Patal Bhuvaneshwar Travel Guide

Uttarakhand never fails to shower blessings on the devotees who trudge to this paradisiacal destination in search of the divine. With so many spots and places attracting devotees one of the sacred spot residing in the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon Region in Uttarakhand is a sacred cave named Patal Bhuvaneshwar, located in the village of Bhuvaneshwar at an altitude of 1350 m. It is a natural cave that is revered by Hindu devotees who come here to perform pilgrimage. According to the local belief, it is said that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva and forms of Sheshnaag, Kaal Bhairav, Lord Ganesh and 33 crore gods of the Hindu pantheon. This popular tourism destination in Uttarakhand was first discovered by king Ritupurna who ruled Ayodhya in Surya Dynasty during the Treta Yuga and these caves are also mentioned in 103 chapters of 'Manas Khand' of 'Skand Puran.' During the 1191 AD, Adi Shankaracharya visited this cave which marked the beginning of the modern pilgrim history at Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

It is said by the pilgrims that the journey inside the cave has to be carried in feeble lights holding protective iron chains. It is also believed that worshipping at Patal Bhuvaneshwar is equal to worshipping at Char Dham of Uttarakhand. With so much backing it's history, Patal Bhuvaneshwar is a must visit place for devotees as well as those who wish to go for nature sightseeing. This cave has a depth of 90 ft. and a length of 160 m. from the point of its entrance. Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple is not just one cave but a series of caves that are situated one inside the other. There are total 4 entrances through which one can go inside the cave namely, Randwar, Paapdwar, Dharamdwar, and Mokshadwar. The two of these doors were closed, first during the death of Ravana and the second one after the epic battle of Mahabharata and now just 2 of them are functional.

Best Time to Visit Patal Bhuvaneshwar

The temperature in this village is mild throughout which makes it a place to be visited throughout the year. Although the monsoon season can be a bit problematic due to the excessive rainfall that this place experiences but still people reach out to this religious destination as devotees have a lot of faith.

Summer

Ranging from 19°C - 36°C in the months of April to June, the temperature in Patal Bhuvaneshwar remains quite pleasant in the summer months. May is the month which sees the highest temperature in this place.
Monsoon

With excessive rainfall in the months of July to September, the temperature in monsoon comes down to 10°C - 17°C on an average. The months of monsoon get a bit difficult for devotees to reach the cave temple with regular rain and occasional roadblocks in the calendar.
Winter

The winter season in Patal Bhuvaneshwar commences from October to February and the temperature during this season stays between 4°C and 15°C. Evidently, the winters are chilly in this religious destination but alluring enough to invite devotees.

Where to Stay in Patal Bhuvaneshwar?

There are fewer hotels and guest houses in Patal Bhuvaneshwar. But almost all of which provide a comfortable stay option with catering to all the basic amenities of the visitors. There are government-owned guest houses (KMVN) where tourists can stay comfortably. Some accommodation options can be found in the nearby Gangolihat, however, for best places to stay, one has to book a hotel in Pithoragarh which is seated at some distance from Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

How to Reach Patal Bhuvaneshwar?

Due to its well-maintained roads and good connectivity with all the major cities and towns of Kumaon region, Patal Bhuvaneshwar can be reached with ease. One can also choose air and rail to reach the place, however, the final stretch of the journey can only be reached by road.

By Air

Pantnagar Airport which is about 230 km from Patal Bhuvaneshwar is the nearest where you can land and from there you can hire a taxi or book a cab to reach the village.
By Rail

The nearest railway station is Tanakpur which is situated at a distance of 154 km from Patal Bhuvaneshwar. Motorable roads connect these two places so you can take a cab to reach your destination.
By Road

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is well connected with the major cities and towns of Kumaon and regular buses of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation run between the major destinations of Kumaon Region and Patal Bhuvaneshwar.