Ukhimath is a hill town overlooking deep valleys and distant peaks, most famous for the Omkareshwar Temple, a stone complex dedicated to Shiva. The temple courtyard has multiple shrines and ancient idols in typical Garhwali style. For villagers around Ukhimath, it is their main local mandir; for the wider Hindu world, it is revered because during winter, when Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar are snowbound, the utsav idols (utsav vigrahas) of these deities are brought here and worshipped for six months.
About this place
History & highlights
Ukhimath is linked in legend to Usha, daughter of the demon king Banasura, from which the town’s name is said to derive. Over time, the area became an important seat of priests and ashrams. Omkareshwar Temple itself is centuries old; sources point out that it became the traditional winter abode of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madhmaheshwar so that devotees could continue worship even when the high-altitude shrines closed. Each autumn, after Kedarnath shuts, a ceremonial procession carries the idol to Ukhimath; in spring it returns in a grand yatra. This seasonal movement has created a unique living tradition where Ukhimath is as central to the Kedarnath story as the main temple itself.
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