Kainchi Dham
कैंची धाम
A valley ashram founded by Neem Karoli Baba, famous worldwide because Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg visited, and drawing large crowds of pilgrims.
Kainchi Dham lies in the Shipra valley beside the road from Nainital to Almora. It was founded in 1962–1964 by the Hindu saint Neem Karoli Baba and is dedicated to Hanuman. The ashram gained international fame after visits from Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Julia Roberts and others, and in recent years it has become one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand. The compound is neat and peaceful. Photography is prohibited, shoes must be removed before entering, and visitors can receive offerings. On the founding anniversary, 15 June, hundreds of thousands of devotees arrive, and traffic controls are imposed in the surrounding area. It is about 17 km from Nainital, roughly 40 minutes by car. Arriving early on weekends helps you avoid the queues.
Opening hours
About 07:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Snow View Point & Nainital Ropeway
- Pt. G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo
- The Mall Road
- Naini Lake
- Naina Devi Temple
- St. John in the Wilderness
- Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan), Nainital
- Eco Cave Garden