Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath

Getting there

• By air

  Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport, about 200 km away.

• By train

  The nearest railway station is Rishikesh, about 180 km away.

• By road

  Ukhimath is about 41 km from Rudraprayag and 13 km from Guptkashi. The district page says it is well connected by road, and buses and cabs are easily available.

Why devotees come here

Omkareshwar Temple stands in Ukhimath, a town in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. When the Kedarnath portals close for winter, the deity's palanquin comes here, and worship continues for six months.

Omkareshwar is worshipped at this temple throughout the year. Hindu mythology links the place to the marriage of Usha, daughter of Banasura, and Aniruddha, grandson of Krishna. The town's name, earlier Ushamath, is believed to come from Usha's name. Ukhimath stands at about 1311 metres above sea level.

In winter the festival idol of Kedarnath, called the Utsava Murti, is worshipped here. The dolis of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are brought to Ukhimath and worshipped for six months. The district tourism page calls Ukhimath the winter seat of Kedarnath, where worship is done during the winter months while the Kedarnath temples remain closed. The Raval of Kedarnath moves with the deity to Ukhimath during the winter season.

When the Kedarnath portals close, Baba Kedar's doli, the palanquin that carries the deity, leaves for its winter seat at this temple. Worship continues here until the portals reopen the following year.

Tips for your visit

• The district tourism page says the temples of Usha and Aniruddha, and of Shiva and Parvati, are worth visiting.
• In winter, the Madhyamaheshwar doli is also worshipped here, alongside Kedarnath's.

Questions people ask