Grand Shivaratri celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple with night-long vigils, abhishekam, and devotional singing.
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Naksh.iq
ISSUE Nº 47 · MAY 2026
Festival · UTTARAKHAND
Uttarkashi Mahadev Temple Festival (Maha Shivaratri).
February–March · Uttarkashi
Going for this? Uttarkashi in March
NakshIQ score
2/10
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March begins the thaw — 8-20°C. The Bhagirathi picks up snowmelt volume. Spring arrives in the lower valley — green creeping up hillsides. The road toward Gangotri starts clearing but the temple remains closed until May. NIM advanced mountaineering courses prepare for the climbing season. Uttarkashi starts its annual transition from mountain town to pilgrimage staging post.
Getting there
Elevation
1158 m
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun — 178km
Nearest railway
Rishikesh — 155km
Live in Uttarkashi
Where to stay in Uttarkashi
Monal Resort
₹1,000-2,500/nightguesthouse · Uttarkashi outskirtsClean rooms with river views. Good base for Dodital trek and Dayara Bugyal. The restaurant is above average for a small town. Staff arranges local treks and Gangotri trips.
Where to eat
Pahadibucks Cafe
Ganeshpur, Gangotri Highway · ₹₹Signaturefarm-to-table mountain breakfast
Open river-side seating only works October-May; monsoon (July-September) the river is too high. They source vegetables from their own kitchen garden — ask what's local that day.
Anushka Restaurant
Kandar Devta Mandir area · ₹Signature₹90 home-style thali
There is no menu — only the thali, served 11am-10pm. Best after 7:30pm when the second batch of dal and rajma is fresh. Cash only.
Monal Tourist Home Restaurant
Kot Bungalow Road · ₹₹Signaturemade-to-order home-style thali
Walk-ins allowed for meals if there's space — call first (01374 222270) so they can scale the dal. Trekkers with early Gangotri starts are served breakfast from 6am if pre-arranged.
Annapurna Restaurant
Main Bazaar · ₹Signaturephaanu (garhwali mixed-dal curry)
Phaanu and chainsoo are slow-cooked — they only run them at lunch, finished by 2pm. The fast-food menu (momos, pasta) goes till close but skips the reason to come.
What else to see in Uttarkashi
Vishwanath Temple
Ancient Shiva temple with a massive trident (trishul). Believed to be built during the Mahabharata era.
temple30 minNehru Institute of Mountaineering
Premier mountaineering training institute with a museum of expedition artifacts and Everest memorabilia.
museum1-2 hours
Other festivals in Uttarkashi
Other festivals in March, elsewhere
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