Guptkashi Travel Guide

A religiously important town which is about 47 km before the holy temple of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath, Guptkashi is where Lord Shiva stays in the form of Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe). At an elevation of 1,319 m, Guptkashi is beautifully located on the east side of the Mandakini River valley facing the town of Ukhimath in the Rudraprayag District of Garhwal in Uttarakhand. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage in Uttarakhand and is also replete with beautiful flora and ancient temples like Vishwanath temple and Ardhnarishwar. This place justifies its name Guptkashi which means 'Hidden Benares' by linking itself with the epic of Mahabharatha. It is also said that when after the battle of Mahabharata, Pandavas were in a search of Lord Shiva and this was the place where they first spotted him

but later Lord Shiva fled from them to five different places known as the Panch Kedars. Guptkashi is also said to be the place where the original Shiva Linga of the Varanasi's Vishwanath Temple is kept, which was shifted here to keep it safe during the time of Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb.

Our Guptkashi travel guide is overflowing with information on best places to visit and amazing things to do, which makes it quite essential for the travellers looking for an impeccable travelling experience. Also, handcrafted for you are the varied holiday packages by that ensure a vacation unlike any other.

Best Time to Visit Guptkashi

The best season to visit Guptkashi is during the summers. The most favourable months to visit the place are between March and June and October and November because, during these months, the weather remains pleasant offering tourists the best holiday experience they could get.

Summer

Summers are moderately hot in Guptakashi and generally last between the months of April and June. During this season the temperature rises from a comfortable 15°C to 30°C. One can enjoy the weather during the evenings when the cool breeze relaxes the spirits.
Monsoon

Guptakashi is not a place of high rainfall. It experiences moderate rainfalls during the months of July to September. The rains bring freshness and rejuvenate the place which in return attracts the nature lovers.
Winter

December marks the beginning of the winter season in Guptakashi and it lasts till the month of February. Winters are extremely cold here with the temperature diving down to a chilling 0°C.

Top Tourist Attractions in Guptkashi

More of a place for nature lovers, this town also hosts a large number of devotees who come here to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Vishwanath Temple

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishwanath Temple is the main attraction of Guptkashi. The shrine is an important Hindu pilgrimage site and is centrally located with the original Shiva Linga from the Vishwanath Temple of Varanasi.
Manikarnika Kund

This holy water pond is situated in the vicinity of Vishwanath temple at a place where two streams that represent rivers Ganga and Yamuna meet. The pond is considered quite sacred and is often visited by the pilgrims who visit the temple.
Gaurikund

It is another small town which is about 34 km from the Guptkashi. It is known to be the point from here the trekking to Kedarnath starts. The devotees who perform the pilgrimage to Kedarnath are said to take a dip at this pool of water... Read more

Where to Stay in Guptkashi?

If you are visiting Guptkashi, for your comfortable stay you can find a variety of luxury camps to budget hotels. Apart from this, resorts and lodges are also provided to the tourists for their stay. Cottage as well as deluxe hotels can also be found in Guptkashi. These places are cozy, comfortable and reasonably priced. Other than this, accommodation is also available in Rudraprayag and Ukhimath for the visitors that are situated at a short distance from Guptkashi.

How to Reach Guptkashi?

Guptkashi is well-connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand state. It is easily accessible from nearby places such as Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, and Srinagar.

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest Airport to Guptkashi, which is situated at a distance of 190 km. It is well connected with motorable roads from Dehradun by bus and taxi services.
By Rail

The nearest station is Rishikesh which is 168 km from Guptkashi. One can find taxis(both private and sharing) and also buses which take people on a regular interval from the railway station to Guptkashi.
By Road

Well connected to nearby tourist attractions like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar, and Chamoli, NH 109 is the connection to this region. Gutpkashi is well connected to the motorable road and tourists never find a problem in choosing road as their means of transport. Apart from your own conveyance, one can choose interstate buses of Uttarakhand which can take you to Guptkashi from other cities.