Bhimtal
This is the Bhimtal, which is a city of a lake called after Bhima, the legendary figure of Mahabharata. Bhimtal is a revered for beauty and sits at 1,370 meters above sea level. The lake city which is nearby Nainital is getting more popular each day. Some of the stately, though cheaper hotels of Nainital are situated here. Bhimtal has a scenic spot which has a small island in the middle with a large aquarium that functioned as a restaurant before. Bhimtal offers spectacular views and visual delights of nature’s beauty. Roads connect Bhimtal perfectly, making it the ideal place to visit any month.
Why to Visit Bhimtal Hill Station?
Bhimtal Lake is the biggest lake in the whole Kumaon and that draws tourists to the town. On its side is the 14.8 metres high masonry Victoria dam that was built in 1883 during the British Raj to create the water storage facility. Covering about 48 hectares, the lake is home to an island at its centre that offers beautiful vistas of both the lake and the surrounding countryside. The Bhimtal Lake aquarium is located about 91 metres away from the bank of the island. These include the barking deer, kalij pheasants, koklass pheasants, and the likes. In addition, the lakeside is a good resting place for ducks and geese.
Bhimtal Travel Tips
Facilities like ATMs, petrol pumps, cafes, and restaurants are readily available at Bhimtal given its proximity to Nainital. Bhimtal skyrockets during the tourist season of April – May and in December-January. Traveling in offseason is cheap and there is no crowd at this time.
Places to Visit in Bhimtal
- Garg Parvat
- Nal Damyanti Tal
- Hidimba Parvat
- Aquarium Island Cafe Bhimtal
- Bhimtal Lake
- Butterfly Research Centre
- Bhimeshwar Mahadev Temple
- Karkotaka Temple
- Victoria Dam
- Folk Culture Museum
- Hanuman Garhi
History of Bhimtal
This town is much older than Nainital which was accidentally discovered by the British in 1841. Bhimtal was once a significant site on an ancient pedestrian way linking Kathgodam with the entire Kumaon region and beyond to Tibet. This road could have been part of the famous ancient Silk route. In the past it was a centre for study and culture with Bhimtal as well. It is said that Bhimtal is where the famous Sanskrit scholar and poet Kalidasa wrote few of his works.
Mythological about Bhimtal
Bhimtal is an ancient town in Kumaon Hill named after Bhima, a mythological character in the Mahabharata. The Bhimeshwar Temple also makes the town religiously significant. Located on the shores of Bhimtal lake, the old Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple is thought to have been established while the Pandavas were in exile and Bhim visited the place. The temple is built by Baz Bhadur a ruler of chand and raja of Kumaon.
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