HO Abode of Gods

ble explosion."1 The total number of dead and missing was 43
^Europeans and 108 Indians.

A hundred years have gone by since the 18 September 1880
catestrophe. People have now forgotten the lesson taught by
one of the most tragic calamities of Kumaon hills. Unfettered
cutting of trees and hillside continues and the drains dug earlier
now remain choked. It must be kept in mind that lakes are
made in the hills due to landslides and they disappear like that
only as has been the case with the famed Gohna lake.

Nainital grows as a tourist spot

Nainital was first brought into limelight in 1841 through the
columns of 'Agra Akhbar' and soon it attracted the attention of
Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta, whose journey into this area
has been thus described, "The Bishop passed through Nainital
on his way to Almora in February and again on his return in
March 1844, The station had just been selected, no houses were
built. The weather was inclement during the Bishop's sojourn
at the place his Lordship suffered in his health and having to
reside in a dark mud hut, which admitted light only by the door.
The whole scene appeared to him more of a wilderness than a
paradise. This, no doubt suggested to his mind the name which
he proposed for the church and by which the building since
created has been designed. Nainital is situated in a valley
running from West to East and bounded on the north by the
peak of China (2,590 metres) continued by Alma (2394 metres)
and Sker-ka-Danda (2360 metres) to the eastern extremity where
the ridge descends to the level of the lake 1805 metres above sea
level. On the west the rugged hill of Deopate (2,397 metres) and
on the south Ayarpata attains an elevation of 2,238 metres
diminishing gradually towards the east. The eastern boundry
is a pass through which the surplus waters of the lake find an
exit forming the principal source of the Baliya river which in
turn is the principal feeder of Gaula river. Oak, cypress and
other beautiful trees continue from the margin of the lake up-
wards the ridges for 2 kms. upto the peaks which stands at the
extremes of this vast ampitheatre. There are two sulphur springs—

1. E.T- Atkinson, The Himalayan Gazeteer.