Hey, Travel lovers! Looking for a quick getaway during Holi? Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Nainital and spend it in a peaceful space? Then Binsar is the place to go. Situated in Uttarakhand, it was the summer capital of Chand Kings, who ruled Kumaon from 11th- 18th centuries AD. 2412m above sea level, Binsar is a protected shrinking broad leaf oak (Quercus) forest in the central Himalayan region. The namesake Binsar came from the ancient Bineswar Temple, now situated inside what we now know as Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.
HISTORY: -
·
Grand
Oak Manor: -
It was the summer home and work station of Sir Henry Ramsay, the
commissioner of Kumaon from 1856- 1884.
·
Khali
Estate: -
This estate was owned by Sir Henry Ramsay, it is now converted into a
heritage hotel.
It was known later to be owned by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi
and Indira Gandhi.
·
Mary
Budden Estate: -
Located 8000ft above sea level, it is now a colonial home and a temple
FLORA AND FAUNA: -
In Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary you will find 25 types of trees, 24 types of
bushes and 7 varieties of grasses.
It is a protected shrinking broad leaf oak (Quercus) forest, filled with
oak, pine and rhododendron trees. When you enter Binsar you will see the local
people always carrying beautiful red rhododendrons which diverts you from your
monotonous city life to a land filled with colours.
Binsar has an abundance of Fauna, it has more than 200 species of birds.
Leopards are a common occurrence in Binsar. Other than that Himalayan Goral,
Chital, Musk Deer, Jungle Cat, Red Fox and Black bear etc. are also found in
Binsar.
Forktails, Parakeets, Laughingthrush, Magpies and Eurasian Jays etc. are
also a part of the endless fauna found in Binsar. When you visit the nature
trail you will be greeted by the harmonious sounds of different birds which
will constantly bless your ears with natural music.
HOW TO GET TO BINSAR: -
To go to Binsar there are 3 ways, you travel by car, bus or train.
If you prefer to travel by train then it will take at most 7hrs from New
Delhi to Kathgodam Station from where you can take a cab to Binsar which is
3hrs 53mins away.
If you prefer to travel by bus then it will take average 9hrs to reach
Nainital from Delhi, then you can rent a cab to go to Binsar.
I wouldn’t prefer a car to travel to Binsar but if you decide it then it
will take at most 13hrs to reach Binsar from Delhi.
The road inside the wildlife sanctuary is not that good, you would have
to be slow and cautious as it is also frequently used by animals.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: -
Why should you go to Binsar? Binsar is a secluded wildlife reserve, it is
away from any kind of modern advancement, if you stay inside the Binsar
Wildlife Sanctuary at KMVN Tourist Rest House then you will see that they use
solar energy for generating electricity hence there is no T.V, Geyser or even
landline phone in the rooms hence you cannot call room service. The lights
inside the rooms are also just enough to illuminate the rooms and there is
water scarcity in Binsar so they would ask you to not waste water. It is a
perfect getaway for nature lovers as the first spot you will visit is going to
be the Zero-point, Zero Point is a 2-2.5 km nature trail that ends in the view
point, from the view point you see the Kedarnath Range, Trisul, Nanda Devi,
Nanda Kot, Panchachuli and Shivling etc. Binsar is also very famous for its
sunrise and sunsets, you will see that during sunrise the peaks turn completely
golden, it is a scene that stays in your heart forever.
At the entry point of Binsar there is a mini-Flora and Fauna Museum and
almost 7km beyond the entry point you will find the ancient Bineswar Shiv
Temple, adjacent to the Temple is a beautiful and quaint little café called the
Simba Café which will provide you an alternate option for breakfast and lunch
inside the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The cost of dining at KMVN Tourist Rest House is a bit expensive as it is
situated deep inside the Sanctuary, when I visited Binsar the costs were
·
Breakfast:
- Rs 250/ person
·
Lunch:
- Rs 350/ person
·
Dinner:
- Rs 375/ person
·
Tea:
- Rs 25 / cup
·
Pakora:
- Rs 70- Rs 150
Even though KMVN Binsar is in an extremely secluded spot it provides you
with every kind of comfort the employees can afford. As it is very near to the
Himalayan Peaks it becomes extremely cold at night so the staff of KMVN provide
you with hot water bags to keep you warm as there is no heater provided in the
rooms. The staff are very friendly and will always help you and cater to your
needs with smiles on their faces. But you are not allowed to leave the hotel
premises after 5:30 pm as it is dangerous, it is the time when leopards and
animals usually come out to hunt. You are also strictly prohibited to bring any
non-vegetarian food under the wildlife act inside the sanctuary as it attracts
different kinds of Predators.
I enjoyed my stay in Binsar it taught me sustainable living, it forced me even if for 2 days to live without internet and taught me how humans and nature especially the feared predators can co-exist together in harmony. I hope you all decide to visit this beautiful sanctuary and enjoy the gifts our mother nature has bestowed upon us.