Ukhimath

Ukhimath is a small hilly town in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand India. It lies in the Garhwal Himalayas, 40kms on the way to Kedarnath. It is believed that Ukhimath is Lord Shivas's ( Kedarnath ) resting place for the winters. Ukhimath offers panoramic views of the Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. It is a pleasant and picturesque hill town, 41 km from Rudraprayag.

Located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and situated at an elevation of 1311 m, Ukhimath is a perfect place for travelers looking to enjoy the peaceful and pristine serenity of a hill station without the crowds. Earlier known as Ushamat, the town derived its name from Banasur’s daughter Usha. Ukhimath was the land where the wedding of Usha and Anirudh, grandson of Lord Krishna was solemnized. It is also a famous pilgrimage center and known for its ancient temples dedicated to Usha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Aniruddha and Mandhata. Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheswar are brought to Ukhimath during winter and worshiped for six months. The temple also holds year round pujas of Lord Omkareshwar. Situated on the road connecting Guptkashi with Gopeshwar, the holy town is mainly inhabited by the priests of Kedarnath temple known as Rawals. From here, tourists also visit many other off-beat tourist destinations like the holy town of Madhmaheshwar, the ancient temple of Tungnath and the Deoria Tal Lake.

Ukhimath is a pilgrimage site in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, India. This temple popularly known as Omkareshwar Pith is one of the oldest in the country and houses the dieties of Kedarnath and Madmaheswar during the winter months (November to April). During this time the temple of Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar remains closed. The dieties are brought here from Kedarnath after Diwali and from Madmaheswar in December and worshipped here for six months.