PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH SWAMI VIVEKANANDA IN & AROUND ALMORA
1. Kathgodam
Swami Vivekananda visited Almora three times and Mayavati once and passed through Kathgodam Railway Station all the four times. On his way to Almora accompanied by Swami Akandananda, he stepped onto the platform for the first time in the second week of August 1890. He passed through this station again on 9th May 1897 and 13th May 1898 when he visited Almora. Swamiji went to Mayavati, passing through Kathgodam Railway Station for the last time on 29th December 1900.
2. Nainital
Swami Vivekananda during his wandering years accompanied by Swami Akandananda reached Nainital on 21st August 1890 by walking through the foothills and stayed for six days. Swamiji again visited Nainital in 1898 from May 13th to 16th with his brother disciples, disciples and the Western followers. In this visit a Muslim devotee Mohammed Sarfaraz Hussain addressed him as an Avatara and told, "Swamiji, if in after-times any claim you as an Avatara, a special Incarnation of Godhead, remember that I, a Mohammedan, am the first!"
3. Kakrighat
On way to Almora on 29th August 1890, Swamiji rested for the night under a peepul tree in Kakrighat located at the confluence of rivers Koshi and Surita. Swamiji meditated under this peepul tree which later came to be known as 'JnanaVriksha' and told his companion after coming back to normal consciousness, "Oh Gangadhar! I have just passed through one of the greatest moments of my life. Here under this peepul tree, one of the greatest problems of my life has been solved. I have found the oneness of the macrocosm with the microcosm. In this microcosm of the body everything that is there [in the macrocosm], exists. I have seen the whole universe within an atom."
4. Karbala
On 30th August 1890, Swami Vivekananda, near Almora and opposite a roadside Muslim cemetery, almost fainted after three days of hunger and exhaustion and sank on a flat rock. The keeper of the cemetery Zulfikar Ali nursed Swamiji back into consciousness and offered him to eat a cucumber. Because of extreme weakness, Swamiji asked the fakir to feed him and finding him hesitant to feed a Hindu monk said with a smile, "Are we not all brothers?" The rock, lying down on which Swami Vivekananda gave the message of universal brotherhood irrespective of caste, creed and religion, came to be known as 'Vivekananda Shila'.
5. Lodhia - Vivekananda Dwar
After his triumphant return from the West, Swami Vivekananda came to Almora for the second time and reached Lodhia on the afternoon of 11th May 1897 where a large crowd received him and at their request Swamiji mounted a handsomely decorated white horse and was taken to the reception place decorated with banners and festoons of flowers and attended by more than 3000 people. The ladies from the windows and housetops showered flowers and rice on him as he passed. To commemorate the grand welcome followed by the unprecedented reception given to Swamiji, Ramakrishna Kutir has started erection of Vivekananda Dwar at Lodhia.
6. Turiyananda Tapasthali
Swami Turiyananda on the suggestion of Swami Shivananda came to Almora in April 2015. Swamis Shivananda and Turiyananda stayed at outer part of Lala Badri Sah's 'Chilkapet House' (at present Government Institute of Hotel Management). The brother monks immersed themselves in spiritual practices in this tranquil place overlooking the pine forest hidden amongst trees. Swami Shivananda left for Kashi in early November 2015 and Swami Turiyananda stayed back continuing his spiritual practices and at the same time looking after building of Ramakrishna Kutir. Till he shifted to Ramakrishna Kutir in May 2016, he continued his spiritual exercises in the silence of 'Turiyananda Tapasthali'.
7. Ramakrishna Kutir
On 11th May 1897, Swami Vivekananda in reply to his reception by the residents of Almora expressed wish to establish an Ashrama in this serene hill town, "These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race....Here , therefore, must be one of those centers, not merely of activity, but more of calmness, of meditation, and of peace; and I hope some day to realise it." His wish has been fulfilled by combined efforts of Swamis Shivananda and Turiyananda. They stayed at nearby 'Chilkapet House' to start work on the sacred mission and on 22nd May 2016 Swami Turiyananda, after over a year's work, completed and inaugurated Ramakrishna Kutir in Almora.
