Patal Bhuvneshwar : The holy cave

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is 14 km from Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is the underground cave, 90 feet deep from the point of entrance and 160 mt long. Legend and folklore have it that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva and thirty three crores Gods of Hindu Culture.

This cave has a narrow tunnel-like opening which leads to a number of caves. The cave is fully electrically illuminated. Built by the flow of water, Patal Bhuvaneshwar is not just one cave, rather a series of caves within caves

In Hindu Culture, this awesome cave is believed to be as old as the earth itself. he first human who entered this cave was king "Rituparna" of Suraya Dynasty during the "Tretayuga". It is said that during his visit, he had encountered several demons and "Sheshnaag" himself acted as his guide.One can see the gateway of the great ages in Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

The motorable road ends half a kilometer away from the cave entrance. You have to descends nearly 100 steps into this narrow cave, to reach the sanctum sanctorum, which gives an overwhelming feeling that you’re entering the centre of the earth.

Each stone, each stalagmite within each cave or doorway, in magnificent erection reveals the story of Hindu pantheon in the shapes of Gods, Goddesses, saints and known mythological characters.