Binsar Mahadev temple

 Binsar Mahadev temple is about 12 to 13 km from where we are staying in ythe Ranikhet Club. It is an ancient Hindu rock temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Bindeshwar, a popular deity in this region. It is located at  8202 ft. above sea level and is situated in Bisaona village. In most of the hill temples we climb above on to the  hill to visit a temple. But here in Binsar we go down the hill amidst thick forests to visit the temple. This temple is set amidst dense forests of birch, deodar and rhododendron. The original temple structure held great archaeological significance, but it has been destroyed and a new structure has come in its place. It is a pity that we as a people have no sense of history and heritage preservation and replace old structures with new ones and make new figures of God's and Goddesses  with coloured paint and think we are beautifying the place. I am sure originally there would have just been a Shiva linga here which is still present but today dwarfed by the other statues. The sanctam sanctoram is surrounded by monolith pillars. The central chamber of the temple features the idols of Ganesha, Shiva-Parvati and Mahishasuramardini. A fair is organized there on Vaikuntha Chaturdashi every year. The beauty of the place is that you have Deodar jungles one one side and a thick pine forest on the other. There are beautiful roads with soft curves and bends that zig zag through the temple. The terrain is breathtaking and the peace in the vicinity   is unmatched. There are big boards that proclaim that ringing of the bells is not allowed. A wonderful place for peace and solitude. Thanks a lot Kamala and Naveen for introducing me to this  site.

Churches in Ranikhet

Ranikhet has two beautiful churches. We visited the highest Church in India which is located at 7700 ft. above sea level. The wood the small cross over the wall are all of an earlier period and continue to serve till today. This Church called the St. Bridget Church was established in 1884.Next we  visited another Church which is called the Kautilya dwar and the army is using this as a gym. The tower has a resemblance to the Scottish Church. There is a breath taking view of the Himalayas that can be seen from the St. Bridgit Church. 

The common wealth war Memorial heroes cemetery

 The common wealth war Memorial heroes cemetery is located in a picturesque spot surrounded by Cedar trees. There are some old war memorials. Many are in a state of decline for the marble stone tops have been taken away by the people. A beautiful path takes you down in the midst of the jungle where these soldiers rest.Though the war graves are really not well maintained for I cannot help but comparing them to the war memorials that I saw in France nd UK but the location is beautiful and nestled amidst the jungle of cedar trees.The Bible describes the cedar tree as strong and durable (Isaiah 9:10), graceful and beautiful (Psalm 80:10, Ezekiel 17:23), high and tall (Amos 2:9, Ezekiel 17:22), fragrant (Song of Songs 4:11) and spreading wide (Psalm 80:10-11) .Like its evergreen counterparts, the Eastern red cedar is known as the “graveyard tree” in this region because it can successfully grow for many years. The tree's perpetually green needles also are said to symbolize “eternal life”.

Ranikhet Cantonment

 Ranikhet cantonment area where the Ranikhet club is located has a large number of beautiful British Bunglows. Due to the strict cantonment laws this property still belongs to the army though the bunglows have been leased out to civilians during the British period and their third of fourth generation is now staying in them. These buildings cannot be tampered with or their structures altered and are maintained as such.  Yesterday Prof. Anil Joshi took us around various   Bunglows and he has their names and history on his finger tips. What was very interesting is that most of the hotels run during the British period and later on were operated by  the women. Women like Dorothy Clarke, lady Norton, Miss Tripoli and Miss Furguson were involved in the hospitality industry here and some settled in Ranikhet after independence. I think Ranikhet is a beautiful hill station and one of my favourites for it is a living history of an era gone by and still maintains that old world charm and nature is unspoiled and grows in abundance. One can see miles and miles of jungles untouched by the modern world. There are Deodar, Pine, Oak trees in abundance and the Jungles are alive with the so many sounds of the chirping of birds.

A guest house of Aligarh Muslim University in Ranikhet

 A guest house of Aligarh Muslim University in Ranikhet. I was very surprised to see a beautiful building that got renovated recently due to the efforts of Prof. Anil Joshi and belongs to AMU. It was lying in shambles and Anil Joshi had written to the VC of AMU and it is renovated. During the period following partition many riots were taking place  in the country. Lt. Gen. Zamiruddin Shah was the VC of Aligarh Muslim University. At this time in 1948 the Kumaon Regiment camped inside AMU for two years to control these  riots  in Eta, Bulandhahar etc. Thete is a connection between Hyderabad and the Kumaon regiment historically. It was Salabat Khan that commanded The Nizam's Regiment. It was this regiment that got converted into the Kumaon Regiment after independence. The The Kumaon regiment then moved to Kashmir and finally the Kumaon Regiment Centre  came up in Ranikhet. Major Somnath Sharma, India’s First Param Vir Chakra , was of Kumaon Regiment. This land was then given to AMU and a guest house was made here. Prof. Anil told me that Prof. Mohammad Habib and Irfan Habib have often stayed in this guest house. There is a chowkidar who is paid his salary by AMU and he maintains the place.

Asha Parekh Bend

 This song of the film Shikar is shot in Ranikhet close to where we are staying. This bend is known as Asha Parik bend even today. Prof. Anil Joshi tells me that the Jeep driven by Asha Pariks belongs to his student, who was the only one to own a Jeep then. There are many films which are shot in Ranikhet including  Madhumati  and Border and yesterday Anil Joshi took us to all the spots. This song captures the beauty of the landscape and the flora fauna very well and is a treat to watch.

The Billiards room at Ranikhet club

The Billiards room at Ranikhet club has an old world charm. The table was made in 1869 and it continues to serve till date. The benches at the sides for the spectators to watch the game are also double decker ones not seen today. Two paintings by the British painter Frank Buster adorn the walls. One of these paintings is titled, The kissing and the second The Snookered. What is very interesting in these paintings is that it has a score board which is depicted in the paintings.This same score board also decorates one of the walls in the room. Made of Oak wood it has a beautiful texture to it. The switches in the room, in fact in the whole club are also of a world gone by and are made of brass. An interesting room and thanks to Prof. Anil Joshi now a Professor of the recently formed Almora University and who is my local tour guide of this region, who to me is a walking encyclopedia on the history of Kumaon region that I could learn a lot about the history of the Billiarad room.