Hills calling : This destination 200 miles from Lucknow is a complete bliss for your weekends !!

#hillsCalling

Hey folks,

This is when North India is completely under the impact of winters. Somewhere it is covered with snowfalls in Khajjiar, Dalhousie, Shimla, Manali and mostly all high-altitude regions. Somewhere we are facing cold waves coming from the hilly areas, sometimes its raining, sometimes theres an intense fog. However, people who have to travel, travel anyhow. And it is something like a fun fact that, we don’t actually feel cold when we have to travel.

This destination, of which we’re talking about is located 196 miles or 315 kms. from Lucknow. Its Purnagiri. It is 21 kms. away from Tanakpur and 17 kms. from Tunyaas. It is marked on the foothills of Himalayas, starting from the Champawat district, Uttarakhand. Also it is called as the ‘Gateway to the Kumaon Himalayas’. One can easily reach Tanakpur by road or by train. Also you can hire a private cab that takes you to Tunyaas from Tanakpur, from where there’s a trek of approx. 3 to 3.5 kms.

I have been to Purnagiri two times and found it worthy. There are multiple things that happen to come in your mind when you plan to go there.

Firstly, it can be a perfect weekend plan,
It fits in small budget as well. You can easily accomodate, book a private cab and travel around including fooding in 5k to 8k.
Lastly, its a perfect mood changer. I have visited it in both seasons, in winters ( January ) and in summers ( May ). Also if you have time and you wish to extend your trip, you can visit Nepal Border and the small villages located on border.

This place serves a great significance in The Hindu Mythology. It is one of the 108 shaktipeeths, located around the world.

During Satya Yuga, Prajapati Daksh organised a sacrificial ceremonial or Yajna (Yagya) and invited everybody in it, but not Lord Shiva and Devi Sati with the intent of insulting them as he found Lord Shiva ‘Aghori’ and believes that the one who embodies himself with ashes is neither eligible to marry his daughter nor eligilble to attend his Yajna. Devi Sati, on knowing the true intentions of her father to disgrace her husband, immolated herself in the ceremonial fire. Lord Shiva in his agony, carried her dead body and danced the dance of obliteration in and around the universe.

The places where the body parts of Devi Sati fell, those places were called as the Shakti Peeths. It was her Naval ( Naabhi ), that fell here. This place is loacted on the bank of Sharda river, and has an height of 3500 mts. above the sea level.

The view around is completely breathtaking. As you move higher, the river, that divides India from Nepal at the Northern border, will become lighter and fade a bit due to the mist and fog.

OTHER INFORMATION

Climate : Cold in winters, Pleasant in Summers.
Clothing : Summer cottons, Winter Heavy Woollens.
Season : Round the year.
Language : Kumaoni, Hindi.

ACCESSIBILITY

Air : Nearest Air port is Pant Nagar, 121 kms. (via Khatima Nanakmatta)
Rail : Nearest Railhead is Tanakpur, 20 Kms.
Road :Motorable road exists upto Thuligad, 14 Kms. from Tanakpur.
Thereafter, the road is under construction upto Tunyas (Kms.). From here, a 3 Kms. trek leads to Purnagiri.