place.
- Visit the cave / other temples
- Do Nothing, just be there :)
Apart from the cave, I also visited some other temples nestled in and around these hills and the abundance of bells adorning the premises of these temples! But even with so many bells of different shapes and sizes, there was a calming silence - of faith and devotion - that filled the air with powerful vibrations.
I visited Haat Kalika Temple, Golu Devta Temple, and Jageshwar Temple (picture below). Each of these sacred sites held its own unique charm and significance. Visiting these temples allowed me to witness the deep-rooted faith of the people who flock to these sacred places. The spiritual atmosphere infused in me a sense of peace that lingered long after I left.
The Highlight of my trip: This wasn’t a solo trip, I did this trip with a group of meditators and kind hearted people all seeking peace, calm and spiritual growth - Prana Shakti Family. Our Yogacharya Guru ji who started this community, introduced us to this beautiful place of abundant energy. He’s taught us to do good & be good and this journey was all the more beautiful because I did this with Guru ji & the family. I had an amazing time with these people!
Away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, I also discovered the true essence of solitude. Immersed in the tranquility of nature, I cherished moments of self-reflection and meaningful connections. I long to return to this haven of serenity in the future again!