Situated at an elevation of 1,319 m above sea level, Guptakashi is famous for the ancient Vishwanath Temple and Ardhnarishwara Temple - both dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to local legends, Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva after the battle of Kurukshetra. Lord Shiva avoided granting boons to them and hid in a place near Trijugi Narayan in the Himalayas. This place came to be known a
s Guptakashi. 'Gupta' in Sanskrit means 'hidden'. It is believed that two streams of the Ganges and Yamuna meet in this holy tank. Guptkashi is considered to be as important as Kashi since it is here at Manikarnik Kund that the streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet. Guptkashi, situated in the lap of nature, is surrounded by spiritual air that is sure to captivate anyone with its mystic charm. It is believed that after the battle of Kurukshetra when the Pandavas were on a lookout to meet Lord Shiva and seek his blessing, the Lord evaded them by leaving Guptkashi for Kedarnath. Lord Shiva did not wish to meet them as he held them responsible for bloodshed and destruction of their family dynasty even though they fought for the right cause.
