Mankameshwar Temple In Ranikhet

Travel To India > Ranikhet > Mankameshwar Temple In Ranikhet

Perched at an elevation of 1824 mts, Ranikhet is a hill resort situated in the Kumaon region of Uttaranchal, India. A part of Almora district, Ranikhet is situated about 50 kms away from Almora. The word Ranikhet literally means 'A Queen's meadow'. According to the popular fable, the place is said to be discovered by a 12th century Katyuri Queen who was so mesmerized by the beauty of the place that she decided to reside here only and the king built a palace for her and named the place Ranikhet. But somehow the town was lost into oblivion and was later rediscovered by the Britishers who converted it into a cantonment town for its imperial army. Even today the prestigious Kumaon regiment of the Indian army has its base here. After independence, the place was totally under the control of the army and they have maintained the place in their regal demeanor.

Mankameshwar temple is a very important temple of Ranikhet. Located near the telephone exchange, it is an ancient temple. Standing still as a testament to the bygone era, the temple was damaged due to natural forces. The ravages of time are clearly impinged on the temple but soon after army rule prevailed, they undertook everything and reconstructed and renovated the premises of the temple. The primordial temple was refurbished by the jawans of the prestigious Army regiment of Kumaon in 1978. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the devotees throng the temple in large numbers especially on Mondays in the month of 'Sawan' i.e. during monsoons. It is considered auspicious for the unmarried girls to visit the temple during this period.

Other presiding deities in the temple are Ma Kalika and Radha- Krishna. Ma Kalika or Goddess Kali is known for her valor and courageous fervor and it is believed that the goddess reincarnates to save her partisans. She is considered as an epitome of audacity and fearlessness and is particularly favored amongst army personnel.

The temple is situated very close to the Nar Singh Maidan, which is a large and very popular ground in Ranikhet. The temple was rebuilt by Indian Army's Kumaon Regimental Centre for military purposes. The temple is frequented by a large number of devotees, especially the family members of the defense employees of the Kumaon division.

The ambience of the temple is very serene and pictorial. With snow clad mountain peaks in the backdrop, the environs of the Mankameshwar temple are really charming and picturesque. The weather here is cool and salubrious all round the year and the temple can be visited any time of the year.

Very close to the temple is situated a Gurudwara, a religious place of the Sikh community. Nearby is positioned a factory of woolen clothes and shawls; here beautiful Kumaoni shawls are fabricated.

The nearest airport to Mankameshwar temple is Pantnagar airport sited about 120 kms and the nearest railhead is at Kathgodam which is about 84 kms away from Ranikhet. By road, it takes about 9-10 hrs to reach the Mankameshwar temple from Delhi.

Mankameshwar temple, located near Ranikhet, is a quaint but magnificent temple and is worth a visit.