Kainchi Dham (Neem Karoli Baba Ashram), Nainital
Kainchi, Uttarakhand
Kainchi Dham is the ashram of the saint Neem Karoli Baba, also called Maharaj-ji, on the Nainital to Almora road, about 17 to 20 km from Nainital. The ashram was built in 1964, and he spent the last decade of his life here. It stands in a narrow forested valley beside a small stream, with a Hanuman temple, shrines and a quiet courtyard, and it draws devotees from India and from all over the world. The place is known for its simplicity and its calm, in spite of the crowds that come.
What to see and do
- Visit the Hanuman temple and the other shrines of the ashram
- See the ashram in its forested valley beside the stream
- Sit quietly in the courtyard, as devotees do
- Hear about Neem Karoli Baba's life and teaching from the people around the ashram
Ideal for
- Devotees and followers of Neem Karoli Baba
- Visitors who want a quiet, simple ashram in the hills
- Travellers who combine a spiritual stop with a stay in Nainital
Good to know
- Timings differ between sources, with one giving about 5 am to 8 pm and another showing a midday closure, so check locally
- Dress modestly at all times, and avoid indecent clothing
- Photography and videos may be banned, especially during the 15 June fair, so ask before you take pictures
- The ashram does not take overnight guests without permission from its trust, so guests stay in Nainital
- The annual fair on 15 June marks the foundation day and draws lakhs of devotees, with traffic restrictions, so we advise against travelling then
- Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours, and go in the morning when it is calmer
Spiritual significance
Kainchi Dham is the best-known place of Neem Karoli Baba, and for many people it is the reason to come to this part of the Himalaya. It is a place of quiet devotion to Hanuman, set in a forest by a stream.
Why it matters
- The ashram of Neem Karoli Baba: built in 1964, where he spent his last decade
- A Hanuman temple in a forest valley: simple and calm
- A place of devotion from around the world: visited by lakhs of people at its yearly fair