A spiritual getaway to Jageshwar Dham in Uttarakhand is one of the best experiences far from the hustle of a busy metropolitan lifestyle. It is one of the Kumaon region’s hidden and most underrated nature paradises.
Location of Jageshwar
Let me begin with the geographic introduction of the Jageshwar Dham. It is located at an altitude of 1870 meters. The village is part of the Almora District in Uttarakhand, placed amid the dense deodar and pine trees forest.
The distance between the town of Almora and the Jageshwar is approximately 35 km and around 101 km from the lake city of Nainital. The drive to the temple town is a blissful experience. Each frame is a treat for a nature lover.
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam or Haldwani, and the nearest domestic airport is Bareilly airport. There are direct buses from Delhi to Almora or from Dehradun to Almora.
About Jageshwar
The temple town of Jageshwar comprises a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples dating 9th to the 13th century AD, with many preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Apart from the temples, the place has a small number of houses, shops, hotels, guest houses, a few eateries, and a lush green deodar forest.
I was introduced to this place at the age of 15. Since then, yearly family visits to the temple instilled an unusual fondness for the place. My quiet persona always strikes a chord of harmony with the peaceful surroundings of the town.
Something transcendent in the town takes you far away from the mundane despairs.
History Of Jageshwar Dham
The history of Jageshwar is full of intriguing facts.
Jageshwar is one of the oldest shiva temples in India. No definite records are available leading to the accurate construction period of the Jageshwar temple . But according to the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), they belong to the post-Gupta and pre-medieval eras. And estimated to be about 2500 years old.
These temples range from the 8th century, early Katyuri Dynasty, to the 18th century Chand Dynasty. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya visited Jageshwar Dham and re-established many temples before leaving for his journey to Kedarnath. During the early days, pilgrims would pass through Jageshwar en route to Kailash and Mansarovar.
The main temple is surrounded by tall, aged deodar trees and a calm river.
Tarun Jageshwar is one of the principal temples situated on the main premises. The temple has two door guardians: the armed Nandi and Skandi. Here, Shiva is worshipped in the form of Nagesh/Jageshwar.
The Mahamrityunjay temple is the largest and oldest temple in the Jageshwar temple complex. This temple of Shiva is eastern facing, and the Linga is worshipped as the saviour from death – Mahamrityunjay .
Various inscriptions from varied periods are inscribed on the walls and pillars of the Jageshwar temples. The dialect of inscriptions is mainly Sanskrit and Brahmi.
What To Do in Jageshwar
It seems the time stands still in this Instagram-worthy town. But it would be best if you were outdoor-loving to enjoy every bit of your time in this town.
You can choose to explore the beautiful forests , like we do, at your own pace, maybe carry a picnic hamper and make the most of the natural beauty around you. During our recent trips, I took a morning walk to the nearby village, admiring the traditional Kumaoni old houses.
Jageshwar is a great place for hiking and doing small jungle trail walks.
Bird watching is another outdoor activity that can keep you engaged for hours.
You can spend time meditating or doing yoga. There are a few yoga and spiritual retreats in the area.
Visit temple premises at the time of dawn and dusk. It is an enchanting experience, the sacred bells of aarti echoing in the mountains and touching one’s soul, bringing you close to that one almighty divine power. It is surely a relieving experience.
Explore different shrines and the museum.
Touring around Jageshwar village is a photography retreat. And you never know you might end up listening to an interesting mystifying folklore about the temple.
What do we prefer doing during our visits? Cut our ties with the outside world for a few days, praise the natural beauty, go on leisure walks, write a journal, meditate, follow a clean diet regime and get filled with tons and tons of positivity. What else does one desire from a spiritual getaway?
Where To Stay
There are many hotels, budget-friendly lodges, resorts, and guest houses in Jageshwar Dham. We picked Van Serai during one of our trips and, since then, have been loyal guests of the resort. It is located a kilometre ahead of the main temple premises.
Van Serai is perfect for a peaceful holiday. It is ideally located for those wanting to introspect, meditate or take a break from their stressful lives.
