Bettiah: Thousands of devotees flocked to the Kali Mata temple atop the Someshwar Hills under Ramnagar block in West Champaran district during Chaitra Navratri, undertaking a strenuous pilgrimage through dense Valmiki Tiger Reserve forests and steep terrain along the India-Nepal border.Situated at an elevation of around 880 metres (2,884 feet) in the Shivalik range, Someshwar peak — considered among the highest points in Bihar — houses an ancient Kali temple and the historic Someshwar Fort. The site witnesses a large influx of pilgrims twice a year during Chaitra and Sharadiya Navaratra.The journey begins with a 16-km road trip from Ramnagar to Govardhan village, followed by a challenging 12-km uphill trek through forests, streams and steep slopes, taking nearly 5-6 hours to complete. The route passes through scenic locations such as Parewadah, Vaneshwar Lake and Nachan Chidiya hill, though the steep climb at Dhamahawa hill often tests the endurance of devotees.A devotee, Niranjan Prasad, said, “Despite the difficult terrain, the faith of devotees remains unshaken. The spiritual energy at the summit makes the entire journey worthwhile.”Before beginning the climb, devotees offer prayers at the idol of Baba Narhari Das in Govardhan village. It is believed that the religious rituals at the hilltop were initiated nearly three decades ago by Baba Narhari Das.Hariom Prasad, who visits every year during Navaratra, said the site is regarded as one of the 108 Shakti Peeths. Members of the Tharu community and local villagers play a crucial role during the festival, carrying water and essential supplies on their shoulders to the hilltop and organising free community meals (bhandara) for devotees throughout the nine-day festival.Despite the risks and physical challenges, the deep-rooted faith of devotees continues to draw large crowds every year. Security arrangements during Navratri are managed by personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) 65th Battalion, along with local police and forest department teams. Commandant Nandan Singh Mehra said apart from ensuring security, the personnel also attend to the medical needs of pilgrims. Several elderly or other devotees who sustained injuries during the climb on Monday were provided treatment by the SSB team.West Champaran MP Sunil Kumar said efforts are underway to develop the site into a major religious and eco-tourism destination. He added, “We have demanded the development of basic infrastructure and a ropeway facility to make the pilgrimage safer and more accessible for devotees.”
