Key Highlights:
✔ Ancient Tragedy Repeated – The Kalp Kedar Temple, once buried underground, is now covered in debris after a flash flood in Uttarkashi.
✔ Kedarnath’s Architectural Twin – Built in the Kature style, the temple mirrors Kedarnath Dham, with a unique Nandi-shaped ‘shivling’.
✔ Rediscovered in 1945 – Excavations decades ago revealed the temple several feet below ground, where devotees descended to pray.
Uttarkashi’s Kalp Kedar Temple – A Sacred Relic Lost to Nature’s Fury
In a tragic turn of events, Uttarkashi’s revered Kalp Kedar Temple, an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, has been buried under debris following a devastating flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river. The temple, which had spent years hidden underground with only its tip visible, now faces destruction once again—reigniting memories of its mysterious past.
A Temple Lost and Found
The Kalp Kedar Temple, built in the Kature architectural style, bears a striking resemblance to the famed Kedarnath Dham. Historical records reveal that the shrine was rediscovered in 1945 after being buried several feet underground, likely due to an earlier natural disaster. When excavated, its structure mirrored Kedarnath’s design so closely that devotees had to descend into the earth to offer prayers.
The Sacred Shivling and Kheer Ganga’s Divine Flow
One of the temple’s most unique features was its Nandi-shaped ‘shivling’, similar to the one in Kedarnath. Legend has it that the waters of the Kheer Ganga would naturally flow onto the shivling in the sanctum sanctorum—a phenomenon for which a special path was carved. Intricate stone carvings adorned the temple’s exterior, adding to its spiritual aura.
Nature’s Wrath Strikes Again
The recent flash flood has washed away parts of the temple, leaving it buried under silt and rubble. Locals and historians fear that this could be a repeat of the past, where the shrine remained concealed for decades. As rescue teams assess the damage, devotees mourn the loss of a sacred site that once stood as a testament to Uttarkashi’s rich spiritual heritage.
Will Kalp Kedar rise from the debris once more? Only time—and nature—will tell.
(AlwaysFirst brings you the latest updates on Uttarkashi’s heritage and natural disasters. Stay tuned for more ground reports.)
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