The food served at Van Serai is wholesome, delicious, strictly vegetarian, and mainly sattvic style without onion and garlic.
The kitchen team serves you the best local produce, cooked most simply and served with warmth.
Van Serai‘s in-house birding expert will be happy to initiate you into bird-watching, hiking, and jungle walking trails.
Van Serai
My Pro Travel Tips
How To Reach Jageshwar: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (Haldwani), 125 km, with direct trains arriving from Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow and other leading cities of India. Jageshwar has direct road links with Almora (35 km), Delhi (400 km) and Kathgodam. Buses and private taxis ply from these places for Jageshwar regularly.
Best Time to Visit Jageshwar is anytime before the winter. The winters are harsh, and the place is quite deserted. It might snow as well. The ‘Jageshwar Monsoon Festival ‘, held between 15 July to 15 August, takes place during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan, and the annual ‘Maha Shivratri Mela’ (Shivratri festival), which takes place during spring, has an important place in the calendar of the entire Kumaon region.
Around Jageshwar, one can explore Abbott Mount, Jhaltola, Binsar, Vridh Jageshwar, Pangot, Sat Tal, Nainital, Ranikhet , Chakori, Munsyari, and Mukteshwar.
Book your stay in advance. Being a secluded town, the hotel staff requires time to prepare the room and menu for the guests’ arrival.
Jageshwar is located in the middle of a dense forest. Nights are cold. Wearing layers is the smart way to cope with fluctuating day/night temperatures. It would be best if you packed a pair of sweatshirts or jackets to keep you warm.
You get to do a lot of walking in the wild surroundings. So pack your most comfortable and covered footwear for the trip.
I know you will not miss any mobile/laptop/iPod/kindle chargers. There is rarely any mobile network in Jageshwar, so don’t worry much about the mobile charger.
Do not forget to put in your prescription medicines. You will not get them anywhere around the area.
The food served in the Jageshwar, and the surrounding areas is strictly vegetarian (no eggs). If you have certain food allergies, it is better to tell the hotel kitchen team well in advance, so they have enough time to procure the desired ingredients from the nearby town.
It isn’t easy to source gourmet or various ingredients in the middle of the jungle. Enjoy the local cuisine served at most of the eateries around the temple.
Due to network issues and low connectivity, the digital mode of payment, including cards, doesn’t work well in Jageshwar. Hence, it is best to carry enough cash as there are no ATMs in the town.
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Pineapple Fried Rice is a sweet and spicy Asian-style one-pot rice recipe. I am sharing a vegan pineapple fried rice recipe. Be sure to watch the video!
- Reasons To LOVE Pineapple Fried Rice
- Ingredients Required
- Fried Rice Recipe Variation
- Stir Fry on High Heat
- Serving Suggestion
- Watch Pineapple Fried Rice Video
- More Pineapple Recipes
- Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe
Hina says, “ We all look forward to light and refreshing meals during the spring and summer seasons. This Thai-style pineapple fried rice recipe will be a perfect addition to your summer menu. It is sweet, spicy, refreshing, and so easy to cook.
When planning a dinner menu for summer nights, I stick to easy, fulfilling, and, most importantly, comforting dishes. Pineapple Fried Rice checks all the criteria of a perfect summer dinner .
Reasons To LOVE Pineapple Fried Rice
- vegan and gluten-free
- 20 minutes cook time
- easy to pack and reheat
- meal-prep friendly
- highly customizable
- kid approved
Do I need to convince you more to bookmark this fried rice recipe?
Ingredients Required
- Rice: You can use any variety of medium to short-grain rice. Usually, I prefer aromatic Jasmine rice . The aroma and sweetness of jasmine rice blend perfectly with the fruitiness of pineapple.
- Pineapple: A ripe and juicy pineapple is always a good choice for making fried rice and pineapple chicken curry . You can use tinned or canned pineapple slices as well. Make sure to taste canned pineapple beforehand and adjust the seasoning accordingly.
- Vegetables: From green peas , colourful pepper, and green beans to carrots or capsicum, feel free to pick vegetables of choice.
