Mukteshwar: Salvation for the soul

Standing on the top of the Chauuri Jhali gazing into the vistas of the amora valley
and the tremendous view it commands. I dont know much of sucidal tendencies but
when you are at the edge of the peak,I do sometime have the urge to jump. Over
the years when its cousin across distance have been flooding in with more tourist,
more hotels, more taxis. I am glad to say Mukteshwar hasnt changed much, it
continues just to be a point which can be tickedoff in the excusions list from
Nainital. The beauty of the place is unparalled to any of the cousins. Jim Coebett
himself fell in love with the place in 1929 when he came to Mukteshwar in search of
a Man Eating tiger. This pearl of a place would continue to be hidden from the world,
it might well be just a trek route from Bhowali if not for a disease Congenation in
Pune. The Pune city was too crowded to conduct any research on the subject,
Mukteshwa which was undergoing a cattle disease (Rinderpest). The disease link
between the two places and the the cool zephyr Muketeshwar offers to its visitors
woked in the small hamlets favour and Impreial Bacterial Laboratory was set up in
1893. After Independene it was named Indian Vietnay Research Institute.

What to do in Mukteshwar?
At a height of 7,500 ft above sea level, filled with lush green forestu h Mukteshwar
is the best hillstation as they come. What really one needs to do is get rid of the car
and walk into the rodedendrons and pine forest. Following trails which often leads to
no where. It is a good placeto get lost. Just before you hit Chowfulli a road leads to
the Methodist Church, the road has been well carved out now. The architechture of
the churh is simple and elegant much like the people inhibiting the small city. The
Church has been well preserved with th tin roof and painted walls.
The Mukteshwar Temple after whom the temple is named where Lord Shiva granted
mukti to an assur is a hike for those who are religiously inclined. The temple is
more than 350 years old and continue to be a major attraction for the tourist
coming to the city. Chauti Jhali is cerata

We have only two monthsmuc of traffic after that there is not much tourist to come
by says my guesthuse owner. I feel sorry for her. Much of the soace of the
taditional hotels/guest house has been occupoed with villas/chains which add very
littleto the local economy, just a trickle down effect. Thevilagers e nearby villages
get employed in the kitchen for as low as 3000 ruppes with little chance of growth.
The migration problem is really an issue here.