'Escape' to Naukuchiatal - where the music played on

Naukuchiatal (Uttarakhand), May 23 (IANS) The hills of Naukuchiatal were alive with the sound of music with bands, painters and graffiti artists from all over the world gathering at the serene banks of the lake here for the annual Escape festival of music and art this weekend. The music took centrestage as bands like Skinny Alley (Kolkata), Hari and Antoine (France), Scribe (Mumbai), Bhayanak Maut (Mumbai), Puoskari (Finland), Autolaser, (Norway), treated people to three days of non-stop head-banging during May 18-20. Hundreds of people from all walks of life and from across the country gathered at this picturesque town, packing into hotels and guesthouses in Naukuchiatal and surrounding areas. living up to the name of the festival, some even put up tents a little away from the main area and spent the three days cut off from the rest of the world. The music would begin in the morning and continue right through the day, till late in the evening and into the night With resorts and cottages full up, many had to drive down every day from Nainital, about 25 km away, or hitch a ride with passing commuters. Besides music, art lovers too had something to cheer about with artists like Shivani Kohli (painter), Shiv Ahuja (photographer), Samita Chatterjee (graffiti artist) showcasing their talent. The stages for the performances were put up right in front of the pristine lake overlooking spectacular mountain ranges. With artists showcasing their work and food stalls nearby, people did not have to go a long way from the music. Escape, which began in 2009, is organised by Potheads, a music and arts event company. The number of visitors has steadily grown with news of this annual event spreading like wildfire. The location, a short distance from the hustle-bustle of main town Nainital in Uttarakhand, is the perfect setting for music enthusiasts to drown themselves in the occasion. 'This is just incredible; never in my life have I been to a place like this. The music, the area, it is just three days of madness. The best Indian bands are here and I am sitting in this heaven and listening to them. I can't ask for anything more,' Swaraj Mehta, a language trainer from Delhi, told IANS. The festival gave people a reason to escape from their daily lives. Bands such as Skinny Alley, Hari and Sukhmani and The Captain of Hook enthralled the crowd with jazz music, while Bhayanak Maut, Vaeya, Autolaser, Street Stories and Indigo Children gave hard rock and metal lovers a reason to go berserk. Ashish Koshi, who made the long trip from Bangalore to attend the festival, was overwhelmed with the setting. 'This is like nothing I have seen in India, it's as if I am attending the Woodstock or something. This is my first time here and I will make it a point to come every year. I would recommend all the music-lovers to come here,' Ashish told IANS, referring to the three-day epic festival in the US in 1969 The events slotted for Escape were categorised under three names: Soul Garden, Magic Forest and Rabbit Hole. Soul Garden got the name due to the stage being set by the lake and featured fusion and jazz music. Magic Forest with the stage set in a valley-like clearing, surrounded by trees and at night the place came alive with music, lights and visuals. The genres of music played here was rock and electronic. Rabbit Hole featured experimental and free jamming style music. Naukuchiatal, which is 315 km away from Delhi, can be reached by road or by rail. By road it's close to a seven-hour drive while the nearest station is 25 km away in Kathgodam. 

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/05/23/76--Escape-to-Naukuchiatal-where-the-music-played-on-.htmlhttp://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/05/23/76--Escape-to-Naukuchiatal-where-the-music-played-on-.html

How to Reach Dwarahat

How to Reach Dwarahat

How to Reach Dwarahat By Air:
The nearest airport for Dwarahat is Pantnagar. Pantnagar Airport is situated 112kms from Dwarahat. Taxis are available to Dwarahat, Ranikhet, Haldwani, Nainital and Almora from Pant Nagar Airport. Buses are available from Haldwani, Kathgodam, Almora and Nainital to Dwarahat.

How to Reach Dwarahat By Rail: Kathgodam is the nearest railway station to Dwarahat, situated at a distance of 88kms. Kathgodam is well connected by Railway networks with major destinations of India like Lucknow, Delhi and Kolkata. Trains are frequent to Kathgodam as it is the gateway of Kumaon region. Buses and Taxis are easily available to Dwarahat from Kathgodam.

How to Reach Dwarahat By Road:Dwarahat is well connected by motorable roads with major cities of Uttarakhand state and northern India. Dwarahat is well connected by major destinations of Garhwal and Kumaon region as it is situated on National Highway 87 which connects Kumaon region with Garhwal. Buses to Kathgodam, Nainital and Almora can be taken from ISBT Anand Vihar, Delhi. Taxis to Dwarahat are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand state. Buses and taxis are available from Almora, Kausani, Ranikhet, Nainital, Karnaprayag and Kathgodam to Dwarahat .

Naukuchiatal

Location: In Nainital district of Uttarakhand, 26 km from Nainital

About Naukuchiatal

Located at the foothills of the Kumaon Mountains, Naukuchiatal is perhaps the most picturesque lake in Uttaranchal, surrounded by green slopes and oak forests. At an altitude of 1,219 m and just 24 km from Nainital, Naukuchiatal or the 'nine-cornered lake' is fed by an underwater spring. It is believed by the locals that whoever sees all the nine corners of the lake at one shot, attains Nirvana. Pretty views of terraced fields and meadows make this lake destination an enjoyable stopover. Although the lake is the prime attraction here, there are more activities for tourists such as angling, trekking, bird-watching and paragliding.

Sightseeing :
The pristine lake with its green surroundings is the highlight of Naukuchiatal. A beautiful tree-lined path runs along the length of the lake and is the ideal place to soak in the natural beauty. Boats of different types can be hired from the boating stand, just opposite the KMVN resort. Bhimtal, just 4 Km away, is famous for its large lake and boating activities. Sattal is another group of lakes in the same district and is a popular tourist spot.

