Bhimtal: Difference between revisions

| name                     = Bhimtal

| nickname                 =  

| settlement_type         = [[Town]]

| image_skyline           = Bhimtal lake view 01.jpg

| image_alt               =  

| image_caption           = View of Bhimtal in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India

| pushpin_map             = India Uttarakhand#India

| pushpin_label_position   =  

| pushpin_map_alt         =  

| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Uttarakhand, India

| coordinates             = {{coord|29.35|N|79.5667|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type         = [[Country]]

| subdivision_name         = {{flag|India}}

| subdivision_type1       = [[States and territories of India|State]]

| subdivision_name1       = [[Uttarakhand]]

| subdivision_type2       = [[List of districts of India|District]]

| subdivision_name2       = [[Nainital district|Nainital]]

| established_title       = <!-- Established -->

| established_date         = 1883

| founder                 =  

| named_for               =  

| government_type         =  

| governing_body           =  

| unit_pref               = Metric

| area_footnotes           =  

| area_rank               =  

| area_total_km2           =  

| elevation_footnotes     =  

| elevation_m             = 1370

| population_total         = 7722

| population_as_of         = 2011

| population_rank         =  

| population_density_km2   = auto

| population_demonym       =  

| population_footnotes     =  

| demographics_type1       = Languages

| demographics1_title1     = Official

| demographics1_info1     = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]]

| timezone1               = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]

| utc_offset1             = +5:30

| postal_code_type         = <!-- [[263136|PIN]] -->

| postal_code             = 263136

| registration_plate       = UK-04

| footnotes               =  

| official_name           =  

| area_code               = 05942

| nearest_airport         = Pantnagar

| nearest_railway_station = Kathgodam

'''Bhimtal''' ([[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]]: ''Bhīmtāl'') is a [[town]] and a [[nagar panchayat]], near [[Nainital|Nainital city]] in [[Nainital district]] in the state of [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]. It is situated at an altitude of 1370 meters above [[sea level]] and is about 22 kilometers from [[Nainital]]. The major attraction in Bhimtal is the [[Bhimtal Lake]], which has an island at its centre. Besides tourism, Bhimtal has also now become a mini district headquarters since most of the district administration offices have shifted to the newly constructed Vikas Bhawan, the building complex for district administrative offices.

Bhimtal is an ancient place named after [[Bhima]] of [[Mahabharata]]. Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, an old [[Shiva]] temple on the bank of Bhimtal lake, is believed to have been built when Bhima visited the place during the banishment ([[vanvas]]) period of [[Pandava]]s. The present temple was built in the 17th century, by ''Baz Bahadur'' (1638–78 AD), a King of the [[Chand Kings|Chand dynasty]], and the Raja of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]].<ref>http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000000883U00007000 Bhimtal Temple</ref>{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618174145/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000000883U00007000 |date=2008-06-18 }} British Library.6).

Bhimtal is older than nearby [[Nainital]] as the city of Nainital is just 150–160 years old. Bhimtal was a stoppage onroute on the old pedestrian road, which connects nearby [[Kathgodam]] to all [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region and even to [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]]. It might have been the part of the famous ancient [[silk route]].

About 5&nbsp;km from Bhimtal is the famous group of lakes known as Sattal, which is a place of attraction for nature lovers. Fresh  water of lakes surrounded by thick forest and voice of birds is a wonderful experience. A hill near the lake known as Hidimba Parvat, named after the demon [[Hidimba]] of Mahabharata. Vankhandi Maharaj, a monk and environmentalist who lives on the hill, has created a sanctuary for the wild animals around the hill. The area is known as Vankhandi Ashram.

The hill of Karkotaka is named after [[Karkotaka]], a mythical [[cobra]]. The hill is famous for its Nag temple in the region and on every Rishi Panchami thousands of people visit the temple and worship the Nag Karkotaka Maharaj. This is one of the famous nag temples situated in Uttarakhand region.

'''Sayad Baba ki mazar''' is a place where people from different part of Bhimtal and near around places come for worship on every Thursday. It is an example of unity in diversity as people from different religions (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian) visit this place. From this ''[[Mazar (mausoleum)|mazar]]'', one can see whole lake, island, dam, and also nearby places like Jhangaliyagaon, Nakuchiyatal.

==Attractions==

*''[[Bhimtal Lake]]''

*''[[Bhimtal Lake Aquarium]]''

[[File:Graphic Era Hill University Bhimtal Campus.jpg|thumb|Kumaon campus of [[Graphic Era Hill University]]]]

Government has constructed Vikas Bhawan building in Bhimtal and most of the District Administration offices of Nainital District are located in Vikas Bhawan complex.

Uttarakhand Graphic Era Parvatiya Vishwavidyalaya (Under the aegis of Graphic Era Educational Society, Dehradun and notified by the Government of Uttarakhand as a private university)  started its Kumaun campus in Bhimtal at Sattal Road from the session 2011–12 with B.Tech (in 5 branches of Electronics & Communication, Computer Science, Information Technology, Mechanical and Civil Engineering), MCA and MBA programmes, now known as Bhimtal campus of [[Graphic Era Hill University]].