Dwarahat – Is It Worth Your Visiting?

It is a small hamlet, Dwarahat-Babaji cave  & Ashram is located near Ranikhet in the Kumaon region of the northern state of Uttarakhand. Which is perched at an average elevation of 1500 meters The mountains make it a very special place with a beautiful view of the Himalayas. Dwarahat Uttarakhand is also known as a city of hundred temples.

Mahavatar Babaji Cave

Dwarahat is the nearest town to the Dunagiri Mountains, where, the holy cave of Mahavatar Babaji is perched.  where Mahavatar Babaji taught the Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya in 1861 in the cave.  Dwarahat is soaked with the energy of the Mahavatar Babaji, who brought the ancient science of Pranayama into this world and made it available to common people through his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya.

Dwarahat – Significance 

The spiritual importance of the great is vividly narrated through the words of  Paramhansa Yogananda in his book “ An autobiography of a Yogi “ in the chapter, titled  “Materializing a Palace in the Himalayas.”

There is an Ashram is called Yogoda Satsang Sakha, which is situated about 1.5 km from Dwarahat hamlet, and the Ashram is environed by beautiful Himalayan pine forest & lofty peaks of the mountains. While heading to the Ashram, on the right side, there is a Rest House of KMVN. Where Sri Daya Mata, the head of YSS lived from 1995 to 2010.

Babaji’s Cave is the locality where Mahavatar Babaji gave his first teaching on Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya. The cave is located on Pandukholi Hill at 1-hour walking distance from the small hamlet of Kukuchina (25 km from Dwarahat).

Suggested Read – Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram Dwarahat: A Tranquil Among Nature

Mahavatar Babaji  Cave Trekking Route

The trekking path to the cave has been rebuilt and paved to facilitate its devotees. The trek up to the Babaji cave employs less than one hour for the average walking person. During the monsoon season, there are a few water streams sprout along the trek route which fills the Gogash River with plenty of water is also described in an Autobiography of a Yogi.

Suggested Read – Mahavatar Babaji Cave: A Walk Through An Abode of Kriya Yoga

History of Dwarahat, Uttarakhand

It is a small town in the Kumaun Mountains of Almora and is located at an altitude of 1510 meters. It is also known for its archaeological and historical significance.

This place has many beautiful and famous temples and this place is also called a “village of temples”. Dwarahat is home to 8 temples from the 10th-12th century, most of which are pyramid shapes, made of stones. Dunagiri and Nathana Devi Temple are two major attractions, known as Shakti Temple.

It was ruled by the Katyuri Kings from the 10-12the century 

Suggested Read – Katyuri Valley -The Heritage of Ancient HinduTemples in Uttarakhand

 Dwarahat Temple

It is a part of Almora District, an ancient place in Uttarakhand. This place is located at a distance of 15 miles (about 28.8 km) from Ranikhet. It has 3 kinds of temples – Kachari, Maniya, and Ratnadev.

The city has been an important pilgrim center for pilgrims visiting Badrinath. Due to its cultural importance, Dwarahat is also known as “Uttar Dwarka” (North Dwarka – the residence of Lord Krishna). Archaeologically, it is a group of 55 temples, and they can be divided into 7 groups.

1-Gujar Dev Temple 2-Kachari Dewal Temple 3-Mandeve Temple 4-Ratan Dewal 5-Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple 6-Badrinath Temple 7-Kedarnath Temple. All these temples were constructed between the 10 and 12 centuries by the Katyuri dynasty, and also was capital of the Katyuri Dynasty