Kainchi Dham – New Age Spiritual Abode in Nainital
Located about 20 km from Nainital, Kainchi Dham is emerging as a modern pilgrimage destination in Uttarakhand. It got its curious name from its location – a place where two hills are crossing each other in the shape of a scissor, which translates to ‘Kainchi’ in Hindi.
Kainchi Dham also served as the spiritual base for the modern-day spiritual Guru Shri Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj ji where he spent his last years. He was also an avid devotee of Lord Hanuman.
Even after his passing away, the ashram and temple he built on the premises are said to reverberate with his essence and godliness. The first thing one would notice upon stepping foot inside the ashram is how spotlessly clean its premises are! The ashram oozes with positive vibrations, allegedly characteristic of its founder’s presence. The place draws thousands of devotees every year and is a haven for people seeking calm and peace.
History of Kainchi Dham
Neem Karoli Ashram stands as an oasis of silence and serenity on the Nainital– Almora road. The spiritual refuge situated in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand consists of a simple temple devoted to Lord Hanuman. It is said that the Maharaj ji first constructed a platform commemorating the site, which was previously used by two other spiritual teachers, namely Sombari Maharaj and Sadhu Premi Babu. They used it to perform Yagna in the Kainchi village. Later, a temple devoted to Maharajji’s Ishta Devata, Lord Hanuman was constructed over the same raised platform. As devotees started pouring in, Kirtans, Bhandaras, and Bhajans began to take place.
The day of 15 June began to be celebrated as the Pratishta Divas. Even today, the special day attracts such a large number of followers to Kainchi Dham Ashram and temple that it gets hectic for the district authorities to regulate traffic in the region.
After the baba passed away in 1973, his disciples and devotees volunteered to construct a temple in his name at the site. The temple bears a ‘Kalash’ containing the ashes of his mortal body and also a Murti of the spiritual teacher.
The temple precincts also consist of a holy cave that is said to have served as the holy space for prayer and meditation for Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj ji during his lifetime.
Baba’s Reach in the West!
A small ashram also developed around the temple, serving as the base for devotees and disciples who sought out the blessings of the beloved spiritual teacher. Many well-known spiritual leaders of the West, like Ram Dass, were disciples of Maharajji and are said to have spent time with the beloved spiritual teacher at this very place. His devotees consider it mandatory to visit the temple at least once in their lifetime.
Who is Neem Karoli Baba?
Neem Karoli Baba was an Indian mystic and spiritual teacher who lived between 1900 and 1973. Neem Karoli Baba was born as Lakshmi Narayan Sharma in the village of Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman, whose temple he constructed at Kainchi Dham. Many people even consider the spiritual teacher to be an incarnation of Lord Hanuman.
Maharaj ji, a term he often affectionately referred to as, served as a spiritual teacher for many westerners, the well-known among them being Bhagawan Dass, Ram Dass (of ‘Be Here Now’ fame), Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, and Rampriya Das. Ashrams of Neem Karoli Baba are situated in Shimla, Rishikesh, Vrindavan, Neem Karori village, Lucknow, New Delhi, Hanuman Gadi, Bhumiadhar, and Taos (USA).
Miracles of Neem Karoli Baba
Many anecdotes and stories are popular from his life. Let us narrate one such incident. Once he was caught travelling on a train without a ticket. The conductor refused to let the baba travel any further and threw him out of the train at Neem Karori village.
Then, something strange happened. The train would not start again. Upon the urging of fellow passengers to let the sadhu be back inside the train, railway officials complied and requested the Maharaj ji to board the train. It is said that the baba agreed upon the condition that a railway station be built in the very village of Neem Karori. Once it was agreed and he entered the train coach, the engine began to move.
No wonder, natives in Haridwar called him ‘Chamatkari baba’ (Chamatkari means miracle). He was also addressed by many other names, Tallaiya Baba, Lakshman Das baba, Handi Wallah Baba, and Tikonia walla Baba among others.
Baba’s Philanthropic Works
Neem Karoli Baba taught bhakti yoga and sewa as means to attain self-realization. He inspired the seeds for many philanthropic projects in some of his disciples. After spending time at the ashram in Kainchi Dham, Larry Brilliant and Ram Dass founded the Seva Foundation in the USA.
The organization commits to making the planet free of poverty and also works in the health sector. Till now, the organization has helped restore the eyesight of more than 3.5 million blind people in the world.
Another philanthropic organization built along the foundational teachings of Mahara ji's ‘Love Serve Remember’ evolved in the late 2000s.
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg's Connection to Kainchi Dham
The Ashram and temple of Kainchi Dham remained largely unknown in India. It was only since Steve Jobs revealed his connection with the ashram that it began to gain popularity and attracted myriads of visitors.
Apparently, Jobs spent about a year in India seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment. Although he was eager to have Darshan of Neem Karoli Baba, he was met with the disappointing news of his death a few months prior to his visit.
His stay at the ashram in Kainchi Dham proved life-changing, though. He received a clear vision of his mission ahead in life, and later he is said to have advised Mark Zuckerberg to visit the temple at Kainchi Dham while the latter was passing through a rough phase in his life. Surprisingly, even Mark Zuckerberg attributed the reversal of his fortune to his stay at Kainchi Dham. Whether or not the alleged miracles are true, Kainchi Dham established itself as a highly sought-after pilgrim destination after the incidents came to light.
Annual Fair at the Kainchi Dham
The annual fair of Kainchi Dham attracts about 1 lakh devotees from different parts of Uttarakhand and neighbouring states. The fair is held on June 15 as an annual commemoration of the founding day of the Ashram and Hanuman Temple.
Accommodation near Kainchi Dham
Although the ashram houses facilities for accommodation, being able to stay inside its premises may prove quite difficult. One needs a letter of introduction and a reference letter from an older devotee to get permission to stay on its premises. Even then, the maximum allowable stay is only for three days.
One can find accommodation in certain hotels and lodges situated nearby. These include Guru Kripa Guest House, Sudha Amar Retreat Hotel, and other guest houses in Bhowali (8 km away). Due to a lack of proper facilities for accommodation, many tourists and pilgrims choose to stay at Almora/Nainital.
Best Time to Visit
Although the Dham welcomes pilgrims all around the year, the best to visit Kainchi Dham is from March to June and September to October as the weather is pleasant. The temperature stays in the range of 10°C to 25°C, perfect for Darshan and outdoor activities. In winter, it gets closed due to very cold weather.
Also, avoid coming here during monsoons (July-August), as there’s heavy rainfall which can cause landslides and pose other risks.
How to Reach
You can reach Kainchi Dham by a variety of ways, such as:
- By Air: The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport, located about 71 km from the Dham. To reach the holy destination, simply take a taxi or a cab.
- By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kathgodam. The Kainchi Dham is about an hour long drive from Kathgodam railway station.
- By Road: Kainchi Dham can be easily accessible by road. It is situated about 9 km away from Bhowali, 17 km from Nainital, and 317 km from Delhi. From Kathgodam, Kainchi Dham is a 45 km drive away, while its distance from Lalkuan is nearly 65 km.
The Neem Karoli Baba ashram is now taken care of by Mahara ji’s main disciple, Shri Ma. If you’re looking for peace and a spiritual call, then this is a perfect place to be!
