Bhimtal Lake in Uttarakhand is about 22 Kms from Nainital and 11 Kms. from Bhowali at an altitude of 1370 mts. Bhimtal is a pretty little hill town in the Lake District of Kumaon in the foothills of the Himalayas. The lake, which has a little island in the middle, is the largest of the lakes here. The climate is wonderful: spring and autumn are beautiful, summer is pleasant, and winter is sunny and bracing. Even the monsoon is lovely – misty and green.
- The pride of Bhimtal is a beautiful lake that offers magnificent vistas for tourists.
- The lake is larger than Naini lake. Tourist enjoys here boating in the lake.
- There is an island amid the lake having a beautiful aquarium.
- Tourists visit here by boat. The distance of the island from the lakeshore is 91 mts.
- There is a 17th-century Bhimeshwar temple complex along the 40 feet high dam.
- One road from Bhimtal leaves for Naukuchiatal & Janglia Gaon while the other one goes to Kathgodam 21 Kms from here.
Location and features of the Bhimtal Lake in Uttarakhand:-
- Bhimtal Lake is a lake in the town of Bhimtal, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, with a masonry dam.
- The dam came up in 1883 creating the storage facility.
- It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region, “ lake district of India”.
- “C” shaped lake.
Elevation: 1370 m above sea level (The Retreat: 1440m)
Temperatures:
– Summer – 15°–30°C
– Winter – 2°–19°C
Precipitation: 1671 mm (annual average)
People knew about Bhimtal even before Nainital, which was a secret holy lake for the hill people until 1841 when the Britishers discovered it. Bhimtal was the best route between the Kumaon mountains and the plains of India. It was a stopping place for traders from Tibet travelling down with caravans of sheep with borax, to trade for goods not to be got in the high mountains. It may well have been part of the Silk Route.
Bhimtal Lake Mythological Perspective:-
Bhimtal is in the Shivalik range and in Uttarakhand (Devbhoomi-Land of Gods) It is legend that Pandavas (of the Mahabharata) have visited here during their vanvas (forest exile). Local legend tells that when their wife Draupadi was thirsty, Bhima struck the ground with his mace for water. Consequently, the lake got it’s present name as Bhimtal.
It is a legend that Bhima built an ancient Shiva temple, Bhimeshwara Mahadev, has stood here for centuries.
The King of Kumaon, Baz Bahadur of the Chand dynasty built the present temple in the 17th century.
Bhimtal is at the foot of Karkotaka mountain, named after the great mythical cobra. Local legend says when he came to drink at the lake his tail was still on the mountain-top! Hidimba hill at Sat Tal is supposed to be where Hidimbi lived and loved Bhima.
Local lore says Nal-Damyanti Tal is where Damyanti waited in Sage Vashishtha’s ashram, for Nala to return for her.
The Sat Tal lakes are individually named after the Ramayana’s chief players … the list is endless. We also have a fund of history, stories and legends about places and people connected to Bhimtal and the Estate.