KirkEvd85074933 at 16:18, 28 February 2026

2026-02-28T16:18:18Z

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{{Short description|Town in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}

'''Guptakashi''', '''Gupta Kashi''' or '''Guptkashi''' is a fairly large town located at an elevation of {{convert|1319|m|ft}} in the Kedar-khanda ('khanda' means "sector"), in [[Garhwal Himalaya]]s of [[Rudraprayag district]] in [[Uttarakhand|Uttarakhand, India]]. It is known for its ancient Vishwanath Temple dedicated to the god [[Shiva]], which is similar to the one in [[Varanasi]] (Kashi). The other well known temple here is dedicated to [[Ardhanareshvara]], a half man half woman form of Shiva and [[Parvati]]. The name Guptakashi has legendary significance linked to the [[Pandavas]], the heroes of the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=Bond>{{Cite book|last=Bond|first=Ruskin|title= Magic Place, A: Book 7|work=Beautiful Mandakini|pages=26–30|access-date=2009-08-16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DBBBeYO9kG4C&dq=Guptkashi&pg=PA30|publisher= Orient Blackswan|isbn=81-250-2584-7 }}</ref><ref name=district>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gmvnl.com/newgmvn/districts/rudraprayag/pilgrimage.aspx|title=Shankaracharya Samadhi|work=Guptakashi|access-date=2009-08-16|publisher=Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, A Government of Uttarakhand Enterprise|archive-date=20 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520184323/http://www.gmvnl.com/newgmvn/districts/rudraprayag/pilgrimage.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=gupta>{{Cite web|url=http://rudraprayag.nic.in/Guptkashi.htm|title=Guptkashi|access-date=2009-08-16|publisher=National Informatics Centre, Rudraprayag|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604130933/http://rudraprayag.nic.in/Guptkashi.htm|archive-date=4 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its religious importance is considered next to that of Varanasi, believed to be the most pious of all [[Hindu pilgrimage sites]].

The temple town is located on the way to the [[Kedarnath]], one of the [[Chota Char Dham]]s and [[Panch Kedar]]s. It has the scenic backdrop of the snow-covered peaks of [[Chaukhamba]] and enjoys a salubrious weather throughout the year.<ref name=Bond/>

==Legend==
Popularly-narrated legend holds that subsequent to the [[Kurukshetra war]] of the epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas on the advice of god [[Krishna]] and other sages wished to atone for their sins of [[fratricide]] and [[Brāhmanahatya]] committed by them during the war by seeking pardon from Shiva and also pray for his blessings before attaining salvation. But Shiva was not willing to meet them since he was annoyed with them for the unjust events of the war. He, therefore, avoided meeting them at Kashi and went incognito as the bull [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] to Guptakashi in Uttarakhand. But Pandavas pursued him to Guptakashi and recognized him in the disguised form of Nandi. When [[Bhima]], the second Pandava brother tried to hold the bull by its tail and hind legs, Nandi vanished from Guptakashi, into the ground (into a cave for hiding), but reappeared later as Shiva in five different forms namely, hump at [[Kedarnath]], face at [[Rudranath]], arms at [[Tungnath]], navel and stomach at [[Madhyamaheshwar]] and the locks at [[Kalpeshwar]]. The vanishing act of Shiva gave the name Guptakashi (hidden Kashi) to this place on the bank of the [[Mandakini River]]. In the upper reaches of the [[Bhagirathi River]], there is another Kashi, called the [[Uttarkashi]] (North Kashi).<ref name=Bond/><ref name=gupta/><ref name=kashi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.badrikedar.com/temple/GuptkashiVishwanath.html|title=Guptkashi Vishwanath Temple|access-date=2009-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520171450/http://www.badrikedar.com/temple/GuptkashiVishwanath.html|archive-date=20 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Bisht>{{Cite book|last= Bisht| first=Harshwanti|title= Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya|chapter=Guptkashi|page=88|access-date=2009-08-16|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6C6DGU73WzsC&dq=guptakashi+temple&pg=PA15|publisher= Indus Publishing|year=1994|isbn=81-7387-006-3 }}</ref><ref name=Committee>{{Cite web|url=http://www.badarikedar.org/content-kedar.aspx?id=55|title=Places to see|access-date=2009-08-17|publisher=Shr Kedarnath Shri Badrinath Temple Committee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124004721/http://www.badarikedar.org/content-kedar.aspx?id=55|archive-date=24 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mythology also states that Shiva proposed to Parvati at Guptakashi before they got married in the small [[Triyuginarayan]] village at the confluence of Mandakini and Sone-Ganga rivers.<ref name =roma>{{Cite book|author= Roma Bradnock|title= Indian Himalaya handbook|work=Kedarnath|pages=113–114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyZGp_YVzb8C&dq=Triyuginarayan+temple&pg=PA114|publisher= Footprint Travel Guides|year= 2000|isbn=1-900949-79-2 }}</ref> However the old route of 14 km from [[Gauri Kund]] to [[Kedarnath]] via Rambara was completely washed away in the [[2013 North India floods]], and new route of 15–16 km was made by the [[Nehru Institute of Mountaineering]]. The distance of Guptakashi to Kedarnath remains at 22 kilometers and 729.77 meters, which is most important to the celestial nuptials.<ref>[http://distancebetween2.com/guptkashi/kedarnath New Route to Kedarnath]</ref>

