About Guptkashi

Guptkashi that is also addressed as Guptakashi is an important religious place for the Hindus just like Kashi due to its association with Lord Shiva and also recites the Indian mythological history of Mahabharata. Guptkashi is an important stop for pilgrims as it falls en route to Kedarnath, one of the Char Dham. Guptkashi being a village doesn’t have many attractions but that doesn’t mean it is any less interesting with its already existing attractions like the ancient Vishwanath temple, Manikarnika Kund and Ardhanareshwar. A legend that goes around Guptkashi is that Lord Shiva proposed Mata Parvati for marriage here and the conjugal ceremonies were carried out in Triyuginarayan which is a small village near the confluence of River Mandakini and Sone Ganga. Another legend is that during the Mughal rule when Aurangazeb demolished Kashi Vishwanath temple in the year 1669 to build the Gyanvapi mosque, for the safety of Shivlinga it was shifted to Guptkashi and has remained here since the date it was shifted. According to the Puranic literature Kashi and Kanchipuram are believed to be two eyes of Lord Shiva, keeping this nuance six more Kashi were made with equal sacred and spiritual importance so that the pilgrims who cannot travel to Kashi- Varanasi can visit the nearest Kashi to them. Out of the six Kashi, two of them are Uttarkashi and Guptkashi in Uttarakhand. Guptkashi is also related to Mahabharata as after the battle, Pandavas tried reaching out to Lord Shiva to seek his blessing but lord Shiva avoided the meet by disguising himself as the Nandi Bull to Guptkashi but later Pandavas pursued him later recognizing the Nandi Bull as Lord Shiva. Many Lingas can be seen in and around Guptkashi as they believe ‘jitne pathar utne Shankar’ which translates to ‘as many stones those many Shivas’.

How to reach Guptkashi

Guptkashi By Air: 

The nearest airport to Guptkashi is Jolly Grant Airport (DED) in Dehradun which connects flights from airports of many metropolitan cities like Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Trivandrum International Airport (TRV), etc. From the Jolly Grant Airport, the journey can be recommenced by taxis or cabs. The distance from Jolly Grant Airport to Guptkashi is approximately 196.1 km via NH 07. 
Helicopter services are available to Guptkashi as Kedarnath is located nearby, the nearest helipad to Guptkashi is 14 km away in Phata. Helicopter rides can be starting from Dehradun.

Guptkashi By Rail

The nearest railway station to Guptkashi is Rishikesh Railway Station (RKSH). Anyhow, Haridwar Railway station is another railway station that is more active than Rishikesh and is another nearest railway station to Guptkashi. Trains from all major cities of Uttarakhand and India halt at Haridwar Railway Station. Taxis, buses, and cabs are available from Haridwar and Rishikesh to Guptkashi at a distance of approximately 179.2 km via NH 07. Trains that run from Delhi to Rishikesh and Haridwar take a maximum of eight and half hours. Daily trains are available frequently. 

Trains from Delhi to Rishikesh and Haridwar:

• Yoga Express
• Kalinga Utkal Express
• Udaipur City - Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express
• Kochuveli - Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express
• New Delhi - Dehradun Shatabdi Express
• Mussoorie Express

Train from Mumbai to Rishikesh and Haridwar:

• Kochuveli - Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express
• Bandra Terminus - Haridwar Express
• Mumbai LTT- Haridwar Express
• Nanda Devi AC SF 

Train from Chandigarh to Rishikesh and Haridwar:

• Hemkund Express
• Netaji Express

Guptkashi By Road

Guptkashi is well linked through the roads of national highways and state highways. The nearest accessible road to Guptkashi is  NH109. Buses to Rishikesh and Srinagar are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Delhi.  Buses and taxis are easily available at reasonable prices from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, etc. 

Distance:

Delhi to Guptkashi is approx 438 km
Dehradun to Guptkashi is approx 217 km
Chandigarh to Guptkashi is approx 416 km

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