Gurdwara Reetha Sahib

Gurdwara Reetha Sahib - is only 60 kms. by flying distance in the north of Nanak Matta Cephalic but the distance by motorable road is 209 kms. It is 166 kms. from Tanakpur, the last railway station on Bareilly-Tanakpur section. Here, too, Guru Nanak Dev had an encounter with Nath yogis whom he tried to bring to the path of active humanitarian service along with remembrance of God's Name. The story is not mentioned in Janamsakhis, but a strong tradition has grown that here Guru Nanak Dev miraculously made the normally bitter fruit of a soapnut tree sweet for Bhai Mardana to feed on. A soapnut tree (not the original one) is still there and pilgrims are given prasad of sweet soapnuts. However, the common belief that the nuts only of one branch, under which the Guru had sat, are sweet is not true. Nor are all the nuts given as prasad yielded by this one tree. About ten kilometers from the Grudwara, there is a tract of land where such trees are grown and their fruit is collected and brought to replenish the Gurdwara's stock of prasad. It is called Nanak Bagichi (lit. Nanak's garden).

Meetha Reetha SahibThe Gurudwara of Meetha Reetha Sahib is located at the confluence of the Lodhiya and Ratiya rivers. It was constructed in the year 1960 and is situated near the village Deyuri. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev ji, had visited this place. He held much spiritual discussion with the Gorakhpanthi Jogis, who lived here. Guru Nanak Dev ji also plucked the Reetha fruit from the Reetha tree, which had grown here. These trees are still there in the premises of Gurudwara. This is the reason why this place is called Meetha Reetha Sahib. Due to its religious background this place is considered as a holy place for Sikhs. The temple of Devnath is also located beside the Gurudwara. On the day of Baisakhi Purnima, the holy day of Sikhs, a fair is held in the premises of Gurudwara.

The Meetha Reetha Sahib is situated at a distance of 72 kms from Champawat.
Altitude 3000 Mts.
Climate: Cold in winters, Pleasant in Summers.
Clothing: Summer cotton, Winter Heavy Woollen
Language Kumaoni, Hindi, Punjabi.

Local Transport : Jeeps/Taxis/Ponies/Dandi

From Dhunaghat(on the Lohaghat -Devidhura road)one can visit Reetha Saheb or Meetha Reetha, located at a distance of 72 kms. from Champawat. Guru Nanak is said to have visited this place and have had spiritual discussions with Gorakhpanthi Jogis. The Gurudwara was constructed in 1960 at the confluence of Lodhiya and Ratiya rivers, near village Deyuri. There are trees of sweet Reetha (Sapindus emarginatus) in the Gurudwara premises, adjoining it is the temple of Dhernath. Before the motor Road was build to Bhingrara, people use to come to this place on foot. A fair is held at the Gurudwara on Baisakhi Poornima.

Accessibility
Rail : Nearest Rail Head, Tanakpur, 173 Kms.
Road : Ritha Mitha Sahib is well connected with all the major towns of Kumoan hills and near by districts.

Accommodation · The Gurudwara provides accommodation for night stay.

Source:http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/GURDWARA_REETHA_SAHIB

Kausani- Uttarakhand

Kausani- Uttarakhand
Languages, Hindi, English,
Temperature Summer 25°C - 11°C
Winter 15°C - 2°C
STD Code 059628

Kausani Hill Resorts in India offers a superb and rewarding style of adventure travel in Kausani. Set at an altitude of over 6075 ft (1890 mt) above sea level, the hill resort of Kausani is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and imagination-stirring scenic beauty, which has earned it the moniker the 'Switzerland of India'. Besides being the birthplace of the famous poet Sumitra Nandan Pant, the place is also visited by Mahatma Gandhi who was so enamored of its dazzling natural beauty. Originally known as Valna, the mesmerizing hill resort of Kausani offers the ultimate vacation creating the romantic environment

A 300km wide view curves across the Himalayas from Kausani, a breathtakingly beautiful hill station in the Kumaon Hills. The eye sweeps past dense forests and glowing hills lit up by the setting sun.

