Kainchi Dham

Kainchi Dham, also known as Neem Karori Ashram, is a Hindu ashram and temple complex located at Kainchi in the Nainital district, Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India. It is closely associated with the Hindu saint Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Neeb Karori Baba. It is situated on the banks of small mountain river, Shipra, at a distance of 9 km from Bhowali and 17 km from Nainital, on the Nainital–Almora Road. The ashram was established by Neem Karoli Baba in 1964 on land donated by a local resident, Purnanand. The complex includes a temple dedicated to Hanuman, which was consecrated on 15 June 1964, and Kainchi subsequently became the principal ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, in his later years. Today, it continues to attract a large number of pilgrims from India and abroad. Its international recognition developed 1960s and 70s, partly through Western disciples of Neem Karoli Baba, including Ram Dass, Krishna Das and Larry Brilliant, and later through widely reported visits by Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. In 2020s, Kainchi Dham saw a rise in number of visitors, from around 800,000 annually in previous years, it rose to 2.4 million in 2024.Visitor numbers at Kainchi Dham increased substantially during the 2020s. In June 2025, the Uttarakhand government stated that approximately 2.4 million devotees had visited the shrine during the preceding year, compared with an average of around 800,000 in earlier years.