Solo trip from Rishikesh to Patal Bhuvaneshwar Temple

Hi friends. I am going to share my trip from Rishikesh to Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple in Almora and back to Rishikesh via Karnprayag, Gwaldam, Bageeshwar, chaukori. It’s a short 3 day solo bike ride unforgettable trip with lots of landscapes, snow capped mountains, forests and greenery.

Friends to start with I has no plans of visiting Rishikesh till march 6th night as I am very much occupied in my regular work and household chores. Suddenly I got a call from my friend in night at 10pm and he shared his experience of doing a Shivalinga prathistha at an ashram in Varanasi. I slept for a short time after his call and woke up after 10 minutes and suddenly felt an urge to go to Rishikesh and attend the Shivaratrhi Rudrabhishekam event conducted at Swarayoga ashram in Rishikesh. Immediately I booked my flight ticket to Dehradun on 7th morning and reached Deharadun by afternoon. I booked a cab and reached ashram in Rishikesh by evening 3pm.

I felt very happy and uplifted as I met my Swarayoga Guruji and the new ashram on the banks of river Ganga in Swargashram area in Rishikesh. The vibes are very good in the ashram and relaxed for the day after attending the Guruji’s teaching session. Next day i.e on 8th morning I finished my regular chores and went to Rishikesh market for purchasing some snacks and creams. 8th evening Shivaratri event started in the ashram. The whole night we spent in performing the 4 prahar Rudrabhishekam in the ashram. The ashram is filled with spiritual vibes and it is a ecstatic feeling to be experienced.

Next day I took leave from the ashram and came to Rishikesh market without any plans. I took avenger bike for rent and started of from Rishikesh towards Rudraprayag. I reached Srinagar on 9th night and stayed in a hotel in Srinagar. On 10th morning I left from Srinagar to Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple via Rudraprayag, karnprayag, Narayan bagar, Tharali, Gwaldam, Vidyanath, Bageeshwar, Chaukori and Berinag. Route from Rishikesh to karnprayag is in Gharwal region where as from Gwaldam to Patal Bhuvaneshwar comes under Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The roads are wider in Gharwal region as it is over crowded during Chardham yatra time and roads in Kumaon region are narrow. The journey from Karnprayag to Patal Bhuvaneshwar is very scenic going through the forests, and view of snow capped mountains in the distance are to be experienced by everyone once in their lifetime.

I had brunch at Rudraprayag in Hotel Mandakini, good hotel, hygienic and tasty food are served. After an hour journey from Karnprayag I crossed the checkpost which divides Gharwal and Kumaon region. By evening 3:30 pm I reached Vaidyanath temple which is now under archeology department and a heritage place. It is a group of temples and a crystal clear lake adjoining the temples. A beautiful site to spend some time but due to time constraint I didn’t spent much time there. From Vaidyanath we have the route which goes to a Kausani and another route to Bageeshwar. After Vaidyanath I reached Bageeshwar city where Baghnath temple is present. It is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva and where Rishi Markandeya has done his Tapasya for some duration in his lifetime. Lord Kala Bhairava temple is also located on the same premises. This temple is built on the banks of river Sarayu. I offered my prayers and meditated for some time in the main temple. It’s almost 5pm and I left from Bagnath temple towards Patal Bhuvaneshwar. After 10 minutes ride from the temple I reached a hilltop from where the view of Bageeshwar city is very clearly visible. From Bageeshwar there is an another route which goes to Pindari Glaciers which I reserved for next trip. After an hour journey I reached a small village called Vijayapur where I stopped for a break and had some refreshments. It is a small shop on the highway which has an excellent view from there. After 15 minutes break I started from there and reached Chaukori village by 7:30 pm. As it has become night and weather has become colder I stopped my journey in Chaukori village. I spotted a hotel Nandankot resort maintained by GMVN in the village and stayed there for the night. Since I am new to this place I has no idea about the surroundings. I relaxed, had food and slept. Next day in the morning when I woke up I was surprised to see the view from my room. I had the view of Panchachuli range of Himalaya snow capped mountains from my room. I had breakfast and spent time till noon enjoying the view and weather in Chaukori village.

