Ever felt like following in Julia Robert’s footsteps as Elizabeth Gilbert in the movie ‘Eat Pray and Love’ and leaving on a spiritual quest?… in pursuit of finding a meaning in life? An abode for many a spiritual destination, here’s one in India known for its many ashrams. Translating to Kashi (light) of the north, Uttarkashi located in the Garhwal Himalayas, is a place of immense beauty, and the base to pilgrim destinations such as Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Known as the place visited by many a sage or saint to meditate and pray, this mystical town also finds its mention in the Mahabharata, as the place where the great Indian sage Jada Bharatha performed his penance.

A temple town known for its numerous temples and ashrams, it is said that at some point of time this town housed over 365 temples; today however only 32 temples exist. Some of the most prominent temples here include the Vishwanath temple, an ancient temple situated in the centre of the town. This important  temple is known to house a Shivling, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Just opposite this temple is the Shakti Temple,dedicated to the Goddess of Strength, that houses a 6 meter high trishul (weapon) made of iron and copper, which according to legend is the one used by Goddess Durga to slay demons.

Other temples of importance are the Annapurna Temple, Bhairav Temple, Ma Kali temple, Hanuman Temple, Ganga Temple, Kali Mandir,  Sakhsi Gopal Temple, Gangoti temple, Markandey Rishi Temple, Dundiraj temple, Ganesh temple, Gopeshwar Mahadev temple, Gopal temple, Koteshwar Mahadev temple, Sitaram Temple, Kedareshwar Mahadev temple, etc.

Whilst temples are definitely one of the main attractions here, this destination is not only a pilgrim’s but also a trekker’s dream  known for some stunning trekking trails, enveloped by beauty and surrounded by the some breathtaking hill stations such as Chamoli, Dehradhun, Himachal, Tibet, Rudraprayag, and Tehri, Uttarkashi is known for some interesting viewpoints, where one can enjoy nature at its best.

At an altitude of 3506 metres, Har Ki Dunis an interesting trekking destination is a must try for the scenic trekking trails it provides. Here trekkers can enjoy not just trekking through dense forests but also the scenic Ruinsara lake, about 8 km from Osla.

Scenic treks to other popular lakes include ones to Nachiketa Tal, Sat Tal (Seven Lakes), Dodi Tal and Kedar Tal. While trekking up to these lakes can be hard, the stunning beauty of these lakes makes the effort worthwhile. At Kedar Tal one can enjoy some picturesque views of the majestic Thalayasagar Peak against the backdrop of this beautiful lake, while Dadi Tal is a picture perfect lake enclosed by thick forests and scenic mountain peaks, where tourists can catch up on some angling.

The Gaumukh glacier, the starting place of Bhagirathi (Ganga), is another pilgrim destination held in high regard. Here devotees in spite of the chilly waters, don’t miss an opportunity to bathe in its holy waters.  Further up from here is Nandan-Van Tapovan, again frequented by devotees for the views of the stunning Shivling peak.

Dayara Bugyal, (Bugyal meaning ‘high altitude meadow’ in the local language) is another destination of stunning beauty, offering some breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Covered by flowers in the summers, come winters and it transforms into an excellent ski slope, where tourists can enjoy and  catch up on their favorite sport.

Just 13 km from Uttarkashi is Maneri, a wonderful picnic spot formed as a result of a dam being built over the Bhagirathi River. Another interesting destination is Harsil, a breathtakingly beautiful valley from where tourists can enjoy some paranomic iews of the ‘Sat Dal’ or seven lakes.

The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is another interesting attraction at Uttarkashi, established on 14 Nov, 1965 in honour of the late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, a mountain lover.

An attraction that should not be missed, its aim is to pass on theoretical and practical training to young men, women and children in mountaineering and adventure courses. From artificial rock formations to indoor walls that provides the same thrill of the mountains but in a controlled environment, this is truly a wonderful attraction here. The Himalayan Museum is a great place to learn more about the Himalayas, its terrain, stories of explorers and their expeditions, while one can learn more about the flora found in the Himalayas in ‘The Himalayan Flora Park’ , the green house ‘Nandan Kanan’ is where flora is grown under controlled environment. Last but not the least here is the souvenir shop “Koteshwar” where one can pick a variety of souvenirs at an affordable price.

From here one must also visit Gangnani, not only is it known for its several thermal springs but is the perfect meditation place. A temple dedicated to sage Parasara, father of Veda Vyas is also located here. Another interesting visit is the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, a place of stunning beauty, where nature lovers can enjoy the beauty of the snow capped mountains, glaciers and thick forest around.

Gangotri and Yamunotri are two breathtakingly beautiful pilgrim destinations nearby toured by thousands of pilgrims visiting the place, the latter being one of the ‘char dharms’ considered auspicious by Hindus across India.

A land of rishis, sages, sanyasis and holy men, this land is also known as ‘Devbhumi’ or the land of the gods, ‘Brahma Pura’ by Hiuen Tsang (the seventh century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim), or Varunavata by the Skanda Puran is a centre of major religious importance for Hindus. Also famous as it is believed in the second millennium of Kaliyug, the divine destination of Kashi will be submerged and replaced by this holy city Uttarkashi.