History, Mystery, Myth and Travel Guide of Patal Bhuvneshwar, Gangolihat, Pithorgarh, Uttarakhand
Patal Bhuvneshwar is a cave Temple located at a distance of 14kms from Gangolighat in Bhuvneshwar village in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Patel Bhuvneshwar is not just limestone cave but its like series of caves within caves or cave city. The cave has a narrow opening which leads to enter in the other following caves. The Cave is 160 m long and 90 feet deep from the entrance zone. This cave temple has the most facinating view.
Legends used to say that if you do Darshan in Bhuvneshwar temple it is as worthy and fruitful as to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Kashi and other major Dham of India. The road ends just a 600 meter before the cave entrance. You have to walk down to around 100 steps to reach the sanctorum, to be in the middle of the earth, evry enterance of the cave has the sculpture of God, Goddesses, Saints and the mythologinal legends.
It makes us remember how our hinduism epic is being worshipped from centuries. Legends and Folkfare have it that this cave enshrines Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and 33 types of other God, Goddessed amd the Mythological characters.
It holds a very magnificient history. It is said that the Raj Ritupurna who was the king in Surya Dynasty who was ruling Ayodhya in those times was the first human who discovered this cave. It is believed that after his visit to the cave, the cave was closed for ages with the slight prediction in the Skandpurana that it will be reopened again in Kalyuga.
In Kalyuga Adi Shankaracharya rediscovered this cave during his visit to Hiamalaya and it was the reestiblishement of pilgrimage in Patal Bhuvneshwar . According to legends, the Mukh of Lord Ganesh which was being cut off by Lord Shiva is situated here who creates obstacles for the bad people to apologize for their sin and to improve in future, popularly known as “Vighnakarta”.
In those tines there used to be four entrance to enter the cave known as Paapdwar, Randwar, Dharmdwar, and Mokshdwar. The Paapdwar was closed immediately after the death of the Demon Ravan and the Randwar was also closed after Dharmyudh at Kurukshetra, Mahabharata. At present only two entrance are open, Dharmdwar and Mokshdwar.
You can literally see the toungue of Kali Bhairav, Aravatri of Indra, hairs of Lord Shiva and other wonders inside the cave. Vaious shapes of Sheshnag, Yagya Kund, Kedarnath, Mata Bhuvneshwari, Badrinath, Lord Ganesh etc are also designed. As per the Manaskhanda, Skandapuran if any spiritually inclinded person wanted to fee the eternal power – Shakti should visit here located near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga.
How to reach Patal Bhuvneshwar: It is very well connected by road with major cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Masoorie etc. The nearest Airport is in Pantnagar which is 225 kms away from Bhuvneshwar village. The nearest Railway Station is in Kathgodam junction which is 180 kms Far.
