Mukteshwar

Famous as the land horror-stricken by man-eating tigers this place was visited by Jim Corbett who saved the local people by getting rid of the terror of Mukteshwar. He wrote of Mukteshwar in his book Man-Eaters of Kumaon. Nestled in the Nainital district in the state of Uttarakhand, Mukteshwar is a hilly region comprising of beautiful fruit orchards and wonderous coniferous forests. Deriving its name from the name of Lord Shiva, it is a beautiful tourist destination situated at a height of 7500 feet above the sea level in the Kumaon hills.

 

It is a calm and peaceful town that offers enchanting views of the amazing surroundings. The Mukteshwar temple located in the region is devoted to Lord Shiva who according to myths is the provider of salvation. The houses in this serene town, built with red roofs and primeval window frames still have the essence of the British times. Agriculture is the main profession of the inhabitants with potato and fruits being the major cultivation.

 

Profuse with scenic charm, the town provides beautiful views of the mighty Himalayas. The renewable energy park made by The Energy and Resources Institute, is a step towards the further development of the town. The institute fulfils all its power needs from the electricity produced by the harnessing of solar energy in this renewable park. Mukteshwar Travel guide offers the valuable knowledge about this hill town.

 

History

 

Mukteshwar was previously Muktesar; the name changed after 1947. Until 1893 the place was known for its shrines and temple before it was selected for serum production to protect animals from cattle plague. On the recommendation of the Cattle Plague Commission, the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory had its genesis on 9 December 1889 at Pune and relocated to Mukteshwar in 1893 to facilitate segregation and quarantine of highly contagious organisms. Initially the laboratory at Mukteshwar was completed in 1898 but destroyed by fire in 1899. It was resurrected in 1901. Then annual expenditure on research was Rs. 50,000. Later it was developed into the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), which later moved its headquarters to Izatnagar. Still Mukteshwar serves as the hill campus of IVRI, including facilities such as an experimental goat farm.

 

The noted Nobel winner scientist Robert Koch visited this place on request of the government of India. The microscope used by him and other historical articles are kept in the museum maintained by IVRI. Hill carved cold room in 1900 is a place of attraction for visitors. It was made to store biological materials then.

 

Famous saviour of horror-stricken people from man-eating tigers and writer Jim Corbett visited Mukteshwar. He wrote of Mukteshwar in Man-Eaters of Kumaon. Corbett wrote befitting and thrilling accounts of his experiences in the jungle. His books can be freely downloaded online.

 

Geography

 

Mukteshwar is located at 29.4722°N 79.6479°E. It has an average elevation of 2,286 metres (7,500 feet). Mukteshwar is situated in Nainital district at a distance of 51 km from Nainital, the district's administrative headquarter and 72 km from Haldwani, the largest city in Nainital.

 

Mukteshwar is rich in scenic beauty, with magnificent views of the Indian Himalayas including India's second-highest peak, Nanda Devi. Because of the hilly topography, agriculture in the area consists chiefly of potato fields and fruit orchards on terraces cut into the hillsides.

 

Climate

 

Mukteshwar has a subtropical highland climate. The pattern of seasons is similar to that in other parts of northern India, with distinct summer, monsoon and winter seasons. However, due to its high elevation, Mukteshwar is spared the intense heat of lower-lying towns and cities. Mukteshwar has cold winters and relatively cool summer with drastically escalated rain, in relation with lower altitudes, and frequent fog. Summers are warm with moderate rainfall, while the monsoon season is slightly cooler and features much heavier rain. Winters can be quite cool, and temperatures below freezing are not unusual. Snowfall occurs occasionally in December and January, though it is sparse, while the heavy rainfall events occurs during the monsoon season stretching from July to September.