The ancient Kalp Kedar temple in Uttarkashi, known for its architectural resemblance to the revered Kedarnath Dham, has been buried under a fresh pile of debris following a flash flood in the Kheer Ganga river. The temple’s rediscovery and its unique features have long been a source of fascination for devotees and historians alike.
Built in the traditional Kature style of architecture, the Shiva temple was originally found in 1945 after an excavation. Its existence had been lost to time, believed to have been buried by a previous disaster, with only a small tip of its structure visible above ground. The excavation unearthed a complete temple structure that was strikingly similar to the famous Kedarnath temple.
One of the temple’s most unique characteristics was its location several feet below ground level, requiring devotees to descend to offer their prayers. Local lore says that a natural path had been created, allowing water from the nearby Kheer Ganga river to drift onto the ‘shivling’ in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is also adorned with intricate stone carvings.
Like its more famous counterpart, the ‘shivling’ inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kalp Kedar temple is shaped like the back of Nandi, the sacred bull. This particular detail further strengthens the architectural and spiritual connection between the two ancient Shiva temples. The current flash flood has once again covered this historical and religious site, leaving its future uncertain.