Naimisharanya is a small town located near Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The name Naimisharanya is also famous by various names like Naimisharan, Nimsaar, and Neemsar.

Naimisharanya is the Holy forest where Vedavyasa taught the Vedas and all the Puranas to his disciples. Later it is in this very holy place that Romaharshana (alternatively Lomaharshana), Vedavyasa’s disciple, narrated the Puranas to several Rishis. It is also the blessed place where Ugrasrava (Suta Gosvami), the son of Romaharsana, narrated the story of Shreemad Bhagavatam to several Rishis.

Naimisharanya (Neemsar) is a land steeped with Hindu mythology linking it to Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Sati and Lord Shiva. The place is unique owing to the belief that it is the land where the pantheon of 33 Hindu God & Goddesses reside. It also believed to be the first most sacred of all pilgrim centres for Hindus. It is said that if one performs penance for 12 years on this land, one moves to Brahmaloka. The place is located on the banks of River Gomti in Sitapur district at a distance of 94 Km from Lucknow. This place finds mention as a dense forest in several ancient scriptures, including the Mahabharata. It is definitely worth a day trip to visit the various shrines. A paved street encircling the town connects the primary shrines and visitors can cover the circuit in a couple of hours.

There is a huge pond at the place called Chakra-Kunda, meaning the pond of the wheel. This is the place where Ved Vyaas divided the Vedas into 4 main parts and formed Puranas. He preached Shrimad Bhagavadgita and Puranas to his disciples Jaimini, Vaisampayana, Shuk Dev, Suth, Angeera, and Pail. There is an ancient Banyan Tree which is said to be a blessed and is believed that anyone who performs Yoga under this tree can get rid of even an incurable disease.

The sages performed a Yagya at that sacred place. This way, the very place sitting where lord Brahma did creations all the sages commenced their Yagya, which continued for ten thousand years.

Sati, the wife of Siva, immolated herself after which Siva carried her body. On the way, her body split into 108 parts out of which the heart fell at Naimisharanya at this spot known as Lalitha Devi, one of the Shaktipeeths in India. Maa Lingdharini Lalita Devi is worshipped here at her temple abode, which is one of the chief temples at Naimisharanya. Before visiting Devi’s abode, devotees take holy bath at the Chakra Kunda. Many come to make a special offering of the parasol to her. the temple is an ancient shrine and as per the legends or various Puraanas when Devi Sati burnt herself in the Yogi Agni after Daksha Yajna, Shiva carried her body on his shoulder and started performing Shiv Tandav. Due to which the creation of the universe was affected and so Lord Vishnu divided Devi Sati’s body into 108 parts. It is believed that the heart of Devi Sati is present in Naimisharanya and is one of the Shakti Peeth’s Known as Lalita Devi.

This is the place where Ved Vyaas divided the Vedas into 4 main parts and formed Puranas. He preached Shrimad Bhagvathgita and Puranas to his disciples Jaimini, Vaisamaayam, Shuk Dev, Suth, Angeera and Pail. There is an ancient Banyan Tree which is said to be a blessed and is believed that anyone who performs Yoga under this tree can get rid of even an incurable disease. Vyas Gaddi is very unique and holy place near Naimisharanya in Sitapur. It is an ancient religious place to worship Saint Vyas and other deities. As per the beliefs, it is the same place where Saint Veda Vyasa divided the Vedas into four parts and wrote the Puranas. Inside the main abode, Vyas Gaddi has a splendid idol of Vyasa Deva. It is also a popular tourist spot located near the Chakra Teertham at Uttar Pradesh.  Just near to the main Temple, a big banyan tree is also positioned which is approx 5,000 years old.

After his victory over Ahiravana in Patal Lok, Lord Hanuman first emerged here, hence the place draws high significance for his devotees. There is a magnificent stone-carved statue of Lord Hanuman, with Lord Rama and Lakshman sitting on his shoulders. The temple is called, Dakshineshwar, as idol of Lord Hanuman here is facing southwards.

This is believed to be the place where the great sage Suta delivered his lectures to Shounak as well as to 88000 other saints and sages in the yesteryears. This is the place where Sita took bath before their exile to the forest for 14 long years. All three, Rama, Sita and Laxmana visited here so the place is revered.

The mention of Mishrikh is in Padmapurana (Adikhand), the holy scriptures of Hindus. It is believed that it was the place where Maharishi Dadhichi sacrificed his bones on the request of deities. The legend goes that there was a demon, Vrittrasur. He was very torturous to deities. They requested Lord Vishnu to kill the demon to get rid of his tortures. Then Lord Vishnu said that he could be killed by any weapon which is made of very pious material. All other weapons made of worldly materials failed to kill the demon as he had got divine powers after penancing for a great time. Then deities reached sage Dadhichi to get his bones which have become very pious after a long penance. Sage Dadhichi accepted the request of deities for a greater cause. Then Dadhichi sacrificed his bones for killing Vrittrasur.

At this Ghat Lord, Rama is said to have carried out the 10th powerful Ashwamedha Yajna after having destroyed the demon king, Ravana. There is an ancient temple at the Ghat and it houses the statues of Lord Rama, Devi Sita, and Lord Lakshmana. Also, there is an idol of Siddheshwar Mahadev; a manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Pandav Kila is an ancient fort where the Pandavas of famous epic Mahabharata are said to have put up during their years of exile. The story goes that King Virat; another character from Mahabharata was the original owner of this fort which later the Pandavas had used as their shelter. The fort bears the idols of Panch Pandavas in the company of Lord Krishna. The fort lies southwest of Chakra Tirtha, along with the river banks of Gomti. Historical records say that around 1305 AD this fort was renovated under the initiative of a Hindu minister working under Alauddin Khilji.

Havan Kund is the fire-altar which ancient sages and saints have used to perform Yajna and other sacrifices. This is an ancient fire altar where sages and saints were said to have carried out their sacrifices and Yajnas in the yesteryears.