Overview
Omkareshwar Temple, in Ukhimath, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, serves as the winter seat of the Kedarnath deity. Each year, when Kedarnath Temple closes for the winter (after Diwali) due to heavy snow, the Utsav Doli (processional idol) of Kedarnath is carried down in a formal procession to Omkareshwar Temple, where all daily rituals and worship continue for the following six months (roughly November to April), before the deity is carried back up to Kedarnath as the temple reopens.
History
Local tradition holds that the temple's name derives from the penance of the sage Mandhata, who is said to have stood on one leg for twelve years at this spot to appease Shiva, who then appeared to him in the form of "Omkar," the primordial sound. The town name, Ukhimath, is said to derive from "Ushamath," referencing a further Puranic tradition holding this as the site of the wedding of Usha, daughter of the demon king Banasura, and Aniruddha, grandson of Krishna.
Spiritual Significance
Beyond hosting Kedarnath's winter worship, the temple also receives the deity from Madmaheshwar (Madhyamaheshwar), one of the Panch Kedar temples, during the same winter closure period, giving Ukhimath a distinctive dual role as winter seat for two separate major Shaiva shrines. This makes the temple a significant pilgrimage destination in its own right during the winter months, when Kedarnath itself is inaccessible.
Scriptures & Texts
Editorial note: Scripture references below are based on widely cited scholarly and traditional sources. Specific verse citations should be independently verified before publication.
The Mandhata-penance naming legend and the Usha-Aniruddha wedding tradition associated with Ukhimath are documented through regional pilgrimage and Puranic-adjacent tradition rather than a single, precisely citable scriptural verse. Specific citation requires expert verification before publication.
Prayers at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा
जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल मूल सुजान। कहत अयोध्यादास तुम, देहु अभय वरदान॥
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजंगतुंगमालिकाम्।
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।
ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम्।
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय।
Pilgrimage Information
When to visit: November to April, when Kedarnath's deity resides here, is the period of greatest devotional significance; this is also when Kedarnath itself is closed and inaccessible.
Getting there: Ukhimath is reached by road from Rudraprayag or Guptkashi, on the wider Kedarnath approach route.
Family Suitability
Well suited to families of all ages, given the easy access and lack of any trekking requirement.
Accommodation
Ukhimath offers a reasonable range of pilgrim accommodation, given its role as Kedarnath's winter seat.
Local Services
Reasonable pilgrim services are available in Ukhimath, particularly during the winter months when Kedarnath's worship is hosted here.
Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Visit during the winter months (November to April) if specifically wishing to have darshan of the Kedarnath deity, which resides here during that period.
- Note the temple's distinct name-sharing with the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh; these are two separate temples.
Don’t
- Don't confuse this temple with the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga on Mandhata Island, Madhya Pradesh, a separate and unrelated Shiva temple of the same name.
Nearby Sacred Locations
- Kedarnath Temple
Ukhimath serves as this temple's winter seat when Kedarnath itself is closed for the season.
- Madhyamaheshwar (Madmaheshwar) Temple
Ukhimath also serves as the winter seat for this Panch Kedar temple's deity.
- Omkareshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga), Madhya Pradesh
A separate, unrelated Shiva temple in Madhya Pradesh that happens to share this temple's name.
Preservation
Specific current conservation programme details were not found in the sources consulted for this page.
Giving Back
Support the temple through its own local trust donation channels where available.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-07-12. Scaffolding content: This page was seeded with well-known public information for development purposes and is pending full editorial review before publication.