Jageshwar Dham, Uttarakhand

 Jageshwar is a quaint village nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand, in the Almora district. Ever since our marriage, I had been hearing about its serenity and beauty from my husband. Over the past couple of years, he had been visiting the place frequently and would often say that he felt he truly belonged there. Hearing so much about it naturally piqued my curiosity.

One thing I truly love about my husband is that all I need to do is say I want to travel—and he is instantly ready. This is one thing he never says No to, provided it’s a road trip. We began planning, roped in my best friend, and set off on the evening of September 12, 2025.

We drove through the night and reached Varanasi by the afternoon of the 13th. The day was spent soaking in the city’s energy and timeless charm. Early on the morning of the 14th, we resumed our journey, reaching Tanakpur by evening, where we halted for the night. The late-evening drive through the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was exhilarating—dark, quiet, and thrilling in its own way.

After a good night’s rest and a hearty breakfast, we set off on the 15th towards Jageshwar. Just after crossing Tanakpur, we caught our first glimpse of the mountains. The road began to climb, winding its way through mist-covered stretches, broken patches, and ongoing roadwork with JCBs repairing paths into the hills. The moment we inhaled the crisp mountain air, our mood lifted instantly.

We drove at our own pace, stopping often to click photographs and simply take in the surroundings. As evening approached, we arrived at Jageshwar and were greeted by the sound of temple bells echoing through the valley during the Sandhya aarti. It was in that moment that I truly understood why my husband was so deeply in love with this place.

The entire village is nestled within a dense deodar forest, with the Jat Ganga River flowing gently alongside. There were no crowds, no honking vehicles—just fresh air, stillness, and an overwhelming sense of peace.

We checked into our pre-booked guest house. After freshening up, we sat on the verandah with steaming cups of tea and hot pakodas, listening to the soft murmur of the river and the profound silence of the mountains. It felt like time had slowed down—exactly the way it should.

We sat there talking and listening—for hours—until the caretaker arrived with a traditional Kumaoni dinner. It was only then that we realized we had spent almost four hours without once reaching for our phones. There was something about the place that made time—and screens—feel unnecessary. After dinner, content and quietly tired, we retired for the night.

The next morning, we woke up early. After finishing our morning chores, we walked to the temple for darshan. Folklore says that Lord Shiva meditated here with the Saptarishis, and Jageshwar is believed to be the eighth Jyotirlinga, situated on the ancient Kailash Mansarovar route. It is also said that Adi Shankaracharya re-established these temples, which were later restored by the Katyuri dynasty between the 7th and 14th centuries AD. Standing amidst centuries of faith, history, and silence, the experience felt deeply humbling.

After darshan and puja, we returned to the guest house, had breakfast, and then set off for the day. Our plan was to visit Kasar Devi Temple, Jhakhar Sem Temple, and Vriddha Jageshwar. What followed was a day of unplanned detours and spontaneous stops—because in this part of the world, every turn seems to open into a postcard, and almost every spot has a temple with a story of its own. No wonder Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi.

The following two days passed much the same way—driving through small towns and quiet hamlets, soaking in the vastness of the mountains and the depth of the valleys, stopping whenever the heart said so. There was no rush, no checklist—just the joy of being present.

As all good things must, our three-day stay in Jageshwar eventually came to an end. It was time to drive back the 1500 km.  With longings in heart, we bid adieu to the quaint hamlet and started our journey back to Kolkata.