Uttarakhand, a state in the northern part of India is well known for its mesmerizing natural beauty, lofty snow capped peaks and beautiful natural vistas. There are many natural wonders scattered all around the state of Uttarakhand and caves or caverns are one of those. Apart from being thrilling tourist attraction, these Himalayan mountain caves are mystic and mysterious in terms of natural beauty as well as in terms of religious importance. Many fanciful myths are associated with these various Uttarakhand caves. Here are some of the most famous caves of Uttarakhand, listed below-
Patal Bhuvaneshwar
The cave of Patal Bhuvaneshwar in Kumaon Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district is one quite famous cave of Uttarakhand. The cave has a depth of 90 feet and length of 160 meters. The cave comes with a tunnel-like, narrow entrance and once you reach the cave’s centre, you would find yourself amid a conglomeration of several smaller sized caves. The cave’s interior is full of stalactites and stalagmites which assume the shape of various Hindu mythological and religious figures
- Location: 14 km from Gangolihat, Pithoragarh
- Best time to visit: March – June
- Timings: 08:00 am to 5:00 pm (winter) and 07:00 am to 06:00 (summer)
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- Entry fee: Rs.90 for four persons
Khatling Cave
Khatling cave is perched at an elevation of 3650m above the sea level and makes a very suitable base camp for all the trekkers who intend to make their way to the famed Khatling glacier. The cave falls in Garhwal Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal area. Panoramic views of Khatling glacier make the place a place of paradisiacal beauty. From the alpine lake of Tamakund, this cave is just 4kms away.
- Location: Ghuttu village, Tehri Garhwal
- Best time to visit: April to June & September to October
- How to reach: 64 km from Tehri to reach Ghuttu village than trek
Vyas Cave
When it comes to Vyas cave, you must know that there are two such caves in Uttarakhand. One cave lies in vicinity to the Mana village and is believed to have been the place where Ved Vyas had composed epic Mahabharata. The other Vyas cave lies in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district near Kalapani. As per popular beliefs Saint Ved Vyas had used this cave as shelter too. People visiting this second Vyas cave get the privilege to visit some other sightseeing places such as Kali temple, Gunji, Budhi, Kalapani spring.
- Location: Mana Village, Badrinath
- Best time to visit: April to June & September to November
- Timings: 08:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Time required: 30 minutes
- How to reach: 4.5 km from Badrinath Bus Stand
Vashishtha Cave
Vashishtha cave lies in vicinity to Rishikesh and as per common beliefs had been the place where the great sage Vashishtha had spent many years of meditation. The cave lies along River Ganga and right now is administered by Swami Purushottam Society.
- Location: Banks of Ganga River, 22 km from Rishikesh
- Best time to visit:
- Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Time required: 1-2 hours
Pandavkholi Cave
Pandavkholi cave lies at Doonagiri near Ranikhet. It is believed that the Pandava brothers from the epic of Mahabharata had taken shelter in this cave and spent some deep hours of meditation. An emerald meadow surrounds the cave and close to the cave lies an ashram set up by the Path Brahman Sangh. At this ashram you can enjoy few hours of deep meditation.
- Location: 5 km from from Kukuchina Village
- Best time to visit: March to June & September to November
- Timings: 24 hours
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- How to reach: nearest taxi-bus stop Dunagiri (10 km) Dwarahat (27 km )
Brahman Gufa
In vicinity to Kedarnath lies the Brahman Gufa. Also, this cave is quite close to Amrit kund; the nectar pool situated at the back of the Kedarnath shrine. The very sight of Brahman Gufa confirms that Kedarnath or the real Brahman is not so far from you now.
- Location: 3 km from Kedarnath temple
- Timings: 24 hours
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: April to June & September to October
Rai Cave
Rai cave near Pithoragarh is a great tourist haunt. The interiors of the cave come with weird shaped limestone deposits that call forth your curiosity and urge you to keep your camera busy.
- Location: Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand 262501
- Timings: 24 hours
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: March to June & September to November
Sukhram Cave
Sukhram cave serves as a stopover for trekkers and tourists moving towards Maiktoli Glacier, Devikund Lake, Kathaliya, Baluni Bugyal. This cave had been subject to a ghastly thunderbolt attack that is known to have killed several trekkers who were present at that spot during the time of the attack.
- Location: 7 km from kathalia, 82 km from Bageshwar
- Timings: 24 hours
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: May to June & September to October
Guchhu Pani
Guchchu Pani, also referred to as Robber’s cave lies in vicinity to Dehradun. This is a cave with length 600meters and consists of two distinct parts. The cave features a subterranean water stream that appears at the cave site and then disappears only to appear again a little later. Also, there is the presence of a narrow limestone gorge at the cave site. This cave is one of the most popular tourist attraction of Dehradun.
- Location: Near Malsi deer park, Dehradun
- Timings: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: Throughout the year
- Time required: 2-3 hours
- How to reach: Nearest airport- Jolly Grant Airport (34), Nearest railway station- Dehradun Railway Sstation (10 km).
Tapkeshwar Mahadev Cave Temple
This cave shrine lies in vicinity to the Dehradun city and along the banks of River Asan. According to popular beliefs the shrine enshrines one of the most ancient Shiva lingams that our country has. Also, myths hold that this cave had served as the dwelling place for Sage Dronacharya once upon a time. Hence the cave is differently referred to as ‘Drona Cave’. Tourists and visitors to the cave often express awe at the sight of the water source dripping upon the Shiv ling and then disappearing mysteriously. A hot spring outside the cave shrine is used by devotees for bathing prior to entering the temple.
- Location: Tapkeshwar Colony, Dehradun
- Timings: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: Throughout the year
- Time required: 1-2 hours
- How to reach: Nearest airport- Jolly Grant Airport (32), Nearest railway station- Dehradun Railway Sstation (7 km).
Gauri Udiyar Cave Temple
Gauri Udiyar lies in vicinity to Bageshwar. It is a cave shrine belonging to Lord Shiva and comes with multiple big and small manifestations of the lord. The local people of the region attach great significance to this cave shrine.
- Location: 8 km from Bageshwar city
- Timings: 5:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: March to June, September to November
- Time required: 30 minutes
- How to reach: Nearest airport- Jolly Grant Airport (32), Nearest railway station- Dehradun Railway Sstation (7 km).
Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple
Koteshwar Mahadev is a lord Shiva shrine; a cave shrine situated in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. The cave lies in vicinity to the stream of River Alaknanda. As per myths lord Shiva had hidden himself in this cave to escape the hands of demon Bhasmasur and only after offering prayers to lord Vishnu, he could manage to kill Bhasmasur; the fierce demon.
- Location: Bank of holy Alaknanda River, 4.5 km from Rudraprayag
- Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: March to June, September to November
- Time required: 30 minutes
- How to reach: Nearest airport- Jolly Grant Airport (159), Nearest railway station- Rishikesh Railway Sstation (142km).
Must Read: Famous Hindu Temples in Uttarakhand
Ganesha Cave
This cave falls within the Mana village. As per myths, this is the cave where Ved Vyas dictated the epic Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha while he wrote it down by listening to the dictation. The cave lies in proximity to another cave; the Vyas cave and presents visitors with mesmerizing natural beauty.
- Location: Mana village, Badrinath
- Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry fee: Free
- Best time to visit: April to June, September to November
- Time required: 30 minutes
- How to reach: 4.5 km from Badrinath Bus Stand
I have visted on robbers cave in above list. But others also seems quite exciting in picture, i would love to go there. Thanks keep sharing such information.