8. Thompson House
Swami Vivekananda stayed at Thompson House from 17th May to 11th June in 1898. He with his two brother disciples Swamis Turiyananda and Niranjanananda and disciples Swamis Sadananda and Swarupanada stayed here as guest of his English disciples Captain and Mrs.Sevier. The monthly English journal of the Ramakrishna Order 'Prabuddha Bharata' or 'Awakened India' was published from Thompson House from August 1898 to March 1899.
9. The English Club
At the request of the English residents of Almora, Swami Vivekananda gave a lecture on 28th July 1897 at the English Club on the subject of relationship of soul with God, its aspirations and its ultimate unity with the Supreme. Ms.Henrietta Muller who was present in the audience, wrote, "it seemed as though the Teacher , his words , his audience , and the spirit pervading them all , were one."
10. Oakley House (Nivedita Cottage)
Swami Vivekananda during his wandering years accompanied by Swami Akandananda reached Nainital on 21st August 1890 by walking through the foothills and stayed for six days. Swamiji again visited Nainital in 1898 from May 13th to 16th with his brother disciples, disciples and the Western followers. In this visit a Muslim devotee Mohammed Sarfaraz Hussain addressed him as an Avatara and told, "Swamiji, if in after-times any claim you as an Avatara, a special Incarnation of Godhead, remember that I, a Mohammedan, am the first!"
11. Government Inter College, Almora
Swami Vivekananda delivered for the first time in his life a lecture in Hindi in the huge hall of Government Inter College capable of accommodating about 400 persons. The date was 27th July 1897 and the subject of his lecture was 'Vedic Teaching in Theory and Practice'. The oratorical skill displayed by Swamiji in his Hindi speech and the masterly way by which he handled the language drew admiration from everyone in the audience. To commemorate the occasion and to remind the devotees of the only Hindi speech in Swamiji's life, Ramakrishna Kutir has installed his statue on the college premises.
12. Amba Dutt's Garden
From Vivekananda Shila, Swami Akhandananda on way to Lala Badri Sah's house advised Swami Vivekananda to rest at the garden of Amba Dutt and went to inform Swamis Saradananda and Kripananda of the arrival of Swamiji. In this garden, Swami Vivekananda explained to Krishna Joshi glory of renunciation which is the ideal of all religions.
13. Raghunath Temple
On 11th May 1897, the triumphant procession with Swami Vivekananda mounted on the white horse was led to the town center, a section of the bazar street where more than 3000 residents of Almora organised a public welcome near Raghunath Temple next to Lala Badri Sah's house.
14. Lala Badri Sah's House
Lala Badri Sah has always served Swami Vivekananda and his disciples and brother disciples with utmost dedication and devotion. His house has been sanctified by stay of Swami Vivekananda twice and also by the brother monks and others at different times. After reaching Almora as a wandering monk with Swami Akandananda on 30th August 1890, Swamiji stayed as his guest with other brother monks till 6th September. After returning from the West, Swamiji stayed in this house from 11th May to 2nd August 1897 in between of which he spent 46 days in two stints in Dewaldhar.
15. Patal Devi Temple
More than 200 years old Patal Devi temple is located in the village of Shail and is one of the nine temples dedicated to nine forms of Maa Durga. Swami Turiyananda while staying in 'Turiyananda Tapasthali' visited Patal Devi temple for the first time on 18th December 2015. It is believed that Swamis Akandananda, Turiyananda, Saradananda and Kripananda performed spiritual practices at this sacred place.
16. Kasar Devi Cave
In his first visit as a wandering monk while staying at Badri Sah's house, Swamiji went to Kasar Devi cave and meditated intensely for 2/3 days in the first week of September 1890 when he had higher and higher illuminations and realizations one after the other. At the very climax of his spiritual exercises, he suddenly felt that he had a mission in life to fulfill. Personal bliss became secondary to him and he returned back to work for the rest of his life to fulfill the mission of awakening and serving mankind on earth.
