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ponyride. This trip was very enjoyable. We reached Bageshwar in
the evening. Next day we saw the Bazar and the temples. After
this visit, how many times I have been to Bageshwar I don't
remember except for a trip in which I made halt at Kausani, the
most picturesque place which provides a panorama of infinite
variety.
Bageshwar is an old town. It houses Vyagreshwar temple
about which a story is told that a Sadhu once sat in the bed of
Saryu for tapasya. The river was blocked due to lack of water
in the lower villages, the crops withered. The people got worried
and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva thought of an ingenious
plan; Parvati became a cow and Shiva turned himself into a lion
trying to kill the cow. The Sadhu got infuriated and got up to
stop the killing due to which the barrier on Gomati was broken
and henceforth Lord Shiva came to be known here as Vyagre-
shwar.