Berinag, Uttarakhand | Travel Tips, Images & Best Time To Visit

Berinag, Patal Bhuvaneshwar Overview

Amidst the mighty Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand, Berinag sits quietly in its serene solitude. The small village town is the perfect place to answer the mountains call and reconnect with nature. Nature's bounty awaits you in this mountainous hamlet with absolutely breathtaking views of the Himalayas and lovely hilly roads to explore. From here, you can see some of the best jewels in the crown of the Himalayas like Nanda Devi, Trishul and some more. The Nepal Himalayas are visible too - even though distant and blurry.

Berinag once used to be a colonial establishment. The emerald tea gardens spread across the village town is ample proof for that. With so much green, cool misty weather and the apparent tranquillity of the mountains, Berinag is a perfect place to relax and unwind for a couple of days. Albeit it does not have many tourist spots to hop around and visit, it is in itself quite enough to charm the travellers over a weekend.

Contrary to the hustle and bustle of the city hill stations that Uttarakhand is so famous for, Berinag sits secluded with its mesmerising natural appeal and bunches of snake legends. In fact, the whole origin of the name Berinag is related to these stories and myths. The word nag in Sanskrit means snake. And true to its name, the place has got a temple called Nag Devta which is dedicated to the serpent avatar of Lord Vishnu. There are other stories about this place as well.

Legend of Berinag

The village of Berinag has many myths and legends told about it locally. All of them revolve around various snakes, real and mythical, and the most common one is that the place has been named after the temple Berinag or Veninag, as it is locally called. The temple is a shrine of Lord Vishnu's snake manifestation which is probably a nod to his residential serpent deity Seshanag.

Another belief is that the place was once under the rule of King Benimadhava of Nagaveni dynasty and in his memory, the place was called Berinag. However, the most popular legend takes us back to Lord Vishnu. Everybody knows the story of his Kaliyadaman episode, where he killed the giant snake Kaliya and made him leave his home of Yamuna. The local lore says that he took his few followers and made his home here in a cave in the Kumaon Himalayas.

Places To Visit & Activities in Berinag

Nag Devta Temple
The existence of the village and the temple of Berinag is inextricably involved. In fact, there is a high chance that the place is in fact named after the temple itself. Like most ancient temples of India, this one also has to specific date of origin but has loads of myths surrounding it.

It is said that this place was infested with various snakes when it was uninhabited. So, when the Pant Gotra people came here from Maharashtra, they built the temple to show respect. The temple is located in the heart of the Berinag village, and almost everyone who comes to Berinag pays a visit here out of devotion or out of curiosity.

Trekking and Exploration
Berinag is a cosy hamlet with not many places to visit, but it sure has enough winding, hilly roads and small village neighbourhoods which you can trek and explore. Remember to wear durable, protective shoes and carry water with you. The rest should not be a trouble. This is, in fact, one of the best ways to travel a place. You get to have a glimpse at the real people and their lives and get to chat with them instead of simply hopping from one site to another.

Panoramic view of the Central Himalayan sentinels
Though most of the Himalayas lie in Tibet and China, India has some of the most beautiful peaks of the range. The great sentinels of Central Greater Himalayas like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchachulli, Nandakot and more can be seen in a horizontal chain from the village of Berinag. Though they are not clearly visible all the time; but when the sky is clear and blue, it paints a brilliantly picturesque panoramic view which is an absolute delight to behold. Do remember to carry your DSLRs with you, because if you are lucky enough to get the view, you deserve to keep a copy of it.

Tea Gardens
Because of climatic conditions and land positions, Berinag used to be a British tea plantations estate. The tea gardens are still there, holding on to the hint of colonial vibe. The tea cultivated here are quite famous and the lush gardens are a treat to the eyes as well. You can take a walk past the tea gardens and stop to take photographs. You will get the best sort of green carpet-like background.

Best Time To Visit Berinag

If you love the cold, then the winter months are the best time to visit Berinag. From December to February, you will get the real mountain cold of the Himalayas, and if you are lucky, you might even get some snow. The place is misty and beautiful during this time. It is always better to avoid the monsoons in the mountains.

How To Reach Berinag

Berinag is a well-connected place with good roads and an equally good transport network. From Delhi, many interstate buses go to the nearby cities like Almora and Champawat from where you can take hire cabs to Berinag. You can also hire cars from any region of Kumaon, and it will take you to the village of Berinag.