The panorama unfolds over the snow-covered peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul, their impenetrable beauty overshadowing the lesser mountains scattered at their feet. At 7817 metres, Nanda Devi is the second highest peak in India and has exerted a tremendous impact on the cultures and lives of the Kumaoni and Garhwali peoples. Mt. Trishul and Nanda Ghunti hover close by, symbolic of Shiva’s trident and his wife’s veil.

Besides these heart-stopping views, Kausani offers blissfully undiluted silence and tranquillity. The crisp air is laden with the scent of pines. Tea gardens and pear orchards dot the landscape while the summer months see a profusion of wild flowers in the valleys. The hill station itself is perched on a narrow ridge on Pingnath Peak, overlooking mountain vistas, while the rivers Gomti and Kosi flank the town.

Kausani has had many moments in the sun - as the birthplace of Hindi poet Krishna Nandan Pant, and again as the hill station where Mahatma Gandhi spent some happy days in 1929. Gandhiji stayed at the Anasakti Ashram, where he explored the Anasakti Yoga. The Ashram used to be a guesthouse in a tea estate, and is now a research centre and library. A Gandhi memorial has been erected here and evening prayers are said in the main hall. There is a regular flow of pilgrims trying to combine a glimpse of the sanctum with a view of the spectacular sunset.

Some good treks lead into the Himalayas from Kausani, such as the Adi Kailash trek and the Bageshwar Sunderdhanga trek. The area is quite a camper’s paradise. In spite of its spectacular beauty, Kausani remains an unspoilt town where you can retreat for a quiet sojourn at any time of the year.


Sight Seeing
Well known for the beauty of its landscape and the warmth of its welcome, Kausani offers the mind-boggling panoramic view of the Kumaon Himalayas. View the changing moods of the high Himalayan peaks like the Nanda Devi, Trishul, and the Nandakot.

The hill resort of Kausani offers several vantage points from where one can have a mesmerizing view of the vistas and photogenic scenery of the landscape including the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.

Another major attraction of the hill resort of Kausani is the Anashakti Ashram. The Anashakti Ashram has the proud privilege of being associated with Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered to be one of the greatest personalities of the 20th century.

Today the Ashram serves as the resting place for the tourists who experience complete peace after a sightseeing tour. The Ashram offers some dazzling spectacle of the Himalayan peaks of the Kumayan region. The superb library of the Ashram is worth visiting too.


Adventure Sports
Kausani combines beautiful landscapes with a number of adventure sports. The hill resort offers the adventure seekers fine treks like the Bageshwar Sundardhunga Trek, Adi Kailash Trek and the Base Kausani Trek.

Best time to visit
As Kausani experiences snowfall during the winter months of December and January, it is advisable to avoid making a trip to the hill resort. The summer months are the best time to visit the. April to November is the best time to visit the hill resort of Kausani.

How to Reach : Kausani lies 53 km north of Almora in Uttaranchal. Delhi is 410 km away, a journey of 14 hours by road. The closest airport is at Pantnagar, 180 km. The nearest railhead is at Kathgodam, 142 km, with trains arriving from Delhi. From Kathgodam you can catch a bus or take a tourist taxi to Kausani.

There are different ways to reach Kausani.
By Air : There is no direct route to reach Kausani by Air. The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, at a distance180 km. From Pantnagar one can reach Kausani by car or by some vehicle.

By Rail : The nearest railhead to Kausani is the railway station at Kathgodam at a distance of 142 km and caters to the rail transport to Kausani.

By Road : Bus services connect Kausani with the other hill resorts including Ranikhet, Almora, Gwaldam, Pittoragarh and Nainital.

Accommodation
The hill resorts of Kausani offers various accommodation options ranging from deluxe hotels, standard hotels and budget hotels catering to requirements of the travelers visiting this beautiful hill station. Kausani is a mid-budget traveller’s delight. The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam has a tourist guesthouse here. In addition to the Forest Rest House and PWD Bungalow, there are other lodges and motels. Room tariffs range from Rs 300 to Rs 1500 for a double room. Decent accommodation is also available at the Anasakti Ashram.

Best time: You can visit Kausani at any time of the year except for the monsoon period from end June to September. Summer - April to June - is the best time to be in Kausani, with temperatures ranging between 11°C and 26°C. The winters are cold - temperatures average between 2°C and 14°C and there are chances of snow. Carry light woollens for summer and heavy woollens for winter.