Ukhimath

About Ukhimath

Ukhimath is situated at an elevation of 1317 mts above sea level in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. Ukhimath is also written as Okhimath sometimes. Ukhimath is the home of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar during winters. Worship is performed at the Omkareshwar Temple here during winters, when the temple of Kedarnath remains closed.

Ukhimath is mainly inhabited by the Rawal's who are the head priests (pundits) of Kedarnath. Snow capped peaks of the splendid Himalayan range are distinctly visible from Ukhimath.

Get Ukhimath travel guide, travel tips & places to see in Ukhimath

Ukhimath Tour Packages

Panch Kedar Yatra with Badrinath Dham

14 Days / 13 Nights

₹. 45,000.00

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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.

Places to See in Ukhimath

Mandakini River

Omkar Ratneshwar M...

Kalimath

Sari Village

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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.

Ukhimath Tour Packages

Panch Kedar Yatra with Badrinath Dham

14 Days / 13 Nights

₹. 45,000.00

View all Book Now

Ukhimath Travel Tips

During the winters, when visiting Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are covered in snow, the deities are brought o the Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath where they are worshipped all winter.
When travelling in monsoons, check with local authorities, tour guides or tour operators about the weather and road conditions before you actually start your journey.

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.