About the Place
Located in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon area lies a little hill town called Dunagiri. It is a serene location renowned for its beauty and a shakti-peeth (energy centre) of goddess Dunagiri (or Vaishnavi Devi). A broad view of the Gogas Valley is available from the temple. It is a breathtakingly beautiful location amidst the majestic Himalayas. At 8,800 feet, the lush woodland setting offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks and remarkably tranquil surroundings. Many rishi-munis (sages) received heavenly knowledge at this location, which is also connected to mythological tales. Dunagiri is thought to have been the birthplace of Bharat, the son of Shakuntala and King Dushyant, who gave our nation its name. According to legend, a tiny piece of the Sanjiwani Buti dropped here when Lord Hanuman was carrying it, and ever since then, the area has been known as Dunagiri.
How to Reach
From Delhi: Dunagiri is nearly 430 km from Delhi. The route is via Moradabad, Rampur, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Ranikhet, and Dunagiri.
Things to Do
Visit to Dunagiri temple which is a 1.5km vertical hike to the temple honoring Dunagiri Devi. The temple offers a beautiful view of the majestic Himalayas in all of its grandeur, drawing in large numbers of pilgrims from over the country. Other place to visit is Pandukholi. It is a 5 km trek starting from the Dunagiri temple. Pandukholi literally translates to “Pandu,” which is pandav, and “Kholi,” which means shelter. According to legend, the Pandavas spent their whole fourteen-year exile living here. There may be additional unexplored caves on the hill because when the earth is pounded above, a hollow sound akin to a drum banging can be heard. The location is well-known due to the presence of Mahamuni Babaji’s cave on this hill. From the location, one may enjoy the most stunning views of the surroundings. You may also visit places such as Bhatkot and Sukhdev Muni ashram.
Places of Stay & Eat
Dunagiri Retreat: https://www.dunagiri.com/
Dunagiri Homestay: http://dunagirihomestay.com/
Vanprastha Resorts: https://vanprastharesorts.com/