Bageshwar travel guide

A temple town at the meeting of the Saryu and Gomti – gateway to the Pindari glacier

📍 Uttarakhand 7 places to visit 🏨 1 stay to book Updated 31 Oct 2026

Bageshwar is a pilgrimage town at about 1,000 m in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, where the Saryu and Gomti rivers meet beside the Bagnath temple. It is known for the Uttarayani fair and is the starting point for the Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga glacier treks, with Kausani and Baijnath close by.

History of Bageshwar

Bageshwar takes its name from the Bagnath temple of Shiva, at the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers. Legend says Shiva took the form of a tiger (bagh) here. The present temple was built in the 15th century by the Chand king Laxmi Chand.

The town was a trading post between Kumaon and Tibet, and the yearly Uttarayani fair at Makar Sankranti brought traders and pilgrims together. In January 1921, at this fair, thousands of villagers led by Badri Datt Pande threw the coolie begar registers into the Saryu, ending forced labour for the British – a proud moment in Kumaon’s freedom struggle.

Bageshwar became a separate district in 1997. Its valleys lead to the Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga glaciers below Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot.

Best time to visit Bageshwar

March–June and September–November are best; January brings the Uttarayani fair. Treks to the glaciers are best in May–June and September–October. July–August is rainy.

Mar–Jun

Spring & summer · Warm in town, cool above

Trek season begins around May.

Best

Jul–Aug

Monsoon · Heavy rain

Landslide risk; treks closed.

Avoid

Sep–Nov

Autumn · Clear, about 10–25°C

Clear Himalayan views and trekking.

Best

Dec–Feb

Winter & Uttarayani · Cool, cold nights

Uttarayani fair in mid-January.

Good

How to reach Bageshwar

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Nearest airport

Pantnagar Airport (PGH)

About 180–190 km (6 hours by taxi).

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Nearest railway station

Kathgodam (KGM)

About 150–160 km (5 hours by taxi or bus).

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Bus stand

Bageshwar bus stand – Uttarakhand Roadways buses to Haldwani, Almora, Kausani, Delhi and Munsiyari. Shared jeeps run to Kapkot, Song and the villages up the Saryu valley.

From	Distance by road	Travel time
Kausani	About 40 km	1.5 hours
Baijnath (Garur)	About 22 km	45 minutes
Kapkot	About 25 km	1 hour
Almora	70–75	2.5 hours
Kathgodam	150–160	5 hours
Delhi	About 470 km	11–12 hours

Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic and weather.

Famous places to visit in Bageshwar

1Bagnath Temple

Temple 📍 Town, at the confluence 🕘 Morning to evening

The town’s 15th-century Shiva temple at the meeting of the Saryu and Gomti, centre of the Uttarayani fair.

2Saryu–Gomti confluence

Nature 📍 Town 🕘 Day time

The sacred river meeting point with ghats, bridges and evening prayers.

3Baijnath Temples

Temple 📍 About 22 km (Garur) 🕘 Day time

A group of old stone temples of the Katyuri period on the Gomti river, with a fine Parvati idol.

4Kausani

Viewpoint 📍 About 40 km 🕘 Sunrise for the peaks

A ridge village with a wide view of the Himalaya; Mahatma Gandhi stayed here in 1929 at what is now the Anasakti Ashram.

5Chandika Temple

Temple 📍 About 1 km 🕘 Day time

A small hill temple of the goddess above the town, busy during Navratri.

6Gauri Udiyar cave

Nature 📍 About 8 km 🕘 Day time

A large cave with a Shiva shrine, a short trip from town.

7Pindari Glacier trek

Trek 📍 Trailhead about 40–50 km (Kharkiya/Loharkhet area) 🕘 About May–June and Sep–Oct

A classic multi-day trek through villages and forest to the Pindari glacier below Nanda Kot; Kafni and Sunderdhunga are nearby options.

Timings and entry fees change – please check locally before you go.

🎉 Uttarayani fair

When: Around Makar Sankranti, mid-January
Where: Bagnath temple and the river banks
Known for: Holy dips, folk music and the 1921 end of coolie begar

Stays fill up during the fair – book early.

Bageshwar itinerary

2 days in Bageshwar

Day 1

Bagnath temple, the confluence and Chandika temple.

Day 2

Baijnath temples and Kausani sunset.

Pindari glacier trek (about 6 days)

Day 1

Drive to the trailhead beyond Kapkot.

Day 2–5

Trek via Khati and Dwali to Phurkia and the glacier zero point, and back.

Day 6

Return to Bageshwar.

Trip budget for Bageshwar

Item	Cost	Note
Stay (homestay / hotel)	About ₹1,000–3,000 / night
Food	About ₹300–600 per person / day
Taxi Kathgodam → Bageshwar	About ₹4,000–5,500	5 hours
Weekend for 2 (approx.)	₹6,000–11,000	2 nights’ stay + food + local taxi

Costs are rough estimates for Oct 2026.

Bageshwar vs Kausani and Almora

Bageshwar or Kausani as a base?

Place	From Kathgodam	Vibe	Best for
Bageshwar	About 150–160 km, 5 h	Temple town on two rivers	Pilgrimage, glacier treks
Kausani	About 130 km, 4.5 h	Ridge with Himalayan views	Sunrise views
Almora	About 85 km, 3 h	Old Kumaoni town	Culture, markets

Where to stay in Bageshwar

Stay in Bageshwar town for the temples and buses. For mountain villages and trek starts, choose homestays up the Saryu valley around Kapkot, Liti and Song; for sunrise views, Kausani is close.