Kausani sunrise (1, 2)

Above the Himalayas

Looming peaks (1, 2)

Dusk dreamscape (1, 2)

Kausani (more)

Main square (more)

Anasakti Ashram

Gandhi exhibit (entrance)

Hike to Pinath temple (~16 km roundtrip)

Village near starting point

Village boy

Tilling the farm

Local boys

Farmland (more)

Farmland

Wheat mill

On a hike

Pine trees (1, 2)

Ganesh temple en route

The fertility wall

Appeasing a spirit

Hike path

Little shrine en route

Shiva rules

Landscape

Hike path

Landscape (more)

Local tree

The last mile

The destination

Pinath temple (1, 2, 3)

Inside the temple

Inner sanctum

Path to Pinath temple

Dedicated to Shiva

Picnic spot (more)

Another temple on site

Descent

Lengthening shadows

Valley in late afternoon

House on a hill

Hike to Baijnath temple

Baijnath, a 12 km hike from Kausani, is a small town in the Katyuri valley. Once the capital of the Katyuri dynasty of kings, it was then called Kartikyapura. Numerous temples from the 12th cent. CE, from the tail-end of this dynasty, lie on the banks of the Gomti in a fairly atmospheric setting. They are dedicated to Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya, and Brahma. The hike to Baijnath goes past anemic river beds (pre-monsoon), scenic settlements, pine forests, and tea gardens nestled in remote valleys.

Landscape en route (1, 2)

Uttaranchal tea estate

Pine forest (more)

Slippery slope

Village path

Village shrine

Village kids

Village kids

Bathing boys

Bathing men

Working woman

Washerwoman

Baijnath temple complex (1, 2)

On the banks of Gomti (1, 2)

Shikara style, 1000+ years old

Ancient breast self-exam?