Tucked away in the verdant valley of the Kumaon region lies the quaint temple town of Bageshwar. The town, surrounded by the majestic Bhileshwar and Nileshwar mountains, sits pretty at the confluence of rivers Saryu and Gomti. Not just natural and scenic vistas, Bageshwar is also home to the revered Bagnath temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is visited by devotees in large numbers all year round but witnesses a whopping footfall during the annual Shivratri festival. Legend has it that the temple sits at the site where Lord Shiva had appeared in his tiger (bagh in Hindi) avatar here to bless sage Markandeya, who had worshipped the deity. The annual Uttarayani fair, which is held on Makar Sankranti at the confluence of river Saryu and Gomti, is a grand affair and is attended by visitors from far and wide. This fair is considered one of Uttarakhand’s ancient events. As the headquarters of the Bageshwar district, the eponymous town attracts a steady stream of tourists and trekkers throughout the year.