On 11th march by 11 am I vacated the hotel and by 12:30 pm I reached Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave temple which is on my bucket list from a long time. I am very excited to see the Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave as I had heard a lot of stories about this place from my friends and internet. I engaged a guide and went into the cave which is 90 feet down with a very steep and narrow passage. I was not allowed to take any photographs inside the cave. Inside the cave starting we will see Adiseshu snake god who is lifting the earth till now and the whole walking path of the cave is on his tail body. Next we will see the body of Lord Ganesha without his head and the nectar falling from the top onto his body to keep him alive till Lord Shiva fixed the elephant head. Next we will see 4 ways in 4 directions out of which 2 are closed. These 4 ways indicates 4 yugas. (Satyayuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga). Tretayuga and Dwaparayuga ways are closed. We enter from Kaliyuga door and pass through Sathyayuga door. After that we see Kamadhenu cow sthana (milking body area). passing it we will see a Hamsa (Swan) with head in reverse direction. Story is water which is flowing from the stones is called Amruthdhara (nectar). When hamsa tried to drink it Lord Brahma used his power and made the head of the Hamsa into reverse direction so that it cannot drink the nectar as it is only for Devathas (gods). Next we will see Goddess Patala Bhuvaneswari guarding the place with all kinds of weapons formed like a sword in one hand. Next we will see 4 stones indicating Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. If we visited this place it is equivalent of visiting chardhams in Uttarakhand. Next we see Viswakarma who designed the world, and a small kund (water body) called Narmada Kund. Along the side of this kund there is a stone etched with Mukkoti Devatahs. Next we will see a place where Pandavas left their bodies and Yudishtar went to Swargarohan. Next we will see the main place where Trimurtis (Lord brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva) are worshipped. Their bodies are etched on the wall and Adiguru Sankaracharya made a copper covering for the Shivalinga there and he worshipped the Deities for sometime in this place during his visit to Badrinath. Next we will see 4 stones in 4 directions out of which one stone is longer and growing. When this growing stone touch the top of the ceiling it indicates the end of the Kaliyuga. Next we will see the elephant called Airavatha (Lord Indra’s vehicle) hanging to the ceiling of the cave. From there we will reach the starting point of the cave where Adiseshu is present. Then we need to climb up the cave which is a bit risky as we will face breathing problem because of lack of oxygen. An oxygen cylinder is arranged inside the cave for emergency purpose. We will feel we are in a different plane of existence when we are inside the cave. I cherished the feeling for a long time after I came out of the cave. It is a very mystical and must see place for all.

It’s 1:30 pm afternoon when I came out of the cave and reached the parking place. From there I checked the travel distance to Jageshwar temple but not fitting into the itenary. So I decided to drive back to Rishikesh. By 7 pm in the night I reached a small village called Gwaldam and stayed there in a small hotel. In the morning from backside of my hotel the view of the villlage is very beautiful and the day is sunny. I vacated the hotel and reached Rudraprayag by 3pm where I visited the Dhara Devi temple which is located in the Ganga river. It is a very powerful temple and I meditated in that temple for sometime where I got fully recharged. From there by night 8pm I reached Rishikesh. On the outskirts of Rishikesh I had some excellent views of the new moon sky above the river ganga and mountains and in the far new expanded Rishikesh city with lightings. I had dinner and stayed in a hotel near Muni ki Reti in Rishikesh. Next day morning I handed over the rental bike and did some shopping in Rishikesh. By 3 pm I vacated the hotel and reached Dehradun airport to catch my Hyderabad bound flight. I completed my trip by reaching my house by 9pm in Hyderabad.

Overall a week trip starting with Guru darshan, then auspicious Shivaratri pooja and a divine travel to some mystical temples in Uttarakhand enjoying the nature. I felt this trip is a calling from the divine as I am not at all prepared till midnight of 6th march. My gratitude to the divine force which led me to this travel. I wish I would share more of my travel stories and my thoughts on life with you all.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH ME BY VISITING AND READING THIS BLOG.