Kashipur -- the religious town of Drona Sagar Lake with ancient legends

Kashipur is an ancient town in Uttarakhand and its origin goes back to centuries. Drona Sagar Lake, Chaiti Mandir, and the Lord Shiva temple are the major attractions here. The city is mostly visited by devotees. Read on.

Kashipur is a town in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. It is an old town that was known by the name of Govishn during 606 to 647 AD under the rule of Harshavardhana. The ruins of old structures and various settlements are still obvious although the town has made a lot of progress in the recent years. These days Kashipur is more popular for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) that is situated here. Visitors who arrive here like to spend a couple of days in hotels in Kashipur as the accommodations offer a reasonable tariff. People with a travel plan to explore Uttrakhand pass through Kashipur and make a break journey. The nearest airport to Kashipur is in Pantnagar. The town is well connected to many major cities, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Chandigarh.

Places often have interesting folklores and legends behind their names. During the 16th and 17th centuries, one of the officials of the Chad kings, named Kashinath Adhikari, founded the township and thus the place inherited its name from his. The main attraction in Kashipur is the Drona Sagar Lake which is believed which is popularly associated with Guru Dronacharya from the Mahabharata era. Dronacharya was a teacher and the pandavas and kauravas were his disciples. It is also believed that the Drona Sagar Lake of Kashipur was built by the Pandavas as a Guru Dakshina, a form of obligatory offering given in the lieu of the teachings received. In the Skandapurana, one of the holy scriptures of ancient literature, it is written that the water of the Drona Sagar Lake is as holy as that of the Ganga river. Currently, this sacred lake is a prime attraction and it has a number of lotuses in it. The whole area around the lake is protected by the archeological authorities, owing to its historic and symbolic importance of heritage. Another attraction in the town is the Bala Sundari Mandir which is also known as Chaiti Mandir. During March, when the Navratras or the holy nine nights arrive, a grand fair is organized at this temple site. People from neighbouring places and far-off areas visit to pay their devotion. One more site of deep religious significance in Kashipur is the temple of Moteshwar Mahadev. It was known as Dakini state in old days. At Ujjanak, a place near Kashipur, Bheem Shankar Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva is situated. It is obvious that Kashipur is an educational hub and a religious center. The Chaiti Mela and the temples are a witness of the cultural and devotional sentiments of the town. Devotees to visit Kashipur visit the the religious sites and offer their prayers. Since the town is well connected reaching here is easy. Best time to visit Kashipur is during March. Some of the popular Kashipur hotels that offer a warm hospitality are The Manor, Kumaon Plaza, Hotel Ananya Regency, etc.