It is a familiar Indian motif: a temple town embraced by a river and a string of ghats. The town of Bateshwar, not far from Agra (70 km), is exactly that. And yet its relative anonymity has meant that it has retained its character with fewer tourists and more pilgrims, especially during its annual winter cattle fair – 2,000 years old and second only to Bihar’s Sonepur Mela in size. This spiritual town’s name has been derived from the Bateshwarnath Temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to a legend, it was here under a Banyan tree that Shiva took rest for a while and so this place came to be known as Bat-Ishwar or the Banyan lord.
Of the 40-odd temples that still stand here by the Yamuna, many are unique and vary in splendour, size and vintage, some dating back to the 15th century. Dedicated to Shiva, the crumbling edifices are awaiting restoration.
WHERE TO STAY AND EAT
The UP Tourism Guest House at Bateshwar has rooms (Agra Tel: 0562-2226431; Tariff: ₹300-500) and a dormitory (₹75 a bed). There’s an in-house restaurant but inform them well in advance.
When to go October to March Location On the banks of Yamuna river, between Agra and Etawah Air Nearest airport: Agra Rail Nearest rail: Shikohabad, Agra
THE INFORMATION |
Tourist/ Wildlife Offices Department of Tourism UP Tourism Rajarshi Purshottam Das Tandon Paryatan Bhawan C-13, Vipin Khand Gomti Nagar Lucknow Tel: 0522-2308017, 2308916 W up-tourism.com |
Tourist Office UP Tourism 36, Chandralok Building, Janpath New Delhi Tel: 011-23350048, 23711296, 23322251 Sardhana |
Regional Tourist Office UP Tourism Vikas Bhawan, Meerut Tel: 0121-2656164 STD code 0121 Dudhwa NP |
Deputy Director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Palia, Kheri Tel: 05871-233485 W dudhwatigerreserve. STD code 05871 Bateshwar |
Tourist Office UP Tourism 64, Taj Road, Agra Tel: 0562-2226431 STD code 0562 |
THE INFORMATION |
National Chambal Sanctuary Deputy Conservator of Forests Chambal Wildlife Division Agra Tel: 0562-2530091 |
Divisional Forest Officer Social Forestry Division Agra Tel: 2331297 STD code 0562 Chitrakoot |
Tourist Office UP Tourism Tourist Bungalow Campus Chitrakoot Dham. Tel: 05198-224218 STD code 05198 Kushinagar |
UPSTDC Pathik Niwas, Buddha Marg Kushinagar. Tel: 05564-273045 STD code 05564 |