Renuka Tour: the sacred tourist destination

Renuka Tour: the sacred tourist destination

Renuka tour is a perfect escape for the tourists who want to experience the nature at its elegant best. Situated at the base of Renuka lake at Parashurama Tal in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh, it offers tourists a complete breather from the hectic lifestyle of the metropolitans. It is the place where no one would mind staring over the natural landscape and you won't be termed lethargic for doing nothing. So get ready to flirt this seemingly virgin territory.

Tourist Destination of Renuka:

Himachal Pradesh is a place which is very close to nature and has preserved the gifts of nature quite well. The various lakes, forests, rivers display the artistry of nature. A very famous and beautiful place in Himachal is Renuka Lake which is a hot tourist destination. Several tourists from across India visit this lake to cherish its beauty and charm. The lake has been converted into a nice picnic spot by the Travel and Tourism Department of Himachal Pradesh. You can enjoy boating in the lake or just spend quality time with your family near the lake. The environment is peaceful and offers great relaxation to the tourists. It is a good way to give your mind and body a complete rejuvenating experience. The Renuka Lake is located thirty seven kilometers away from Nahan and sixty kilometers away from Paonta Sahib. It is amongst the largest lakes which can be found in Himachal Pradesh. The Lake is surrounded by green natural forests which belong to the Himalayas. The surrounding area of the lake work as a wonderful destination for adventure sports lovers. On the bank of the lake one can find Renuka ji which is a hotel which has been established by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists can stay here and enjoy the view of the lake from their rooms. Near the lake tourists will find a number of options for accommodation like the forest guest houses belonging to the public works department which is just two kilometers away from the lake. The weather near the lake remains pleasant all trough the year but tourists are advised to bring along some woolens during winters and even light woolen clothes during summers.

Renuka pilgrimage Tour:

The Renuka temple lies within the forests of Himachal Pradesh which are home to various birds and animals. The place is not just a pilgrim centre but is also a popular tourist holiday destination. Tourists from all over India come here to spend their holidays with family and friends. The historical story behind the temple states that the location where the Renuka temple is situated Parshuram Tal used to manifestate in the shape of sleeping lady during the ancient time. This depicted the permanent hold of Renuka who was the wife of Rishi Jamadagni. It is believed that Rishi Jamdagni was not satisfied with his wife Renuka and thus asked his son Parshuram to decapitate her. Parshuram followed his father's instructions and decapitated his mother. Since Parshuram followed his father's instructions so religiously the Rishi agreed to grant his one wish. This one wish of Parshuram was to give another life to his mother. This divine and sacred incident turned this place into a pilgrimage centre.

Parshuram Tal: the Parshuram Tal is situated at the bottom of the lake Renuka. The Parshuram Tal is a big pool emblematizing Parshuram. It is believed that Parshuram wanted to spend his entire eternity at the feet of his mother. Every year the great Renuka fair is organized to reunite mother and son. The fair happens at the banks of the Renuka Lake during the month of November. The original Renukaji temple was built by the Gurkhas overnight during the early 19th century. According to the Renuka Lake legend, the evil called Sahasarjuna killed Rishi Jamadagini in order to abduct Renuka. But she hurled herself into the lake. Thereafter the Gods saved her from the water. An array of temples can be seen along the banks of the lake and a track encircling the waters.

How to reach Renuka:

Renuka ji has been developed and maintained quite well. Transportation is easily available in the place and you will find train, planes, road transportation etc running across the area. Ambala is the closest railway station to Renuka. It is just hundred kilometers away from Renuka ji. The pilgrimage centre is very well connected to other parts of the country as well. The closest airport to Renuka is that of Chandigarh and Dehra Dun. If you are coming from Delhi then you can take a flight to Chandigarh as well as Dehradun. Renuka ji is quite accessible from Shimla also. You can also take a road trip from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh. From Delhi you will find two routes leading to Renuka Ji. The first route is through Naraingarh Shahabad Nahan and Kala Amb and the other route takes you through Yamunagar, Pipli.

The Renuka fair:

Every year during the month of November, the Renuka fair is organized to celebrate the reunion of the mother Renuka and the son Parshuram. The fair also reminds of the immortal Renuka as well as her son Parshuram. The fair which lasts for weeks is a very colorful affair of festival and devotional ardor. A lot of cultural activities fold dances and many more such exciting programmes happen at the fair. It is a very effective way of entertaining tourists. A number of idols of Parshuram who is believed to be the rebirth of Lord Vishnu and other local Deities are placed in beautiful palanquins which are carried by men and are traveled with a huge procession to the Parshuram Tal. The idols are bathed in the sacred lake which is believed to be the symbol of the body of the mother. People from all the surrounding places come to this fair, offer their prayers, take a holy dip in the lake and enjoy the fair. It is a very old ceremony to exchange turbans, caps, etc. in order to become brother or sister. During the fair, the markets are fully covered with stalls where local people display their hand made products.

The Renuka Sanctuary and Choordhar: The Renuka sanctuary sprawls across 400 hectares of wood as well as grass which surrounds the holy Renuka Lake. The sanctuary is very small in size but it is home for a large number of species of animals like deer.

Another ravishing feature of Renuka is Choordhar which is a peak rising up to a height of 3,647 meters above the sea level. It serves as a wonderful trekking treat from the Nahan walks. The peak steals away most of the charm of the place. It is a fifty kilometers trek if approached by the way of Bhawai, Dadahu, Gandhuri, Sangarh, Nahura, etc.

Other tourist attractions near Renuka:

There are a number of tourist attractions near Renuka like the Gayatri Temple, the Jamu Peak, Mini Zoo, etc. Gayatri Temple is situated on the left bank of the holy lake and has been dedicated to Mata Gayatri who is the mother of Vedas. Vedas are a treasure of the Hindi wisdom and Gayatri is considered to be the Goddess of Vedas. The temples house a 1.60 meter high statue of Panch Mukhi Ma Gayatri. Statues of Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Indra, Lord Shiva, and Lord Brahma have also been enshrined in the temple. The Jamu Peak is located above the holy lake. It is said that Rishi Jamadagini used to meditate on this peak. You can reach this peak by following a footpath which directs towards this peak. A small temple has been built at the peak and it offers a great view of the entire area and the lake. The mini zoo is another major tourist attraction which is situated near the lake. It contains lions, lion tailed macaques, nilgai, spotted deer, Himalayan black bears, barking deer, etc. There is a very famous Sikh pilgrim centre also which is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna and which are just forty five kilometers away from Nahan and only forty four kilometers away from Dehradun. It is called Paonta Sahib which has been derived from 'foot'. Paonta Sahib is strongly associated with Guru Gobind Singh who is the tenth guru of the Sikhs. Basically Guru Gobind Singh had set his feet at the place where the pilgrim centre has been built. According to another legend Guru Gobind Singh was bathing in river Yamuna and while doing so he lost one of his ornaments which he used to wear on his foot and which were known as paonta. So this place has been named after that ornament. There is a gurudwara also which has been built at the banks of the river Yamuna. According to the legends Guru Gobind Singh resided here for four years of his life. Behind the gurudwara you will find the old Yamuna Temple which belongs to the ancient period.