Located in the immensely majestic and beautiful Nainital district, Mukteshwar is a picturesque hill station in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. It is located at an average elevation of 2286 meters above sea level and was named after the 350 year old temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Mukteshwar which is also a revered pilgrim spot for the Hindus was developed as a town by the British as a research and educational center and is covered with coniferous forests and Fruit Orchards. This hill town is known as a haven for the hikers and trekking enthusiasts. Rock climbing and rappelling are also a few popular adventure sports that are offered to the visitors here.
Climatic Conditions
Due to its high altitude in the Himalayas, Mukteshwar enjoys a climate that is best suited for visits during most times of the year. The summer season in Mukteshwar starts in the month of April and lasts till mid June. The temperatures are usually moderate and never go beyond 24 degrees. The monsoon season starts in the month of July and continues in August and September. The winter season is one of the prime attractions as the Himalayan location can make the temperatures drop below 0 degrees. The months from mid-November till late-March enjoy the winter season in Mukteshwar.
Best Time To Visit
Mukteshwar is best visited throughout the year as it offers some breathtaking views of the Himalayas. The summers in Mukteshwar are mild and pleasant and are great for visiting. Monsoons are really breathtaking and this hilly town of India is the greenest in monsoons. But due to its hilly location, monsoons are not a very good time for trekking and hiking as rocks can be slippery and landslides can occur. The winters, are exquisite in Mukteshwar and provide a picturesque winter wonderland to the visitors.
Attractions/Things To Do
The town of Mukteshwar is a pilgrim spot and is famous for its trekking trails and rock climbing hotspots. Being a small place, there are a few attractions in the town for the people to visit. The eponymous temple of Mukteshwar Dham is a 350 year old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The IVRI campus was built by the British and is also a great place to stroll in the morning mist. You can also visit the various viewing spots and trekking spots if you want to witness the mighty Himalayas. The Nanda Devi Peak is also visible from Mukteshwar which is the 2nd highest mountain peak in India. The town itself is a marvel to behold as it is surrounded by fruit orchards and terraced potato plantations.
How to Reach
Reaching Mukteshwar should be a big problem as it is well connected via roads to the major cities in Uttarakhand and is easily reachable via the national capital Delhi. Kathgodam being the nearest railway station is connected to New Delhi with 3 daily trains. Shared cabs are also available from Kathgodam from where you can change for Mukteshwar. Taking a cab directly from Kathgodam to Mukteshwar takes around 2 hours. It is best to take buses from Delhi to Kathgodam and then take a cab from Kathgodam to Mukteshwar.
Distance from Major Cities
- Kathgodam – 58 Kilometers
- Nainital – 48 Kilometers
- Kausani – 103 Kilometers
- Almora – 52 Kilometers
- Dehradun – 336 Kilometers
- Shimla – 564 Kilometers
- Chandigarh – 488 Kilometers
- Delhi – 358 Kilometers
- Jaipur – 601 Kilometers
- Lucknow – 409 Kilometers
- Mumbai – 1,731 Kilometers
- Kolkata – 1,418 Kilometers
- Hyderabad – 1,720 Kilometers
- Bangalore – 2,309 Kilometers
- Chennai – 2314 Kilometers
Accommodation and Accessibility
Being a small town, getting around in Mukteshwar can easily be done on foot. You can get plenty of accommodation facilities near the PWD circuit house which was once used as the residence of Jim Corbett. There are several Budget to mid ranged accommodation facilities available in Mukteshwar. The luxury resorts are also available a little outside of Mukteshwar and also in the neighboring town of Almora.
