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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA TOURIST CIRCUIT IN UTTARAKHAND AN

APPRECIABLE INITIATIVE

Friday, 13 January 2017 | Jaskiran Chopra | Dehradun

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Working out and creating a tourist circuit encompassing the journeys of Swami Vivekananda in
Uttarakhand region was long overdue and now that it has been done a few years after the Swami’s 150th
birth anniversary, it is indeed welcome.

It has been developed by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam as Vivekananda spent time in the Kumaon
Himalayas and was extremely fond of the region. Places around Almora, Nainital and Champawat are part
of this circuit.

Although the tourist circuit will specially attract people from West Bengal, people from all over the country
and abroad are expected to take up this fascinating itinerary.

The almost 500-km long circuit for the tourists will start from Kathgodam. The first stop will be at Kanchi
temple, Kakrighat where Vivekananda meditated under a peepal tree. The itinerary will then go to Almora
district and include visits to Ramkrishna Ashram, Vivekananda Memorial, house of Badrinath Shah where
the Swami stayed, Kasar Devi temple, Chitai Golu Devta temple and Jageshwar temple complex in Almora.

The Mayavati Ashram in Champawat which was established by Vivekananda in 1899 as well as the
numerous temples which he visited (Hingla Devi temple, Baleshwar temple and Purnagiri temple) will be
part of the circuit.

Located twenty two kilometres from Champawat and nine km from Lohaghat amid an old tea estate,
Mayawati shot into prominence after the Advaita Ashram was established here. The ashram attracts
spiritualists from India and abroad. It has a press of its own and the first editions of Swami Vivekananda's
works were published from Mayavati, besides Prabuddha Bharata, the monthly journal. The Ashram
provides boarding and lodging to visitors.It attracts the spiritual minded from all over India and abroad.
There is also a library and a small museum at Mayawati.

Whenever we think of Swami Vivekananda, his love for the Himalayas and the Uttarakhand region comes
to mind . Uttarakhand has special connection with the memories of the great Swami Vivekananda whose
154th Jayanti is being celebrated all over the country as well as abroad on Thursday.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashram at Kishenpur in the Doon valley held grand celebrations.

Uttarakhand, specially Almora and Dehra Dun, have several memories of the great Vivekananda who
visited both places several times. The Ramakrishna Mission Ashram (Mathh Branch)in the Doon valley ,
situated in picturesque surroundings, was started in 1916, exactly a hundred years ago.

The Mission centre was started in 1974.The Mathh centre has a library with 4560 books. It has daily
worship, weekly discourses in and outside the ashram, and celebration of Janamashtami, Durga Puja, Kali
Puja, and

observance of the birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda
and other spiritual luminaries. It is involved in many charitable activities.

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The Pioneer 25/09/17, 1*28 PM

Swamiji had always been attracted by the Himalayas. During his tour of the Swiss Alps, the idea to found an
Ashram in similar conditions in India took shape.

Swami Vivekananda made several visits to Almora. After the passing away of his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna,
Swami Vivekenanda travelled throughout India teaching Vedanta, and in 1890 he had walked from
Nainital to Almora.

He spent several days meditating in a cave on a hill close to the Kasaar Devi temple. Following the demise of
his mentor Sri Ramkrishna, the young Narendra (later to be known as Swami Vivekananda) ,while scaling
the wilderness of Kumaon, is believed to have said that he had seen the macrocosm in a microcosm.

On his arrival at Almora, Swami Vivekananda received an Address of Welcome from the citizens of Almora,
to which he made the following reply: "This is the land of dreams of our forefathers, in which was born
Pârvati, the Mother of India. This is the holy land where every ardent soul in India wants to come at the end
of its life, and to close the last chapter of its mortal career. This is the land which, since my very childhood, I
have been dreaming of passing my life in, and as all of you are aware, I have attempted again and again to
live here; and although the time was not ripe, and I had work to do and was whirled outside of this holy
place, yet it is the hope of my life to end my days somewhere in this Father of Mountains where Rishis lived,
where philosophy was born..Inhabitants of this holy land, accept my gratitude for the kind praise that has
fallen from you for my little work in the West…..”(Extract from: "The Complete Works of Swami
Vivekananda"/Volume 3/Lectures from Colombo to Almora ).

The great Swami passed away on July 4, 1902 at the age of 39.

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