According to [[Puranic]] literature, Kashi and [[Kanchi]] (Kanchipuram) are considered as two eyes of Shiva. Keeping this connotation in view, six more "Kashi"s have been prescribed to be as sacred and spiritual as the main Kashi - Varanasi. Pilgrims, who cannot undertake the long journey to the main Kashi, can travel to the closest Kashi. The six other "Kashi"s cover all the regions of the country. These are: Uttarkashi and Guptakashi in Uttarakhand in Northern Himalayas, [[Dakshinkashi]] in [[South India|Southern India]], the Guptakashi in [[East India|Eastern India]] is at [[Bhubaneswar]], the Kashi at [[Nashik]] (also [[Paithan]]) in [[West India|Western India]] and a Kashi in [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India|Mandi]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]] in Western Himalayas. The Puranas state that all the Kashis have the same degree of sanctity and reverence as the main Kashi - Varanasi.<ref name=Vidyarthi>{{Cite book|last =Vidyarthi|first=L.P|title= The Spectrum of the Sacred|work=The sacred journey|year=1984|pages=72–73|access-date=2009-08-17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HazzvPDMgz8C&dq=Gupta+Kashi&pg=PA72|publisher= Concept Publishing Company}}</ref>

Another legend declares that when the [[Mughal dynasty|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]] demolished the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]] in 1669, and constructed Gaynvapi Mosque (he had even renamed Varanasi as Mohammadâbâd), the [[Shiva Linga]] was shifted to Guptakashi for safe keeping. But the original linga of Kashi Vishwanath is stated to have remained here from the time it was shifted.<ref name=gupta/>

==Structures==
The main temple is dedicated to Shiva as [[Shiva|Vishwanath]] (ruler of the world). The architectural style of this temple is akin to other temples in Uttarakhand, such as Kedarnath, built in stone with a high tower over the sanctum and a wooden frame and sloping roof in typical architectural style of the region, at the top of the tower. At the entrance to the temple, there are two ''dwarpalakas'' (entrance guards) on both sides. The exterior façade is painted with lotuses. At the top of the entrance door, there is an image of [[Bhairava]], a terrible form of Shiva. To the left of the main shrine, there is a smaller shrine dedicated to Ardhanareeshvara and at the entrance to this temple there is metallic statue of Nandi facing Shiva's image in the temple and offering reverential worship. This statue has a [[Swastika]], a typical Hindu symbol, painted on its side, with its arms aligned in a clockwise direction, considered as an auspicious direction.<ref name=temple>{{Cite web|url=http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/picturepages/pilgguptkashi.html|title=Gupt Kashi|access-date=2009-08-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528101516/http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/picturepages/pilgguptkashi.html|archive-date=28 May 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name =Maw/>

Apart from the main Vishwanath temple, a large number of [[Linga]]s, symbols of Shiva, are seen in and around Guptakashi, which has resulted in the popular terminology {{transliteration|hi|jitne pathar utne shankar}} meaning "as many stones, those many 'Shiva's". Another temple town called the [[Ukhimath]] is located on the opposite bank of the Mandakini river where, during the winter months when Kedarnath temple is inaccessible due to snowy conditions, the symbolic deity of Kedarnath is shifted via [[Gauri Kund|Gaurikund]], Phata, Guptakashi to Ukhimath to continue worship uninterrupted. The temple priests of Kedarnath stay at Guptakashi during the winter period.<ref name=Bond/><ref name=Committee/><ref name=temple/>

