Kainchi Dham (Neem Karoli Baba Ashram)

Kainchi, near Bhowali, Nainital district, Uttarakhand

Devta dhams

About

Kainchi Dham is the ashram and temple complex of Neem Karoli Baba in the Kumaon hills. Devotees lovingly call him Maharaj ji. It lies beside the small Shipra river on the Nainital–Almora road, near Bhowali. The name 'Kainchi' (scissors) comes from two sharp bends of the road here that look like a pair of scissors. Maharaj ji was a great devotee of Hanuman ji, and the first temple here is a Hanuman temple. The complex also has shrines of Lakshmi-Narayan, Shiv ji, Maa Vindhyavasini and other deities, and a temple with a murti of Maharaj ji. Devotees come from India and abroad for darshan and quiet prayer.

The story

In 1962 Neem Karoli Baba called Shri Purnanand, a resident of Kainchi village, and asked to see the forest spot where the sadhus Sombari Maharaj and Premi Baba had once performed yagyas. The forest was cleared, the land was taken on lease from the forest department, and a raised platform was built over the old yagya place. A Hanuman temple was built on it, and on 15 June 1964 Hanuman ji's murti was installed. Maharaj ji fixed 15 June as Kainchi's foundation day. Bhajan, kirtan and bhandaras began, and over the next years murtis of other deities were installed too. In his later years, Kainchi became Maharaj ji's main ashram. He left his body in September 1973. The urn with his ashes was kept at Kainchi, and devotees built his temple with great love: mothers wrote Ram naam on the bricks, and the workers recited the Hanuman Chalisa as they built. His murti was installed there on 15 June 1976.

Visiting

March to June and September to November are pleasant; winters are very cold. Around 15 June the road and the ashram are extremely crowded, and the district makes special traffic arrangements. Dress simply and keep silence in the ashram. Nainital is about 17 km away and Bhowali about 9 km.

Festivals

Pratishtha Diwas / Kainchi Dham Mela: 15 June (bhandara with malpua prasad)

Devta dhams

Sources