To come to Almora earlier this year even surprised me. It wasn’t planned neither i was travelling in its direction yet all kept happening wherever Maharaj Ji moved.
Maharaj ji had come to India after 6 Years, for Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. And after a short sojourn across the country, he was staying at a Gurukul in Udaipur. The place I got initiated into Yantra Sadhna all those years ago. Apart from innumerable things, Rajasthan is known for its baking Summers and coolest nights, ones that come after touching 50 degrees Celsius the same day. Maharaj ji arrived here thinking he would only be here for a week but time kept him here, stretching days like a chewing gum turning into two months when on a whim he decided to leave Rajasthan for the Himalayas, before he could go back to his Ashram in France.
We left Udaipur after paying our respects to Mataji, students, teachers and all the caretakers. Vishwa Ji had arrived from Karnataka in time and we all started for a long journey to Kasar Devi. It took two road days and around 1000 kilometres. The air kept changing from muggy to hot to polluted in Delhi to cold by the time we reached Vishwa’s home in Almora. But coming back to Almora is not like it must have been during the times when Vivekananda and so many other masters were visiting. It is too fast and now too big for finding peace. Yet there are hamlets of joy, here and there. Hence for me, the feeling was similar. Just how I had left it few years ago.
After spending a day walking in the jungles with Maharaj Ji, It was at this time when I decided to visit some of the places that I had heard about but could never visit even in my previous visits to Almora.
You can read those Articles here : A Short Visit to the Museum of Almora- Life and Struggles of G.B Pant
and
Life and Home in Almora- A Brief History Of Travellers Seeking and Importance of Kasar Devi Temple
And
The Grand Night of Shiva and a Day of Beautiful Meanings
Sharing some images of the times with Maharaj ji.










This time even though I wasn’t very excited somehow because of Work and also the pressure of going back to college and studies, I did take out a day to visit Jageshwar. Yet as I moved, I was stopped by the remarkable Lakhudiyar Caves and later my intuition took me towards a temple I did not know even existed yet it became the highlight of my travels. Sharing the YouTube video of my time at the legendary Vridh Jageshwar Temple.

Vridh Jageshwar, Vridh(Old) and Jageshwar(the awakened one) is a temple founded by Shankaracharya in 7th Century AD. Yet it is said that Lord Shiv is being worshipped a lot before Shankara arrived there. It’s a beautifully kept Stone built Old temple where Shiva sat meditating for Vishnu, hence both the Lingams and Shaligram are kept side by side.
I was fortunate to film some of my expressions as of the locals during these travels and I had posted a new video on your ROAD To NARA’s YouTube Channel.
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Vridh Jageshwar
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You have to be congratulated, Narayan, for writing today about one of the oldest temples in Almora, the district of Uttarakhand, known as “Devbhoomi”, the land of gods. It possesses various sacred shrines that are visited by thousands of devotees each year. The Vridh Jageshwar is a 7th-century structure in the complex of several temples, and it was built by the Kuturi kings. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is well looked after by the monks. Being situated in the mountain area of the Himalayas, the place exudes peace and spiritual bliss. The sound of a monk blowing on a conch and ringing a bell starts the ritual observance. I noticed at the entry a mat with a Welcome sign. Today is devoted to the reverence of our ancestors, without whom we wouldn’t be here, and the Old Temple is part of their legacy.
Your interesting video shows the rural village life with an old man spinning a story while making chai on the ancient stove. While you are listening attentively, you are following in the footsteps of thousands, or rather millions of sages who over centuries walked to the Himalayas to seek the blessing of Vasudeva.
When you say that we should see this unique place for ourselves, I can only wish we all could, but many of us have work and family responsibilities, and your excellent travelogue is the answer, as it echoes the words of an ancient sage: ” The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Thank you.
Joanna
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Please accept my apologies dearest Joanna, for a very late response to your heartfelt and motivating comment. Also that you could visit the video and saw it thoroughly.
I hope slowly as it may, i could take you closer to the spirit of this country that you love so much as much as I do here.
Dhanyavad 🌺
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Thank you, Narayan, for your beautiful reply, and you are more than welcome! It does not matter about the delay in replying, as it is better late than never.
Joanna
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PS. I missed you!
Joanna
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Narayan it’s rare to find a shilagram and linga in a temple together. You are blessed.
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Thank you GC, of course it is rare. Apologies for taking time to write. Hoping you are better now and well equipped to move and dance during Durga Pujo 🙂
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Don’t worry about the late reply. I am better but not exactly in a position to dance 😉
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love the rich blessings and artful photos, Nara! ❤️
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