Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple: A Place Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Seen
Where is the Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple?
Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple is situated in the Pithoragarh district (13 Kilometres from Gangolihat) of Uttarakhand in India. It is a limestone cave temple. It is said that this cave is as old as the earth.
The cave is 160 meters long and 27 meters deep from the point of entrance. This cave leads to several other caves. This is not just a single cave; it leads to several other caves built inside it.
This cave is believed to be the home of every Hindu God and Goddess. It is said that seeking blessing here is equal to seeking blessings at Char Dham of Uttarakhand.
Religious Significance of the Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple
Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple is one of the mysterious and spiritual places in Uttarakhand. According to the legends, this cave temple was discovered by King Rituparna of the Surya dynasty in the Treta Yuga, while Adi Shankaracharya visited this cave in the Kali Yuga.
It is believed that the Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi, proceeded towards their last journey in the Himalayas after meditating here in front of Lord Shiva. There is also an underground cave that is directly connected to Mount Kailash. It is believed that almost every God that we know resides here in this cave.
There is also a belief that the original head of Lord Ganesha, which Lord Shiva cut down, is situated here. This form of Ganesha is popularly known as Vighnaharta. However, the head is not visible due to the layer of limestone.
There are four entrances inside the cave named Randwar (Door of War), Paapdwar (Door of Sin), Dharmdwar (Door of Dharma), and ‘Mokshadwar (Door of Moksha (liberation). This is a place for both sightseeing and worship. Inside the cave, you can discover wonders like the tongue of Goddess Kali, the Airavata of Indra, the hair of Lord Shiva, etc.
How to Reach Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple?
The closest airport, Naini Saini at Pithoragarh, is about 91km away, while the nearest railway station is in Kathgodam, which is almost 192km away. Patal Bhuvaneshwar is connected to Almora, Binsar, Jageshwar, Kausani, Ranikhet, Nainital, and other towns and cities.
The motorable road ends half a kilometer away from the cave entrance. The road ends half a kilometer from the cave entrance. From there, You have to move nearly 100 steps into this narrow cave.
This temple is the perfect place for meditation along with pilgrimage. There is an ashram known as Narayan Ashram, where tourists can learn the art of meditation. The stones inside the temple reveal different stories and tales related to the Hindu pantheon in the shapes of gods, goddesses, saints, and known mythological characters.