17. Dewaldhar Estate
During his second visit to Almora in 1897, Swamiji went to Dewaldhar estate owned by Lala Chiranjeelal Sah, a place twenty miles away from Almora. He spent altogether 46 days in two stints, from 18th May to 19th June and then after a gap of 21 days from 11th July to 23rd July. Swamiji went to Dewaldhar accompanied by J.J.Goodwin and Swamis Shivananda, Niranjanananda & Achyutananda (of Arya Samaj). Riding on horseback inside the large estate, he used to enjoy the climate and the splindidly beautiful scenery around, especially the sunrise over the snow-capped mountain in the morning.
18. Syahi Devi
Swami Vivekananda went to Shiya Devi on 25th May 1898. He used to spend in the silence of the forest about ten hours every day during this period. After spending three days he returned back to Almora on 28th May 1898.
19. Mornaula Dak Bunglow
Swami Vivekananda on his way to Mayavati spent the first night of Twentieth Century 1st January 1901 in Mornaula Dak Bunglow. He was accompanied by brother-disciple Swami Shivananda and disciples Swamis Sadananda and Virajananda and also Lala Govind Sah. Swamiji spent the historically significant day very cheerfully enjoying snow covered hills and scenic beauty of the place.
20. Binsar Dak Bunglow
Swami Vivekananda during his second visit to Almora stayed for two to three days in Binsar Dak Bunglow in July 1897.
21. Mayavati Advaita Ashrama
Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati was established in March 1899 to fulfill Swamiji’s dream to have a monastery in the Himalayas where pure Advaita will be practiced with no external worship in any form. The idea had come to his mind in 1896 seeing a Christian monastery in the Swiss Alps, which he had expressed to his companions, Captain James Henry Sevier and his wife Charlotte Elizabeth Sevier. The Seviers moved to India when Swamiji returned from the West in 1897 to give shape to Swamiji’s wish. But it took two more years to find a suitable place for the Ashrama. Eventually it was found in Mayavati in July 1898 which was a tea-estate located at the height of 6,400 feet above sea-level. While Seviers provided the money to purchase the land, it was the untiring efforts of Swami Swarupananda, one of Swamiji’s monastic disciples, that gave the Ashrama its initial habitable shape. Swami Swarupananda became its first President as well as the Editor of the English magazine, 'Prabuddha Bharata'. Seviers continued to help in every possible way staying in the Ashrama. Captain Sevier passed away in October 1900 and Swami Swarupananda in 1906, but Mother Sevier continued staying in Advaita Ashrama for fifteen years.
Swami Vivekananda visited Advaita Ashrama only once, in January 1901, to console a bereaved Mrs.Sevier after her husband’s passing away. He stayed for a fortnight here ( 3-18 January), which coincided with his 38th birthday!
22. Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamlatal
Vivekananda Ashrama is located in Shyamlatal at the base of mountain slope with a beautiful lake three hundred feet below the Ashrama. The scenic beauty of the place overlooking the snow clad mountain peaks of Nanda Kot and Panchachuli on one side and a valley of forest on the other side has made it most ideal for contemplative life. Swami Virajananda, disciple of Swami Vivekananda felt strong desire to practice intense meditation and found this place suitable for higher and higher spiritual practices. Mother Sevier understood and sympathized with his thoughts and provided financial as well as active help in establishing Vivekananda Ashrama on 21st May 1915.
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Holy Footprints
This booklet presents brief accounts of the significant incidents and experiences associated with every place sanctified by Swami Vivekananda’s footsteps during his four sacred journeys across the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand in 1890, 1897, 1898, and 1900–01.
In & Around Almora
This map highlights all the places sanctified by Swami Vivekananda during his three visits to Almora (1890, '97 & '98), in and around the region. It includes brief descriptions of each place, along with their distances from Ramakrishna Kutir, Almora, and general directions.
