Uttarkashi !

Uttarkashi is the land of Vishwanath and is located in the Himalayas. It is the source of both the Ganga and Yamuna rivers attracting thousands of Hindu pilgrims to visit the city on various occassions. Uttarkashi is situated on the main route to Gangotri and has many Hindu temples and is considered as an important Hindu pilgrimage center.

It is famous for an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and known as Kashi (Kashi of the North). Uttarkashi is also nicknamed as ‘Somya Kashi’ and ‘Shivnagri’. Uttarkashi has many temples dedicated to various gods like Lord Hanumana, Goddess Durga, Guru Parshuram, Bhairav, Annapurna, Laksheswar, Ekadashrudra, etc. People also came to Uttarkashi for learning the Vedic language and mantras.

Uttarkashi is an ancient land with a rich cultural heritage and glorious mountains with splendid mountain views. Uttarkashi is surrounded by high Himalayan ranges, green meadows and headstreams. The place contains the source of the Bhagirathi at Gangotri and Yamuna at Yamunotri both are highly religious and popular pilgrimage sites for visitors. The city of Uttarkashi is quite popular amongst adventure lovers as it offers several opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, and adventure sports.

Places To Visit In Uttarkashi City

Viswanath Temple / Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple

The Viswanath Temple or Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous and ancient Hindu temples in this region. The temple greeted its visitors by chanting mantras and by the sound of its bells used by the temple pujaris during the puja.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is situated on the banks of the river Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi district. The nearby temple offers a pleasant view of the river surrounded by the mighty Himalayan. The Viswanath temple is situated in the center of the city and is visited in large numbers by devotees visiting Chaar Dham yatra. Due to the temple's popularity, it is a must visit for the visitors visiting Uttarkashi region in Uttarakhand and also gets included in the Char Dham Yatra trip by the planners.

Kuteti Devi

Kuteti Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine temple located on Hari Parvat on the bank of the river Bhagirathi. This temple is a very important part of the city and it is associated with the daughter and son-in-law of Maharaja of Kota. Kuteti Devi Temple is around 2 km far from Uttarkashi City and is one of the most sought-after places in Uttarkashi. Tourists and locals also visit this temple to admire its panoramic views of the surroundings.

The Maneri Dam

The Maneri Dam is built on the river Bhagirathi. It is a concrete gravity dam located at Maneri in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. The Dam is built to divert the water of the Bhagirathi river into a tunnel that feeds the 90 megawatts and supplies it to Tiloth Power Plant and Maneri Bhali Hydroelectric power plants project.

Maneri Dam is one of the most beautiful places for sightseeing in Uttarkashi. The dam is surrounded by beautiful mountains and lush green flora and fauna, making it a pleasant place to relax and enjoy. Maneri Dam is also a perfect place for day trips, sightseeing, and picnics.

Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal is located at 3048 m up the hill and is an ideal place for trekking and camping. This beautiful alpine meadow offers an amazing and jaw-dropping beauty of the surrounding. To reach the place, travelers have to trek approximately 9 km from Barsu Village to reach the spot. During winter this place receives heavy snowfall and get covered with snow and becomes one of the most popular skiing destinations in Uttarakhand. If you are planning your holiday here and looking to relax and rejuvenate in the lap of nature include Dayara Bugyal in your trip trip or itinerary.

Gaumukh

Gaumukh is also known as Ganga’s Home and is one of the most popular trekking sites in the Garhwal region. It is the source of the holy Bhagirathi River and one of the holiest places in Uttarakhand. Gomukh is the second-largest glacier in India and is located 18 km from Gangotri which can be reached by trekking. The place is situated at a height of 13,200 feet.

The name Gaumukh means cow's mouth and the name is given due to Gangotri glacier’s terminus which is shaped like a cow’s mouth. It attracts a large number of Hindu pilgrimage devotees and is considered as a holy Hindu pilgrimage site.

Nachiketa Tal/Lake

Nachiketa Tal was named after the son of Uddalak. Nachiketa got the reality of life and death at a very young age of ten. It is located at a distance of 131 km from Gangotri and 29 km from Uttarkashi and is situated at an elevation of 2453 meters above sea level. This lake is a beautiful lake with a scenic wonderful view of the objects surrounding it.

This lake is also a temple of Nag Devta and villagers visit this divine place every year during the Nag Panchami festival.

Transport

Airway

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. It is about 160 km away.

Railway

The nearest railway station is Rishikesh. It is about 143 km away.

Roads

Uttarkashi is well connected by motorable roads to all the major towns and cities near it. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh, Tehri Garhwal, and many other destinations to Uttarkashi and vice-a-versa.

Climate & Best Time To Visit

One can visit Uttarkashi at any time of the year be it a summer, Monsoons, or Autumn. Given a choice, one may visit from March to November as it is the best time to visit Uttarkashi. Summers are pleasant and soothing with a bright blue sky and lush greenery view with an everlasting experience for the visitors. During summers the temperature in Uttarkashi ranges from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. This time is the best time to visit Uttarkashi for sightseeing, trekking, and mountaineering as the weather remains quite pleasant and sunny.

During monsoon, Uttarkashi witnesses a moderate amount of rainfall, which may make a visitor's trip a little uncomfortable for sightseeing and trekking during rainfall.

Winters are the best time to visit Uttarkashi if you want to witness snowfall. During winters in the months of January and February, the mountains are completely covered with a thick layer of snow and one might encounter snowfall during this time. If someone is looking for a cool, calm and pleasant weekend, away from the crowd then he must visit Uttarkashi for altogether a new experience.