Staying inside a forest and enjoying the view of the snow-peaked Himalayan mountain range is what Binsar is for you. You will not get another destination in Kumaon, where you can stay inside a heritage hotel in a forest and walk through the jungle trails while the mesmerising views of mountains peep every now and then through the dense forest of oak, pine and rhododendron.
The Flora and fauna of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary are very rich with many animals, birds and rare species of trees and orchids. And the mountain range that can be viewed is almost 270 degrees wide, with Garhwal Himalayas on the west and Nepal Himalayas on the east.
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Table of Contents
About Binsar
Binsar is situated at 2420 metres height from sea level inside the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand state in India. It was once the summer capital of Chand Dynasty rulers who ruled the Kumaon region from the 11th century to the 18th century AD. Later the British also loved this place as their summer capital and decided to make many estates, including the residence of the commissioner of the Kumaon region. As the area is located at the top of a hill in the lower Himalayas, Binsar offers a splendid view of snow-peaked Himalayas from the Garhwal Himalayas to the Nepal Himalayas.
The name Bisnsar came from the Binneswar Mahadev temple constructed in the 16th century inside the forest. The place is situated inside a conserved forest, so only a few tourists can visit this place every day. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is stretched over 45 square kilometres of area, and the altitude is from 900 metres to 2500 metres.
Mammals like leopards, gorals, deer, wild foxes, wild boars, grey langurs etc., inhabit the forest. The majestic view of the Himalayas from inside the dense forest of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary makes Binsar one of the most beautiful places in Kumaon. And the blooming of red Rhododendrons during March-April intensifies the grandeur of the forest manyfold.
How to reach
Binsar is almost 90 kilometres from Nainital and 25 kilometres from Almora. It takes 4 hours to reach Binsar from Nainital. The road condition is good. To enter Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, you must get a permit from the entry gate. From the entry gate to the zero point, the distance is around 10 kilometres. The road is a narrow jungle trail accommodating one car at a time.
Entry Time: 8 am – 5 pm
Entry Fee: Indian / Foreigner – ₹150 / V600, Student – ₹75, Small vehicle – ₹250
How to reach by road
There are buses available from Delhi ISBT to Nainital. From Nainital, you have to hire a cab and reach Binsar. You can also reach Almora by shared cab and book a cab from Almora to your hotel in Binsar.
How to reach by train
The nearest railway station to Binsar is Kathgodam, at a distance of 105 kilometres. Taxis are available from Kathgodam to Almora. Buses are available from Kathgodam to Almora and Bageswar. From there, you will have to book a cab to Binsar.
How to reach by air
The nearest airport to Binsar is Pantnagar Airport, at a distance of 140 kilometres. Flights to Pantnagar run via Delhi or Dehradun. The distance from Delhi airport to Chaukori is 395 kilometres, and it is a 10-hour journey to reach Binsar directly from Delhi airport.
Book your flight to Pantnagar or Delhi!!
When to visit
The best time to visit Binsar is between October-December and March-June. You can go to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary throughout the year, although the roads are in bad condition during monsoon.
In winter, the place becomes chilling cold. If you can manage this cold at night without any electricity from 9 pm to 6 pm the next day, then you will be greeted by the best views of the Himalayas from Binsar during the winter months.
In March and April, the blooming of red Rhododendron flowers makes the forest more gorgeous.
Where to stay
The best place to stay inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is the KMVN Tourist Rest House. It is closest to Zero Point, the highest point inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The open terrace inside the rest house offers 180-degree views of the snow-peaked Himalayan ranges.
The rooms are decent, with an in-house restaurant that provides delicious food. The room tariff includes buffet breakfast and dinner with limited options. Electricity is only available from 6 pm – 9 pm. You will be provided hot water for drinking and one bucket of hot water for bathing at 8 in the morning.
The other two options to stay in Binsar are Grand Oak Manor and Khali Estate. Grand Oak Manor was the residence of Sir Henry Ramsay, the commissioner of Kumaon during the British era. Now it is converted into a heritage hotel.
