Ukhimath

Ukhimath and Gupt Kashi are on opposite sides of the Mandakini River Valley. Their altitude is over 4000 feet, and like many hill towns they are built along the contour of the hills, connected by narrow lanes and foot paths. Modern Ukhimath is the Indian equivalent of a county seat, and has courts and other official government offices.

It is also the winter home for two of the Panch Kedar deities, Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar, which are housed in the Omkareshvar temple at the western edge of town. The temple gateways and courtyard are brightly painted, as one often finds in the hills, and the actual temple spire is impressively large. The temple compound houses a monastery as well as the temple itself.

Nearer to our home stay in Kimana is the Bholeshvar temple, which can be described as a "local" temple for Kimana residents. The first picture shows its general shape and location. The second picture shows it after was painted last summer as a community COVID project, and the last picture shows the temple image. Bholeshvar is a name for Shiva, and this particular image is believed to be a "self-manifested" form of the deity. These sorts of images are considered far more powerful than ones fashioned by human beings, since the deity is seen as revealing himself/herself in that place.