- Herbs & Spices: Garlic, Spring Onion, Red Chilli, Black Pepper
- Sauce : Light Soy Sauce, Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Other Ingredients: Salt, Sesame oil, Cashew
Fried Rice Recipe Variation
As I said in the beginning, pineapple fried rice is a highly customizable recipe.
- You can add shrimp, shredded chicken (like I did in my chicken fried rice ), bacon, or even pork to make it more delicious.
- Vegan Mushroom Fried rice is my other favourite version of the dish.
- You can make it healthier by substituting rice with quinoa, millet, and barley.
- Or you can make fried rice more nourishing by adding greens like kale, baby spinach, bok choy, or Asian stir fry greens .
Stir Fry on High Heat
Stir-frying fried rice on high heat in a cast iron wok will give you that smokey hawker centres aroma and taste. Your vegetables retain their nutrients, and the rice becomes a little crispy!
Less cooking + optimal flavour = healthy win!
Do not cook the ingredients or rice for too long on low heat. It’s quick & easy! Prep = 15 minutes, cooking = 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestion
Serve fried rice in a pineapple boat instead of a bowl to make a culinary impression.
Here are the steps to make the pineapple boat:
- Cut the whole pineapple lengthwise from the centre into two halves.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the flesh into cubes . Be careful not to cut through the skin.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the pineapple cubes.
- Remove any remaining flesh. Clean the pineapple bowl.
- And the pineapple boat is ready!
Pineapple Fried Rice is a delicious one-pot meal. To make it more fulfilling, I serve it with a half-fried egg and a bowl of smashed cucumber salad . That is the best combination! If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time.
Or you can make a takeaway-style Thai dinner at home by serving fried rice with – Thai Red Chicken Curry or vegetables in hot garlic sauce .
Watch Pineapple Fried Rice Video
More Pineapple Recipes
- Pineapple Raita
- Pineapple Halwa
- Tropical Pineapple Salsa
- Mint Pineapple Popsicles
- Pineapple Chicken Curry
- Pasta Salad With Pineapple
If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach other food lovers like you.
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 Cup cooked white rice
- ▢ 1 Cup pineapple, diced
- ▢ ⅛ Cup sesame oil or cooking oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ginger, finely chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon celery stalk, finely chopped
- ▢ ½ Cup red onion, finely chopped
- ▢ 2 tablespoon cashew
- ▢ 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
- ▢ ⅓ Cup bell pepper, chopped
- ▢ ⅓ Cup green peas ( how to freeze green pea s)
- ▢ Salt and Pepper, to taste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon red chilli sauce ( see recipe )
- ▢ 2 tablespoon green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a wok. Add the chopped garlic, ginger, celery, and onion. Stir fry over high heat for 1 minute.
- Next, add the cashew and red chili. Quickly stir fry for 20 – 30 seconds. No need to brown the garlic or onion.
- Add the vegetables, pineapple cubes, salt, pepper, brown sugar. Stir fry over high heat. Caramelize the pineapple over high heat for 1 – 2 minutes. Next, add light soy sauce, red chili sauce. Mix and fry for 40 – 50 seconds.
- Next, add the cooked rice. Stir to combine nicely. Fry over high heat for 1 – 2 minutes for the rice to absorb flavor and become crunchy.
- Garnish pineapple fried rice with spring onion greens.
- Serve Pineapple Fried Rice warm.
Recipe Notes:
- Make sure that the pineapple is not bitter or too sour in taste. The pineapple with a balanced sweet and sourness is perfect for this recipe.
- You can use the tinned or the canned pineapple as well.
- Any medium or short grain rice is good enough. I perfer leftover cooked rice for making fried rice.
- If you are using freshly cooked rice, let it cool down completely. Spread warm cooked rice on a baking sheet or tray to cool down.
- Substitute red chilli sauce with any other chilli garlic red chilli paste.
- You can add shrimps, shredded chicken , bacon, or even pork to your fried rice. Or you can make fried rice more nourishing by adding greens such as kale, baby spinach, bok choy, or Asian stir fry greens .
Nutrition
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