Khali Estate was also owned by Sir Ramsay once, which later hosted many important personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
What to do
Sit back and watch the snow peaked Himalayas
Binsar offers a spectacular view of the Garhwal Himalayas to the Nepal Himalayas. A wide range of peaks starting from Mt Yamunotri in the west to Mt Nampa in the east, can be seen from Binsar. Sacred peaks like Mt Nandadevi, Mt Trishul, Mt Nandakot, Mt Kedarnath, Mt Neelkantha and Panchachulli peaks can be seen from Binsar.
The first rays of sunrise and the last rays of sunset over these snow-capped peaks look stunning from Binsar. Even the sweeping views of the undulating valleys from Binsor top are breathtaking. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the views throughout the day.
Walk along the jungle trail inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
There are many forest trails to explore inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The most visited one is the trail that goes to zero point or Jhandi Dhar. The trail starts 100 metres ahead of Binsar TRH. It is a well-laden path through oak, pine and rhododendron forest. Zero Point has a watchtower from where a magnificent view of the snowcapped Himalayas is visible. This trail is 2.5 kilometres long and can be covered in 40 minutes.
The smell of wildflowers, the sound of the breeze through pine trees, the chirping of birds and the play of light through the dense forest accompanied me along the entire trail. I was not lucky to spot an animal apart from birds. But you can see a wild fox, deer or a leopard if unlucky. The guide is not a must along this trail, but many other trails inside Binsar Forest can be explored with the help of a forest guide.
Visit Binneswar Mahadev Temple and Golu Devta Temple
Binneswar Mahadev Temple is located inside the Binsar forest. The name Binsar comes from this temple. It is said that the temple is situated at the centre of the mystical cross, with important Shiva and Durga temples precisely 14 kilometres away in all four cardinal directions. Locals believe that the Beenweswar Mahadev Temple’s deity, God Shiva, can bring rain on worshipping.
Dana Golu is a local deity in Binsar who saves the birds and animals in the forest and guides the lost to find a way inside the forest. Golu Devta is a handsome white man who rides on a horse and moves across the forest. The temple is located just outside the forest, a few kilometres ahead of the entry gate and stands like a guardsman of Binsar forest.
Meditate beside Kasar Devi Temple
Kasar Devi Temple is located midway between BInsar and Almora. It is situated on top of a hill where a KAsar Devi (Durga) temple and a Shiva Temple are located. It is said that the Kasar Devi Temple has existed here since the 2nd century CE. The place became prominent when Swami Vivekananda came to meditate in a cave beside the temple.
Kasar Devi is believed to come inside the Van Allen Belt, which makes this region in a geomagnetic field trapping cosmic rays like Stonehedge in England and Machu Pichu in Peru. This makes Kasar Devi an ideal place for meditation. In the mid-twentieth century, many spiritual activists visited this place and stayed in Kasar Devi. Celebrities like Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Cat Stevens also visited this place.
Mobile connectivity
The mobile network of Vodafone and Jio in Binsar TRH is good, but in other places, especially along the trail towards Zero Point, I did not get any network in some areas.
An itinerary for Binsar
If you want to enjoy the views of the Himalayan Peaks from Binsar, then a night stay is sufficient if the sky is clear. To explore the forest, you must stay at least two nights in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Day 1 – Dalhi / Nainital to Binsar (remember forest entry gate closes at 5 pm)
Day 2 – Explore Binsar with a guide
Day 3 – Binsar to Nainital / Chaukori / Almora / Kausani. Visit Kasar Devi Temple on the way.
Book your trip: Resources
- Flight
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.
- Accommodation
Tripadvisor and Agoda are perfect for booking your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would greatly help you find one at your convenience.
- Travel Insurance
World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection from them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.
- Package Tour and Activities
You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company arranging small group tours and customising them per your requirements. You can also use Get Your Guide to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. You will be directed to another third-party website when you click those links. If you purchase anything via those links, I will earn a referral bonus without any extra cost to you.
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