Bateshwar: From the Banyan Tree

An important spiritual and cultural centre for Hindus and Jains, Bateshwar also hosts a large cattle fair

Bateshwar Temple stretching along the banks of the Chambal river
Bateshwar: From the Banyan Tree
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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