Naukuchiatal is, perhaps, the most beautiful of all the lakes in Uttarakhand. A unique nine-cornered lake, it is situated 24 km away from Nainital, in the foothills of Kumaon, at an altitude of 1,219 meters. The beautiful lake is alimented by an underwater spring. Naukuchiatal Lake is surrounded by dense oak forests from all the sides. The first sight of this tranquil lake is mesmerizing and eye-soothing, sure to leave you wanting for more. A famous perception amongst the locals is that whoever sees all the corners of the lake at the very first shot attains ‘Nirvana’, a state of complete bliss, delight and peace.

Naukuchiatal is a must-visit for those who love getting lost in the serenity of nature. The enchanting views of meadows and pastures that the lake provides to its visitors make it look more picturesque. This is a perfect place to get away from all the rush of the cities and rejuvenate your body as well as soul. An overview of Naukuchiatal gives an assumption of 'picture-perfect' beauty. The captivating surroundings and varied biodiversity that can be seen in the area within 10 km radius of Naukuchiatal gives it the perception of virtual heaven.

Naukuchiatal is the perfect location to observe and admire the variety of wildlife species the almighty has blessed earth with. It is the place where you can enjoy the becharming compilations of colorful butterflies and the beautiful variety of Himalayan birds. Not simply because of its incomparable beauty, but also because of the uncommon adventurous opportunity it offers, the lake is a hit amongst tourists. Activities like angling, trekking, bird-watching, paragliding and parasailing attract a major chunk of Uttarakhand-visitors to this place.

How to Reach Naukuchiatal
Naukuchiatal is best known for its nine-cornered lake and most of the people visit this lake in conjunction with Nainital. However, if you're planning to spend this weekend at this tranquil destination, you'll find this article of adequate importance. Naukuchiatal is about 26 kms from Nainital, 35km from Kathgodham and 4 kms from Bhimtal.

Bhimtal

BHIMTAL :- (1371 Meters) About 22 kms from Nainital, nestled in a beautiful pristine valley, this jem of a lake is the largest around Nainital. The beauty is enhanced by a small Island surrounded by crystal blue water. One road from Bhimtal leaves for Naukuchiatal while the another one goes to Kathgodam 21 Kms from here.

About Bhimtal

Bhimtal is one of the largest lake around Nainital named after Bhima of Mahabharata. It has a island in the center approached only by a boat and at present it has an Aquarium there. A gaggle of ducks has made the lake their home and give company to the lake visitor. Bhimtal is much less crowded than Nainital and the lake, Bhimtal is much cleaner than it's better known counterpart Nainital. Bhimtal can be reached directly from Delhi in 6-7 hours.

Bhimtal is slightly on the warmer side in mid June, but makes for an all year round destination. For recreation one can do boating at the lake or explore the surrounding jungle on foot. It can also be made as a center for exploring the surrounding lakes. There is a large Victorian dam at one end of the Bhimtal lake and terraced flower gardens can be found on either side. Next to the dam is the Bhimkeshwar temple dedicated to Bhim. There is also the Godhakhal Temple 3 km from Bhimtal. Another interesting place in Bhimtal is The Museum of Folk Culture (Lok Sanskriti Sangrahalaya) housing collections of folk paintings and ancient wooden artifacts. Bhimtal makes for an interesting off beat destination both for the family and corporate traveler.

About An Aquarium on the Island on Bhimtal

Bhimtal Lake is home to a large variety of aquatic species. There is an island in the centre of the lake that used to have a restaurant, which fascinated a lot of tourists until its beauty was ruined due to publics leftovers. The Nainital Lake Development Authority hence decided to develop an aquarium on the island. They have converted the restaurant into an aquarium to prevent pollution and clean the lake. Earlier, there used to be a restaurant on this island and a lot of tourists used to visit the restaurant. However, tourists used to leave behind waste that used to pollute the lake.

The Nainital Lake Development Authority Dhiraj Garbayal , Secretary of the N L D A in Uttarakhand came up with the idea of converting the restaurant into an aquarium to stop the lake from being polluted.

About Aquarium on the Island on Bhimtal

A variety of fishes from countries like South Africa, Mexico and China have been kept in the aquarium that are captivating tourists attention. They are excited to watch different species of fishes in it.

History of Bhimtal

Bhimtal is an ancient place named after Bhima of Mahabharata. Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, an old Shiva temple in the bank of Bhimtal lake, is believed to have been built when Bhima visited the place during the banishment (vanvas) period of Pandavas.

Bhimtal, earlier known as Bhimsarovar, is believed to be the stamping ground of the Pandavas.

According to the locals the town is named so because when the Pandanvas had been exiled in this region they could not find a water body from which they could quench their thirst. It was then that Bhima, the powerful, hit the ground with his "gada" or club thus creating a cavity in the ground, which was filled with an underground source of water.

The Bhimeshwar temple is said to have been set up by the Pandavas, who established a Shivling there.

It is about 22 Kms. from Nainital and 11 Kms. from Bhowali at an altitude of 1370 mts. The pride of Bhimtal is a beautiful lake which offers magnificent vistas for tourists. The lake is larger than Naini lake. Tourist enjoys here boating in lake. There is an island amid lake having beautiful aquarium . Tourist visit here by boats. The distance of island from lake shore is 91 mts.There is a 17th century Bhimeshwar temple complex along the 40 feet high dam . The local bus stand and taxi stand is situated near it. One road from Bhimtal leaves for Naukuchiatal while the another one goes to Kathgodam 21 Kms from here.