North India · Uttar Pradesh
Naimisharanya, Uttar Pradesh
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
The forest where the Puranas are said to have been recited; ~90 km from Lucknow.
About Naimisharanya
- Riverside
Where it is
Naimisharanya, also called Nimsar, is a pilgrimage town on the left bank of the Gomti in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, north-west of Lucknow.
History
In Hindu tradition this was the forest of Naimisha, where thousands of sages gathered and the Puranas were first recited to them by the bard Ugrashrava Sauti during a long sacrifice. It is also counted among the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu, praised by the Tamil poet-saint Thirumangai Alvar.
People
Naimisharanya's people speak Hindi and Awadhi, and many families work as priests and pandas for the pilgrims alongside farming. Full-moon days, and new moons that fall on a Monday, bring the largest crowds.
Known for
- Chakra Tirth, the circular sacred tank
- The Lalita Devi Temple
- Vyas Gaddi
- Hanuman Garhi
- The Divya Desam temple of Vishnu
Did you know?
The Chakra Tirth is a spring-fed tank where, in legend, a divine wheel touched the earth, marking the spot where the sages should settle.
Shrines and sites
- Chakra Tirth
- Lalita Devi Temple
- Vyas Gaddi
- Hanuman Garhi
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.