In the beauteous Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, there is an infamous cave temple called Gauri Udiyar. It is located about 8 km from Bageshwar town and houses several idols of Lord Shiva. In Kumaoni dialect, 'Udiyar' stands for a small rock cave, where tigers and other wild animals live.
The cave measures about 20x95 square metres and enshrines several images of Lord Shiva.
The relatively unknown Gauri Udiyar is located around 8 kilometers from Bageshwar. In Kumaoni, Udiyar denotes a small cave where tigers and other wild creatures live. This cave contains a shrine dedicated to Gauri Mata and Lord Shiva, as the name suggests.
This temple, located in the beautiful Kumaon region, contains several ancient Lord Shiva formations. There is no information regarding its origin, when it was discovered, or how old it is, although locals believe it dates back to prehistoric times.
It is stated that Lord Shiva’s natural formations have fresh cold water gushing out of them in the summer and hot water coming out of them in the winter! According to local folklore, milk used to appear in these formations in the past.
This is a massive natural cave that is approximately 20 x 95 square meters and is nestled in the middle of breathtaking natural splendor. This masterwork is thought to have been made by Dev Shilpi Vishwakarma (Divine architect, sculptor, and master of arts). Another legend has it that all the gods and goddesses slept (stayed) here during Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi’s marriage.
An image of the divine marriage is displayed, together with doli, wedding gifts, and other well-produced creative items. There is a tiny cave that is said to lead to Kailash Parvat.
This sacred site contains a natural kund with hot water in the winter and chilly water in the summer! Locals claim that saints and yogis from all over the country spend years in this wonderful location, enveloped in the glory of Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi.
