- Oct 27, 2022
- 2 min read

Ukhimath - Kedarnath of winters

Ukhimath is located in the Rudra Prayag district of Uttarakhand. It is a small town located near Kedarnath, whose height is 4300 feet above sea level. According to the beliefs, the initial name of Ukhimath was 'Ushamath', which was later changed to 'Ukhimath'.

According to the local legend here, this is the site of the famous mythological love story of Usha-Aniruddha. The statues of Aniruddha and Usha are enshrined in a huge temple. Along with them, there is also an idol of Mandhata. It is said that the front Shivalinga in the Keshav temple dates back to the time of Katyuri rule. The present building of the temple is not very old. It is said that the original name of the place Ukhimath was 'Usha' or 'Usha Math', which deteriorated to Ukhimath.

Old Story of Ukhimath

Architecture

Usha was the daughter of Banasura. The beautiful story of Usha-Aniruddha is described in detail in Shrimad Bhagwat, which it is told in Sonitpur, the capital of Banasura. Sonitpur has been identified as Guwahati. The relationship between Usha's story with Ukhimath does not seem to be based on fact. In Ukhimath, earlier Lakulish Shaivas had predominance. The architecture of the temple is influenced by southern Indian architecture, which came with Shankaracharya and his subsequent Dakshinatyas.

Kedarnath of Winter

Due to heavy snowfall in the winter in the Kedarnath region, the temple remains closed and no one stays in Kedarnath. For six months (November to April) the palanquin of Lord Kedarnath is shifted to a place near Guptkashi called Ukhimath and restored to Kedarnath in the month of May. It is at this time that the doors of the temple are opened to the pilgrims, who gather from all parts of India for the holy pilgrimage.

Best place to eat in Ukhimath

There are not many restaurants in Ukhimath. Chamoli is the nearest place with dhabas, restaurants, and street food stalls. Non-vegetarian food is not available at places of religious importance but the restaurants attached to the hotels serve all kinds of dishes.

Places to visit near Ukhimath

Being a religious and cultural place of Uttarakhand located in Rudraprayag district, most of the places of interest in Ukhimath have a mythological meaning, especially from the epic Mahabharata.

Omakareshwar Temple:- The Omkareshwar Temple located in the heart of Ukhimath is a famous temple among devotees and is visited in large numbers.
Sari:- Sari is a picturesque village near Ukhimath which is known as the base camp of Deoria Tal, you can also visit Chopta hill station.
Tungnath and Chandrashila:- When it comes to trekking in Uttarakhand, no one can miss Tungnath and Deoria Tal Trek. Situated at an altitude of 3680 M, Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world located in Uttarakhand.

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