Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple in Uttarakhand

DevBhoomi, Uttarakhand is the land of God and spirituality. People come to Uttarakhand to get lost in the bliss of divine connection and the beauty of the mountains.

One such place is Patal Bhuvaneshwar , which is not only a mysterious cave made out of limestone but also holds up a heavenly connection. To know about the Patal Bhuvaneshwar let us explore the caves with all the necessary information in depth, read further. 

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description of Patal Bhuvaneshwar 

“He who wants to feel the presence of eternal power should come to the sacred Bhuvneshwar situated near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga.” – ManasKhanda(Skanda Puran)

The divine place of Patalbhuvaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva (the God with the third eye, known as the destroyer) situated 14 km from Gangolihat in Pithoragarh’s district. These 160 m long limestone caves are in the village of Bhubaneswar marking the presence of divine grace.

This pilgrimage is 1350 meters above sea level and a depth of 90m, the place derives its name from Patal, which means ‘under the earth’ and Bhuvaneshwar, which means ‘Lord of the World’. The cave is accompanied by numerous caves inside, fully illuminated, and naturally built with flowing water. 

History of Patal Bhuvaneshwar Gufa

These Patal Bhuvaneshwar limestone caves have religious and mythological significance. Raja Rituparna visited these caves during the Treta Yug. The caves were established by Raja Rituparna of the Surya Dynasty, ruler of Ayodhya.

On the defeat of Raja Nal by his wife Queen Damayanti to escape from the punishment of imprisonment, he fled to Raja Rituparna to hide. Rituparna led Nala to the Himalayas, where he was captivated by the beauty of deer and followed it through the woods.

While resting, he dreamt not to chase the deer; he found these caves. Greeted by Sheshnag at the entrance, Rituparna followed him and saw 33 demigods and goddesses along with Lord Shiva himself. Later, the caves were reopened by Sri Adi Shankaracharya in Kaliyug (1191 AD); since then, the place has been worshipped by devotees.

The place is handled by 20 generations of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and is believed to be connected to the Kailasha mountains and Char Dham internally.

The Secret Behind Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is full of mysterious and mythological beliefs, making the place unique. Let’s explore these mysteries and beliefs in brief:

• According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of the creation of life, its existence and the cosmic connections.
• The Great Hindu Holy Book Ramayan depicts that the Lord Rama and his brother Lakshman took refuge in these caves.
• In this place, Lord Ganesha was beheaded by Shiva and then resurrected with an elephant head.
• One tale depicts that Pandavas with Draupadi have meditated with her before aboding to heaven.
• Tales also suggest the serpent Vasuki protects these caves which leads to a mysterious world of spirituality and universe.
• There is a belief that there is no exact depth known to the caves. Locals believe that these caves can go deeper than the area where they are accessible to God’s place.
• The caves symbolise the spiritual journey to attain moksha and detachment. 
• The limestones such as stalactites and stalagmites as formations of the caves represent the Jattas of Lord Shiva (matted hair locks), Serpent Vasuki, and the flow of River Ganga through these matted locks points through mythological aspects. 

The Cave Temple’s Value in Hindu Mythology

The Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves are important in the respect of mythological aspects making it a crucial part of Hindu beliefs. Here are some points which reflect the significance of these caves:

• Patal Bhuvaneshwar is considered a direct connection to the Patal Lok (netherworld) where all demigods reside. The caves are mainly marked by the presence of the Lord of Lords Shiva.
• The caves symbolise the spiritual journey to attain moksha and detachment.
• The formations of stalactite and stalagmite stones depict a divine symbol. These formations include matted hairlocks of Shiva, Sheshnag and the flow of Ganga represents the spiritual connection of caves to God.
• The narrow passage of caves is believed to be a journey of the soul to liberation (Moksha) connecting visitors to Hindu cosmology. 
• The Patal Bhuvaneshwar is presumed to connect three worlds: Swarg (heaven), Dharti (earth) and Patal (Netherland). Connecting these realms symbolises the unification of devotion and sacredness.
• Nested in the hills of Kumaon, PatalBhuvaneshwar limestone caves, rivers, natural vegetation, wildlife and mountains develop a divine energy that takes spiritual experience to the next level.

How to Experience Patal Bhuvaneshwar gufa

Exploring Inside the Caves

Firstly, the visitors to the Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves can experience and explore the formations of the natural limestone which was created a million years ago. Enchanted by the unique surreal formations, one can move through the narrow passage of caves to explore inside them, feeling the cosmo energy.

