Ukhimath, Kedarnath - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 59 km from Kedarnath, 36 km from Madhyamaheshwar, 43 km from Sonprayag and 43 km from Rudraprayag, Ukhimath is picturesque hill town situated in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It lies at an elevation of 1317 m in Himalayas.

Earlier known as Ushamat, the town derives its name from Banasur's daughter Usha. According to mythology, Ukhimath was the land where the wedding of Usha and Anirudh, grandson of Lord Krishna was celebrated.

The famous Omkareshwar Temple located in Ukhimath is one of the oldest in the region and is known as the abode of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar during winters. Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are brought to Ukhimath during winter and worshiped for six months. These deities are taken back in a procession to their original temples in the month of Apr/May.

The place has many other temples dedicated to Usha, Shiva, Anirudh, Parvati and Mandhata. Ukhimath offers panoramic views of the Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. It is a perfect place for travelers looking to enjoy the peaceful and pristine serenity of a hill station without the crowd. The holy town is mainly inhabited by the priests of Kedarnath temple known as Rawals.

Ukhimath can be used as base station for visiting different places such as the Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath, Deoria Tal and many other places nearby. The beautiful Deoria Tal is only 7 km from Ukhimath and is a place of breathtaking beauty. The still waters reflect the snowy white peaks of Chaukhamba and green foliage of the tall pines on its borders.