History, Importance, and Travel Guide of Vishwanath & Ardhnareshwar Temple, Manikarnika Kund near Kedarnath, Uttarakhanda
Ancient Kashi Vishwanath temple is located in Guptkashi which is a small town located in Garhwal Himalayas region of Rudraprayag district in Uttrakhand. This Temple is solely dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is almost similar to the Kashi Vishwanath temple which is in Varanasi. Another small temple of deity of Sri Ardhanareeswara – half man and half women form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is located in the same complex. There is a pond called Manikarnika Kund in front of the temple with two sprouts on either side namely Ganga and Yamuna meet.
As per the myth, Lord Shiva proposed to Parvati to get married in Guptkashi. However they got married in the small village called Trijuginath Temple in Rudraprayag District. Another important tale attached with Guptkashi is after the battle of Mahabharata between Pandavas and Kauravas, the Paanch Pandavas (Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva) wanted to meet lord Shiva and seek his blessings. As Pandavas had destroyed their own dynasty and were responsible of Brahma Hatya(although they were the initiative towards ending the Adharm and Dharma Yudh was being held), Lord Shiva denied to meet them in Kashi and went incognito as the Bull Nandi to Guptkashi in Uttrakhand. But Pandavas visited the Guptkashi and recognized him in the form of Nandi. The Pandavas met him and apologized to Lord Shiva for doing Yudh although they had fought for a right cause. Then Lord Shiva disappeared from Guptkashi and appeared at five place in different form and now famous as Panch Kedar which includes Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar.
How to reach - The nearest Railway Station is Rishikesh Railway Station which is 182kms away from Guptkashi. Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun situated about 198kms away from Guptkashi is the closest air connectivity.
