My first visit, Delhi to Mahavatar Babaji Cave, Himalayas in 2019
Hence, I am a tour operator based in Rishikesh city of India (known as Yoga capital city of the world) So wanted to discover the route, en-route places to see and travel time by road and by train too.
Day 1 From Delhi to Ranikhet
My solo holy trip of Mahavatar Babaji cave started from New Delhi (Capital city of India) as soon as I board on this trip after breakfast around 8 am, soon after, I stuck in never ending traffic of New Delhi, after spending an hour in the traffic, finally I come out from it, I take approx. 7 hours to cover 300 km to reach Nainital, is one of the famous hill station near New Delhi, which was developed during British occupation, but I do not stop here in Nainital , because want to see the holy cave, so, continue the trip passing by Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, which is now popular as weekend spiritual destination among the Delhi’s people.
I do not recommend you to start Mahavatar Babaji cave tip on weekend from Delhi particularly in summer season that is April May and June months. If you do so, you face very huge traffic, all the way up to Naintial and Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, as result you will be tired on this road trip and arrive late night in Ranikhet where you take first overnight.
I took around 10 hours to reach this overnight place; I put up in a farm house in Ranikhet which is located approx. 60 km before Babaji cave.
Day 2 Ranikhet to Babaji Cave
Next day after breakfast, I feel a bit windy morning during November month, I set off with my private driver to see the holy cave where I wish to go for quite a long time.
Me and driver (Mr. Praveen) , we drove up through windy road to arrive in Dwarahat town ( approx. 35 kms away ) which consumes an hour from Ranikhet. The zig-zag mountains roads take you through lush green undulating landscapes, at a distance the snow-laden peaks visible to us around but all lost as we drive further towards Babaji cave.
When I arrive in Dwarhat town seems to me a tiny town with small a busy market but a has long history and some of the famous temples dating back to 1oth century. I heard about Shiva and Krishna temples are very venerated by locals but we did not visit these places and continued to drive towards Kukuchina.
You know, in the Himalayas people are very kind and helpful and ready to give you tips about direction and distance without any hesitation to anyone like we received the tips how to reach Babaji cave from Dwarahat correctly, but as far I am concerned about distance, Himalayan people are very poor in calculation I think for them 10 kilometers is like 1 kilometer.
Dwarhat to Kukuchina is another 25kms / 1 hour raod trip. I took 2.5 hours road trip up to Kukuchina village from Ranikhet’s hotel. Kukuchina is a small village which sparsely inhabited and the road terminates here. We take a pause here after sighting Joshi Guest house and tea stall sign board.
The tea stall keeper and my driver engages in some conversation, What I guessed they are talking about the opening time of the cave and how to reach the cave etc. later drive resumes driving taking me off road for 1 km and stops the car at tail end of the road where there is arrow sign for Babaji cave, where the driver parked comfortably his car just at the foot hills ( Trekking starting point).
And immediately without wasting time I started climbing up exactly 10:30 am for the cave , in next 45 minutes I reached the cave, following the rough uneven steps , crossing small mountains stream.
The climb is easy to moderate but not tough nor rough, I made it up with peace of mind, halting many points observing the nature and presence of Babaji around.
I carry always a water bottle while travelling in the mountains never buy the bottled water and wherever fresh water stream, I fill my bottle to drink as I did while hiking up to Babaji cave on the path there is small stream flowing down, probably called Gagas River locally mentioned in An Autobiography of Yogi.
If you are not adventurous, do not worry it is for all aged group you can climb taking the rest on the rocks to recharge your body mind and soul. It takes normally an hour to arrive the cave. The last part of trail is a bit steep but easy for everyone even suitable for old aged people.
There is also local trekking guide available at INR 500 -1000 but I do not think requires taking assistance of any person to reach there, easy all the way up to the top, the trail is dotted with arrow sings. If still do not have the confident, do it alone than you can ask for the assistance (local guide)
The frequent thought appeared during climbing is that Babaji called me. After 2 hours meditation in the cave, I received the divine energy and more clarity of the mind, and wiped out our subtle ignorance. The place filled with divine vibrations and solitude and silence.”
I think that the cave where I meditated, once was very large but 80% part of the cave now sealed due to safety purposes. After taking a few pics outside of the cave (as you know inside the cave photography is not allowed , the reason behind is, taking picture of holy place or idols of gods and goddess are considered stealing aura ) while returning, felt blessed, realized some extent of blissfulness blissfulness which was rolling up and down inside me.
When I returned to the car by foot, found that driver was sleeping inside car so decided to stay more without disturbing his sleep, I just take bit walk down, find a tea shop, sitting in solitude with tea cup beside tea shop and feeling awesome inside myself. In few minutes I noticed that driver is approaching me so I ordered one more tea for him and me and driver enjoyed together tea time there.
Later, in late afternoon we drove off from Babaji cave area and on the I request to the driver to stop in Dwarahat town in order to visit only 2 temples i.e. Badrinath and Mrityunjay temple (shiva temple) and later in late evening reach Ranikhet’ hotel, immediately I went to bed for sleep, I did not take dinner because something was cooking inside me like some new experience.
Day 3 Rankhet to New Delhi
On third day, decided to start early morning from the hotel , willing to have quick visit to see the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, which falls exactly on the roadside, located on the main highway Ranikhet to Nainital to New Delhi.
I think Neem Karoli Baba ashram one must-see place during Babaji cave, so including it in the itinerary is wise decision because this place has something for everyone. So, I step down from the car to take a quick look into Ashram but was very busy and crowded but put myself in waiting mode for an hour to visit the temple and ashram, very great feeling and divine experience in spite of hustle and bustle inside.
After ashram visit, me and driver walk together in search of good place for the breakfast and we found very tiny roadside local eatery and we got quick breakfast and keep moving towards New Delhi , reached there by 5 PM but the same problem persist the traffic when we touched the border area of city , we took more than 2 hours in Delhi’s traffic to reach final destination.
My Recommendation
- Delhi to Mahavatar Babaji cave is feasible 2 nights 3 days but I do not recommend for slow and spiritual travelers, but nowadays most trailers completing this trip in 3 days from Delhi to Delhi privately.
- If you have more than 5 days then I will suggest to you starts from New Delhi, see the Babaji Cave and drive for Rishikesh visit Rishikesh and Haridwar city and back to New Delhi in 5 days. ( this is the best more immersive and meaningful )