Mukteshwar- The Abode of Lord Shiva

Nestled in Uttarakhand, in the Nainital district, Mukteshwar is known because of the story of a man eating tiger. The town also found its mention in the book “Man Eater of Kumaon”, which was written by Jim Corbett who visited the area to help the locals get rid of a gruesome tiger. A place blessed by nature, it is full of beautiful fruit orchards and the amazing coniferous forests. This beautiful town got its name from Lord Shiva, as it houses the renowned Mukteshwar temple of the Lord.

This serene town has a number of things to offer and the natural beauty is definitely on the top of the list. The evergreen forests and the woodlands of Mukteshwar have diverse bird species, such as Himalayan ruby throat, red-billed leothrix, and many more. Out of all the mountain birds, the exceptional and obscure Himalayan Mountain Quail was seen in these forests for the last time. The fruit orchards in Mukteshwar are packed with apples, peaches, apricots, and plums.

Next to this is surely the Mukteshwar temple. The renowned temple is visited by a large number of devotees every day, and it houses the magnificent Lingam of white marble which is surrounded by the idols of Brahma, Parvati, Vishnu and Nandi. It is the place where you can also have the view of colonial bungalows. The very popular Veterinary Institute of India is also located here.

Around this area the rhesus monkeys, deer, mountain leopards and rare mountain birds, can be easily seen. For adventure freaks, the hill station has a number of rock climbing and rappelling options as well.