Quick answer: Ukhimath is a town at 1,311 m in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, 41 km by road from Rudraprayag. Its Omkareshwar temple holds the winter puja of Lord Kedarnath and the year-round puja of Lord Omkareshwar. The town has a primary health centre, and Makkumath, Tungnath's winter seat, is 45 km away.
Where is Ukhimath, and how high is it?
Ukhimath stands at 1,311 m in Rudraprayag district, in the Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand. The Rudraprayag district administration's Ukhimath page gives that height and places the town 41 km from Rudraprayag and 13 km from Guptkashi. The district page says buses and cabs are easily available in Ukhimath. This guide covers the town for trekkers on Trekkaro's Chopta Chandrashila Trek.
| Ukhimath fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 1,311 m | Rudraprayag district |
| District | Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand | Rudraprayag district |
| From Rudraprayag | 41 km by road | Rudraprayag district; temple committee |
| From Guptkashi | 13 km | Rudraprayag district |
| Nearest railway station | Rishikesh, 174 km | Temple committee |
| Nearest airport | Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 198 km | Temple committee |
| Makkumath, Tungnath's winter seat | 45 km | Temple committee |
There is no official road figure from Ukhimath to Chopta or to Tungnath, so we do not give one. For the roads in from Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun, and the choice between the Ukhimath and Gopeshwar sides, see how to reach Tungnath and Chopta.
What is the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath?
The Shri Badarinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) lists the Omkareshwar temple among its temples and states that the winter puja of Lord Kedarnath and the year-round puja of Lord Omkareshwar are performed here. During winter, the committee says, the Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath is brought from Kedarnath to Ukhimath.
The committee also records two stories tied to the place. The wedding of Usha, daughter of Vanasur, and Anirudh, grandson of Lord Krishna, was solemnised here, and the town was named Ushamath after her, a name that became Ukhimath. King Mandhata is said to have done penance to Lord Shiva here. The district page adds that the temples of Usha and Aniruddha, and of Shiva and Parvati, are worth visiting.
How does Ukhimath fit into the Chopta Chandrashila trek?
The Chopta Chandrashila trek does not stop overnight in Ukhimath. Day 1 is a road day of about 185 km, 8 to 9 hours, from Rishikesh to Sari, the base village at 2,012 m, past the confluences at Devprayag and Rudraprayag and through the town of Srinagar. After the night in Sari you sleep in tents about 200 m from Deoriatal, then two nights in tents at Baniyakund (2,610 m).
Ukhimath still matters to the trek in two ways. Baniyakund, the last camp, lies about 4 km before Chopta on the Ukhimath to Chopta road, and on Day 4 a short drive takes you from there to Chopta (2,679 m) for the walk to Tungnath and Chandrashila. And it is the reference point the temple committee uses for Makkumath, where Tungnath is worshipped in winter.
From Chopta the walk to Tungnath is about 3 to 3.5 km (the temple committee gives 3 km), and Chandrashila is about 1 km beyond, at 3,962 m (13,000 ft). The whole summit day is about 11 km.
Does Ukhimath have an ATM, mobile signal and a health centre?
For the trek, draw cash in Rudraprayag or Rishikesh, not Ukhimath, and carry small notes. Our Sari village guide covers cash, signal and the night at the base.
For health care, there is a primary health centre at Ukhimath, a community health centre at Agastyamuni and the district hospital. No doctor joins the trek. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, SpO2 is checked twice a day at every campsite, and one oxygen cylinder and one stretcher travel with every batch.
How far is Makkumath from Ukhimath?
Makkumath is 45 km from Ukhimath, by the temple committee's figure. The BKTC states that the winter puja of Tungnath is performed at Makkumath. To get there, it suggests taking a bus from Haridwar or Rishikesh to Ukhimath or Rudraprayag and hiring a private taxi from there; it puts Makkumath 184 km from Rishikesh railway station and 200 km from Jolly Grant Airport.
Makkumath is not on the trek. In the snow months the trek still walks from Chopta past Tungnath to Chandrashila on summit day; the temple's own story is in our Tungnath temple guide.
What is the weather like around Ukhimath?
We do not publish separate readings for the town. Ukhimath, at 1,311 m, sits about 700 m below Sari and about 1,370 m below Chopta, so the trek figures below are for higher and colder ground than the town itself. They are Trekkaro's season ranges for the Chopta Chandrashila trek.
| Season | Day on the trek | Night at camp |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (October to November) | 10°C to 15°C | Around 0°C |
| Winter (December to February) | 8°C to 14°C | -10°C to -6°C |
| Spring (March to April) | 13°C to 17°C | Around 0°C |
| Summer (May to June) | 18°C to 24°C | 3°C to 8°C |
For a forecast before you drive up, check Rudraprayag district on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun centre. Our Chopta and Tungnath weather guide covers the trail month by month.
What does the Chopta Chandrashila trek cost?
The fee for the Chopta Chandrashila Trek is ₹8,250 per person plus 5% GST (₹8,662.50 with GST). EMI starts at ₹425 a month. It is a 5-day trek, graded Moderate, open from age 8, and Trekkaro runs it from October to June; see the trek page for live batch dates.
Transport to Sari and back from Baniyakund is not included. We help the group book shared cabs at ₹6,500 one way per 5 to 6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. Because the trek starts at Sari and ends at Baniyakund, there is no luggage store on the route: leave extra bags with your hotel in Rishikesh. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings), and travel insurance is mandatory and not included.
See Chopta Chandrashila Trek dates and book | Tungnath temple guide | Chopta travel guide
Frequently asked questions
How high is Ukhimath?
Ukhimath is at 1,311 m, according to the Rudraprayag district administration. Chopta, the road head for Tungnath, is at 2,679 m.
Which district is Ukhimath in?
Ukhimath is in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. It is 41 km by road from Rudraprayag town and 13 km from Guptkashi.
Why is Ukhimath famous?
Ukhimath is known for the Omkareshwar temple, where the winter puja of Lord Kedarnath is performed after the Utsav Doli is brought down from Kedarnath. The temple committee also links the town to the wedding of Usha and Anirudh, which gave it the old name Ushamath.
Is there a hospital in Ukhimath?
Yes, Ukhimath has a primary health centre. There is also a community health centre at Agastyamuni and the district hospital.
Which is the nearest railway station to Ukhimath?
Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, 174 km from Ukhimath by the temple committee's figure. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 198 km away.
