Ukhimath - Winter Seat of Kedarnath
Cocooned in the Himalayas, the tiny hamlet of Ukhimath is the perfect place for the travellers who are in the quest of peace and spirituality. From here, one can savour a resplendent view of the Himalayan ranges such as Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and Neelkanth peaks.
Being a famous pilgrimage centre, Ukhimath houses several ancient temples dedicated to Usha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Aniruddha and Mandhata that can be visited by the devoted travellers. From here, the travellers can also visit the famous off-beat destinations such as Madhmaheswar, Chopta, Tungnath, and Deoria Tal Lake.
If you happen to visit this place during winters, then you can see the Utsav Doli or palanquin of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar being carried here. The deities are worshipped here for the next six months and the temple holds the year round pujas of Lord Omkareshwar.
Ukhimath Travel News
20 Nov 2024
Madmaheshwar Temple closed for winters
The portals of Madmaheshwar temple, second among the Panch Kedar have been closed for winter on 20 Nov 2024. Baba Madmaheshwar's palanquin left for the winter seat of Panchkedar Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath. On November 25, the doli will be seated at Omkareshwar temple for winter worship. This year over 20,000 devotees visited the second Kedar which opened on May 22, 2024. The doli will reach Goundar village for its first overnight stay. Next day, the doli will pass by Ransi village to stay overnight at Giriya village. On 23 Nov, the palanquin will be seated at Omkareshwar Temple, the winter seat.
Activities in Ukhimath
Pilgrimage – Perched at an altitude of 1,300 metres, Ukhimath is the winter abode of deities of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar when heavy snowfalls makes these shrines inaccessible. Ukhimath is one of the places in the Winter Char Dham Yatra circuit, an initiative by government to improve tourism.
Trekking – Popular trekking trails such as to Deoria Tal commences near Ukhimath which takes adventurers through beautiful hamlets, lush greenery and majestic Himalayan views of the peaks like Chaukhamba, Meru-Sumeru and Kedar Dome to name a few.
Staying in Ukhimath
Being a small town, there are not many accommodation options at Ukhimath. Only handful of budget guesthouses and hotels with limited amenities is available.
There is one GMVN Guest House in Ukhimath as well. During peak season it is better to book accommodation in advance at Ukhimath hotels.
Ukhimath Food Guide
Apart from few roadside dhabas and tea stalls there are not many eating options at Ukhimath. The local restaurants serve north Indian vegetarian food. Due to being a revered religious place, alcohol and non-vegetarian food is not served at Ukhimath. Few sweet shops do have popular local sweets like Bal Mithai and Singauri.
Mythology about Ukhimath
'Ushamat' was the former name of Ukhimath which was kept after Usha, the daughter of Banasur.
The popular Hindu legend suggests that it was here that Anirudh, the great grandson of Lord Krishna got married to Usha, the beautiful daughter of Banasura, the demon King. From then onwards the place came to be known as ‘Ukhimath’ the 'maith' or the maternal home of Usha.
Ukhimath is dotted with several artistic ancient temples dedicated to Usha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Aniruddha and Mandhata.
Ukhimath Weather and Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Ukhimath is round the year. Carry light woolens in summers and heavy woolens in winters. Ukhimath is situated on the road connecting Guptkashi with Gopeshwar.
Ukhimath Weather
Check out the Ukhimath weather report for December
Ukhimath Weather in December
The minimun and maximum temperature in December in Ukhimath is 5°C and 22°C respectively. The weather is generally pleasant and clear in December and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Ukhimath in December.
What is Ukhimath famous for?
Ukhimath is famous among tourist as Temple.
Ukhimath is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Char Dham Route, Others, Pilgrimage, Temples, Winter Char Dham.