In a small pond (''kund'') called the Manikarnika Kund here, in front of the temple, a [[lingam|Shiva-linga]] is bathed by two springs, representing the rivers [[Ganges]] (Bhagirathi) and [[Yamuna]]. The Yamuna spring water emanates from a ''goumukh'' (spout in the shape of a cow's mouth) and the Bhagirathi spring flows through trunk of an elephant strategically placed above the linga.<ref name=Bond/><ref name=gupta/><ref name =Maw>{{Cite book|last=Maw|first=Geoffrey Waring|title=Pilgrims in Hindu Holy Land: sacred shrines of the Indian Himalayas|chapter=Guptakashi|page= 33|access-date=2009-08-17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IarXAAAAMAAJ&q=Guptkashi|publisher= Sessions Book Trust|year=1997|isbn= 1-85072-190-4 }}</ref><ref name="bansal">{{cite book|last=Bansal|first=Sunita Pant|title=Hindu Pilgrimage|pages=31|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F303Zb7EC0kC&dq=Triyugi+narayan&pg=PT31 | isbn=978-81-223-0997-3 | year=2008 | publisher=Pustak Mahal}}</ref>

In addition, there are few other important sites to visit in the vicinity of the temple town. These are the Gandhi Sarovar (lake) {{convert|2|km|mi}} from the town where the ashes of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] were immersed. Vasukital, {{convert|8|km|mi}} from Kedarnath, is yet another enchanting lake that beholds the visitor with floating ice and sparkling water.<ref name=gupta/><ref name=Committee/>

At Ukhimath, on the opposite bank of the river, there is a [[stupa]], which according to the local version represents the grave of [[Nala]]. There are also evidences of a love legend narrated, locally only, of [[Krishna]]’s grandson [[Aniruddha]] and demon king [[Banasura]]’s daughter Usha at Ramgarh (in Ronitpur), near Ukhimath, about{{convert|3|km|mi}} away from Guptakashi. This love affair led to a war between Krishna and Banasura in which the latter was killed, resulting in the end of Banasura's dynasty.<ref name=gupta/><ref name= Aggarwal>{{Cite book|first1=J.C.|last1=Aggarwal|first2=S.P.|last2=Agrawal|first3=Shanti Swarup|last3=Gupta|author-link3=Shanti Swarup Gupta (economist)|title= Uttarakhand: past, present, and future|chapter=Chamoli district|page=223|access-date=2009-08-17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=alRh51xE_v0C&dq=Kashi+in+Uttarakhand&pg=PA456|publisher= Concept Publishing Company |year=1995|isbn= 978-81-7022-572-0}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Chaukhamba peak, Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand.jpg|thumb|left|Scenic backdrop of [[Chaukhamba]] range of hills at Guptakashi]]
Guptakashi is located in the Northern Himalayan belt within the Mandakini river valley, which has lush green forests. A number of streams and rivulets drain into the main Mandakini River. It has salubrious climate with its elevation being around {{convert|1319|m|ft}}. The snow sparkling view of the Chaukhamba peak is a lovely sight to behold in the morning hours from here. The valley has large [[magnolia]] trees (locally called ''Champa'') that provide a sweet scented atmosphere to the place. The temple of [[Madhyamaheshwar]] is {{convert|25|km|mi}} northeast of Guptkashi. The road from Guptkashi to [[Kalimath]] and the trek from Kalimath to Madhmaheshwar provide the scenic beauty of Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks.<ref name=Bond/><ref name=district/><ref name=Bisht/>

==Access==
It is approachable from [[Rudraprayag]] by road over a distance of {{convert|24|mi|km}}. Rudrprayag is approached from [[Haridwar]] or [[Rishikesh]] by the [[National Highway (India)|National Highway]], which goes to [[Badrinath]] and beyond. It is {{convert|178|km|mi}} from Rishikesh.<ref name=Bisht/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2272870670066987140yhyAeg View of Guptkashi Temple]
* [http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/picturepages/pilgguptkashi.html Pictures with details of each structure in the temple complex] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528101516/http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/picturepages/pilgguptkashi.html |date=28 May 2009 }}

{{Rudraprayag district}}
{{Hindu temples in Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Tourism in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Villages in Rudraprayag district]]

Guptakashi - Revision history

KirkEvd85074933 at 16:18, 28 February 2026