How to Reach Kainchi Dham From New York
To reach Kainchi Dham from New York, you will need to take a combination of international flights, domestic travel within India, and road transport. Kainchi Dham is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India, and is famous for its ashram of the revered saint Neem Karoli Baba. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get there:
1. Flight from New York to India
- Departure: From John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
- Arrival: The most convenient major international airports in India for onward travel to Kainchi Dham are Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi or Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) in Amritsar.
- Delhi (DEL) is generally a better option since it has more flight connections to other Indian cities.
Flight Options:
- Direct flights from New York to Delhi or Amritsar are available with airlines like Air India, United Airlines, and Emirates (with a layover).
- Flights usually take around 14–16 hours to reach India.
2. Travel from Delhi to Nainital (or Kainchi Dham)
After arriving in Delhi, you have several options to travel to Kainchi Dham:
#### Option 1: By Train
- From New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS):
- Take a train to Kathgodam, which is the closest major railway station to Nainital.
- Trains like Ranikhet Express or Uttaranchal Express run daily from New Delhi to Kathgodam, and the journey takes around 6–7 hours.
- Once you reach Kathgodam, you can take a taxi or bus to Nainital (about 30 km away).
- Kainchi Dham is located about 17 km from Nainital, so you can hire a taxi or take a local vehicle to the ashram.
Option 2: By Bus
- You can take a long-distance bus from Delhi ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminal) to Nainital or Haldwani.
- The bus ride takes approximately 8–10 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
- From Haldwani, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to Kainchi Dham. Option 3: By Private Car/Taxi
- You can hire a private car directly from Delhi to Kainchi Dham. The drive takes around 8–10 hours (approximately 300 km), depending on road conditions.
- The route typically goes via NH9 (National Highway 9), and you will pass through towns like Moradabad and Rampur before reaching Nainital.
3. Arrival at Kainchi Dham
Once you reach Nainital or Haldwani, Kainchi Dham is located approximately 17 km from Nainital town, in the Kainchi Village. You can easily get there by hiring a local taxi or using other local transport options.
Kainchi Dham is located on the way from Nainital to Almora, so you can also take a bus or private vehicle that is traveling on this route.
Summary of the Route:
- Fly from New York (JFK/EWR) to Delhi (DEL) – 14-16 hours.
- From Delhi (DEL), take a train or bus to Nainital or Kathgodam (6-10 hours).
- From Nainital/Kathgodam, take a taxi to Kainchi Dham (30-45 minutes).