Omkareshwar temple is a beautiful temple located in the stunning Ukhimath in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarkhand. It is nestled at an elevation of 1300 m. Omkareshwar temple serves as a winter abode for the deity of the Kedarnath Dham. In the months from November to April that is the winter season, the Kedarnath temple gets covered with snow and thus the deity is brought to Omkareshwar temple and is worshipped here at this temple. The deity from Madhyamaheshwar that is one of the Panch Kedar is also brought down to Omkareshwar temple and worshipped here during the winter season.
Omkareshwar temple is constructed in the North Indian style of architecture. It is a tiny blackened temple that has a navel-shaped Shivlinga. The linga is also made of black stone and is located in the sanctum. There are shrines of both shiva’s consort, Parvati, and Ardhanarishwara, an image of half Shiva and half Parvati. To the right of this beautiful temple, there is a small shrine of maa Saraswati the Hindu goddess of art and learning. It is wholly made of marble.
As per the mythology, it is believed that the marriage of Usha- daughter of Vanasur and Anirudh- grandson of Lord Krishna was married here. Another story related to this temple is that Mandhata, an emperor- the ancestor of Lord Ram left worldly pleasures and performed penance here for 12 years by standing on one leg. After his penance, Lord Shiva appeared to him in the form of Omkar- the sound of Om and blessed him and from that time the temple is known as Omkareshwar temple.
The worship at Omkareshwar temple takes place during a specified period. It begins with the summer season and lasts until the months of either October or November depending upon the winter conditions. The temple remains inaccessible during the other times of the year because of snow that makes travelling impossible and during this period the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath to avoid hindrance to the worship rituals. The timings for darshan at Omkareshwar temple are 5am to 12pm and 2pm to 9pm. There is no entry fee to visit this temple.
Ukhimath is also a doorway to different places like- Madhmaheshwar- second Kedar, Tungnath- third Kedar, and Deoria Tal- a natural freshwater lake. Attend the famous Madmeheshwar Mela at Omkareshwar temple that extends to a period of three days. It is the celebration followed by the arrival of Lord Madmaheshwar’s dol at Omkareshwar temple. The students from schools of Uttarakhand take part in the festivities by giving their beautiful performances. It is indeed avery huge celebration. On your Uttarakhand trip, make sure to visit the nearby places in Omkareshwar temple-
1. Madhyamaheshwar
The Madhyamaheshwar temple is one of the beautiful and holy temples in Uttarakhand state. It is devoted to Lord Shiva. This temple is surrounded by Himalayan ranges on all the side. The architecture of the Madhyamaheshwar temple is in Northern Indian style. It holds a navel-shaped shiva lingam that is made up of black stone in the sanctum.
2. Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath temple is a Hindu temple and is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is nestled near the Mandakini river. This temple remains open from the months- April to November and remains closed during the winter season due to harsh weather.
How To Reach
The nearest railway station is the Rishikesh railway station that is almost 175kms away from Ukhimath. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun that is located at a distance of around 195kms from Ukhimath. One can reach here by trekking. The devotees' trek to Omkareshwar temple. The trek starts from its base that is Unaiana and continues up to Ukhimath which is 18kms from the bottom. During their trek, the devotees capture the enchanting views of mountains that are truly mesmerizing. As the trek begins one reaches a beautiful hamlet- Ransi after covering 3kms. From here one further continues and after 6kms reaches Gaundhar where one can book a lodge for a comfortable stay. After resting one crosses the confluence of Martyenda Ganga and Madhyamaheshwar Ganga and then comes Khatara, Nanu, and then finally Madhyamaheswar. One can reach the temple by Guptakashi from here there is a 24kms trek to Omkareshwar temple. The trekking takes place during the two seasons, three months during the summer season and two months after the monsoon season as the ways are all coveredwith heavy snow.
Best Time To Visit
Visit this temple in the months between Jan to June and September to December when the weather is quite salubrious. A trip to Omkareshwar temple can be done throughout the year but the aptest time to visit here is between October to April as travelling in these particular months is perfect and very enjoyable. During the winter season, the weather here is quite cold. Due to snowfall on the surrounding hills in the winter season, the temperature here goes down very much. At the time of monsoon, it becomes a bitdifficult to travel here as the heavy rains bring landslides. So it is advised not to visit at the time of monsoon season.
One planning to visit the Omkareshwar temple can stay near this temple at-Shri Hanumant Inn and Resort-This resort offers a luxurious stay in its well-maintained comfortable accommodations. This resort is situated between Ukhimath and Chopta and is budget-friendly. Hotel snow View-Hotel snow view is famous for its basic and semi-deluxe facilities, comfortable and stylish accommodation. It truly offers great hospitality to tourists. GMVN Tourist Rest House- GMVN tourist Resthouse is a great choice for all the tourists who are in a search of a budget hotel with all the descent facilities and good service.
So plan your next trip to this holy Omkareshwar temple and spend some time in serenity with your loved ones.
Enquiry