Baijnath Temple is situated 19 kms away from Kausani in Uttarakhand. Baijnath is a small town on the banks of the Gomti River in the Bageshwar district. The hamlet of Baijnath is situated at an altitude of 1126 metres. Situated here is the famous Baijnath temple dedicated to lord Shiva. This temple is a famous pilgrimage spot in the Kumaon region. Temples of Baijnath located in the Garur valley of Katyur and is surrounded by verdant green hills and beautiful terraced fields. The temple complex known for its historic importance as well as architectural grandeur is visited by hordes of tourists every year.
According to local legend, Shiva and Parvati got married at the confluence of Garur River and Gomti River close to the temple.
Baijnath, historically known as Kartikeyapura, lies in the heart of the Katyur Valley. It was the capital of the dynasty of the Katyuri kings, who ruled Uttarakhand between the 6th and 11th centuries. Baijnath Temple was built by the Kumaon Katyuri king in around 1150 A.D.
The Baijnath Temple is dedicated to Shiva who is worshipped here as Vaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians. It is actually a complex of small stone temples dedicated to Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. These temples are 1000 years old and are decorated with some intricate and delicate carvings. The statues and carvings on the stone stand testimony to the artistic excellence of the artisans of the bygone era. The main 10th century temple houses a beautiful idol of Goddess Parvati which is chiseled in black stone. It can be approached from the riverside by a flight of steps made of stones which is said to be constructed under the orders of a Katyuri queen.
Here special prayers are offered in the morning and evening every day. Thousands of tourists throng the hamlet during Mahashivratri to visit the temple of Baijnath.
How to reach Baijnath temple
Pantnagar airport is the nearest airport which is 175 km away. Regular flights from Delhi connect to Pantnagar. Taxis can be hired from the airport to reach Baijnath. Delhi is the closest international airport about 440 km away. Kathgodam is the nearest railhead which is at a distance of 160 km from Baijnath. Kathgodam is well connected to cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Kanpur, Jammu, etc. by rail. Baijnath is 17 km from Kasauni. State-owned buses connect Baijnath to Almora, Ranikhet, Nainital, Kasauni and Pithoragarh. Overnight buses ply regularly between Delhi and Kasauni.