Kainchi Dham Neem Karoli Baba Ashram
Kainchi Dham is a famous Hanuman temple situated in the womb of Kumaon Mountains. This place offers a perfect combination of beauty and spirituality. Surrounded by mountains and forests and a flowing river, Kainchi Dham is a paradise for those who seek peace.
The temple was established in the 1960s by a local and very profound saint, Neem Karoli Baba. It is also the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Hanuman. Devotees claim to feel the divine presence of Lord Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba in the ashram.
The name of the ashram is consistent with its location, which forms a scissor-like shape (Kainchi in Hindi) where the two hills between which the ashram is situated intersect and intersect each other. Neem Karoli Baba took Samadhi in the year 1973 and since then he is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Hanuman.
Kainchi Dham became famous when Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Inc., visited the temple in the year 1973. Going through a stressful time in his career, Jobs came to India in search of a place where he could find answers to his questions and attain the ultimate truth of life, nirvana and wisdom. Jobs meditated in the ashram and went back enlightened. Later, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also visited Kainchi Dham in search of peace and enlightenment.
Every year on Neem Karoli Baba’s birthday, 15 June, a fair is organized at the ashram, which attracts a huge crowd of both locals and tourists. Situated at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level, this ashram is picturesque on the Nainital-Almora route and is one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in India. The ashram was initially built to dedicate to Sombari Maharaj and Sadhu Premi Baba who used to perform yagyas at that place.
How to reach Kainchi Dham
Kainchi Dham Ashram is located in Bhawali area, 18 km from Nainital city and is well connected by motorable roads. You can drive to Kainchi Dham or hire a taxi to reach here.
Kathgodam is the nearest railway station for people traveling by train. Located 45 km from Kainchi Dham, one can hire shared or private taxis from the railway station. Buses also run between the two places.
For air travelers, Pantnagar Airport is the nearest, which is 76 km away. You can reach Kainchi Dham via NH 109 by hiring a taxi from the airport.
Best time to visit Kainchi Dham
Kainchi Dham temple welcomes its devotees at all times of the year. Summers here are glorious, making it a pleasant time for visitors and devotees. The winters here are extremely beautiful as you get to experience the spectacular beauty of snow-capped peaks and the comfort it provides in temperatures as low as 0 degrees.
Although monsoon can be a bit tricky due to jammed roads and heavy rains, the place offers the most mesmerizing view with all the colors coming out in their purest natural form after being washed away by the rains.