Secondly, visitors can see the Jattas of Shiva with flowing Ganga, Kalpvriksh, Shesh Shayi Vishnu, Ganesha and Sheshnag making the spiritual experience real and connected. Thirdly, the caves consist of Hindu deity figurines which are believed of divine and faithful.

The Patal Bhuvaneshwar gives serene peace, ultimate holy connectivity, natural experiences and views accompanied by sacred affinity making it pure. The tourists must be careful and follow safety instructions for visiting the place. Lastly, The Patal Bhuvaneshwar connects visitors to Hindu beliefs and mysteries.

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Timings and Entry Information for Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave

Timings:

• The Patal Bhuvaneshwar Caves are open from 6.00 am til 6.00 pm. 
• The best time to visit these caves is during daylight to experience natural light on limestone caves making the experience surreal. 

Entry Information:

• Fee for Visit: Rs. 20 per head.
• People visiting first time or voluntarily can hire a guide for a tour of these caves.

Practical Tips for Visitors

• One needs to be very careful while visiting the caves and hold the chains firmly.
• The visit to these caves takes 8-10 mins but can vary in certain situations.
• Though it’s a religious place slippers or shoes might not be allowed in the caves but if you are wearing them on a certain part of the cave then make sure they have a firm grip to avoid a slip.
• The caves might be chilled so it is recommended to wear comfortable clothing with a sweater to bear the cave temperature.

Precautions:

• Take care of steps while walking through narrow slits of cave.
• Don’t spoil the natural formation of caves to preserve natural heritage.
• To avoid crowds, try to visit early morning.
• Follow the cave instructions given by the board management of the place.
• Avoid photography, if it is prohibited.
• Carry small essentials like water bottles, small food packs and medicines.

How to reach Patal Bhuvaneshwar

To reach Patal Bhuvaneshwar from nearby places, roadways are the best method to reach: From Nainital To Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Distance from Nainital to Patal Bhuvaneshwar: 160km

Route: Travel from NH109 through Almora-Berinag road

Duration: 5-6 hours approx From Almora To Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Distance from Almora to Patal Bhuvaneshwar: 90km

Route: Travel from NH109 through Almora-Berinag road

Duration: 3 hours or more From Chaukori to Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Distance from Chaukoril to Patal Bhuvaneshwar: 160km

Route: Travel via Berinag road

Duration: 1-1.5 hours or more Distance from Nearby Attractions

The Distances to nearby locations from Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Hotels and Resorts
Below is the list of types of hotels available for visitors to Patal Bhuvaneshwar. The prices mentioned are the best deal available for one person night stay. The prices may vary on increase or decrease of number of visitors and also, the hotel prices vary according to type of room selected as well as duration.

Here all amenities include free wifi, free parking, essential requirements and other facilities. There may be costs applied to food services.

Watch This Video To See How Patal Bhuvaneshwar Looks

Well Known Hotels and Resorts in Patal Bhuvaneshwar

KMVN Guest House 

Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) is a tourist rest place at Munsiyari is a well-maintained accommodation. The Guest House contains luxury and budget categories. The KMVN connects places in Kumaon Nainital, Corbett, Kausani, Binsar, Ranikhet, Almora, Bhimtal, Chaukori, Munsiyari.

It is also connected to trails such as Pindari Trek, Darma Valley, Adi Kailash, Sunderdhunga Trek, and Nanda Devi Base Camp Treks. The KMVN in Pithoragarh (also called Little Kashmir) offers comfortable stays in the beauty of Soar Valley. 

• The starting price ranges from general rooms to Rs. 800-1200 for a Night stay. 
• The deluxe rooms start at a price of Rs.1500 onwards.

Click here to Book rooms or Enquiry

Other Stay Options in Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave

Homestays and Budget-Friendly Stays

The ideal time to visit and Its weather

• The weather conditions of Patal Bhuvaneshwar are similar to any North Indian state.

• During the summer season (March to June) weather ranges from 15 to 34 degrees Celsius. 
• From July to August, the place may experience heavy rainfall.
• In the Autumn, from September to November temperature ranges from 10 to 25 Degrees Celsius.
• The winter season starts from December to February, temperature ranges from 15 to 0 Degree Celsius.

• The best months to visit the Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves are March to June in summer and September to November during the autumn season are the best months to visit.

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