Day in Ukhimath

Lunch and short hike Tala to Deoria Tal (lake)

Ukimath is a very small village situated on 1900 meters and is considered the substitute spot for when Kedarnath is closed between October and April due to heavy snowfall. The legend goes that Usha and Anirudh (the grandson of Krishna) disciple here and the one of the Kings did penance and meditation until Lord Shiva appeared before him. It is considered a Tantric pilgrim site as well as many of the Tantras were recited here and worshiped here. This was all translated to me when we met the temple priest for Puja.

Lunch at Sari

After breakfast we headed to Sari – an even smaller village where we hiked up 3 km to the beautiful Deoria Tal where some of Gandhi's ashes were offered long ago due to his devotion to Lord Shiva and love of Kedarnath Valley. The rain broke just long enough for us to enjoy the hike and the clouds seem to part just for us to witness the beautiful Himalayan peaks off in the distance. It was magical. Due to the rain and weather we were mostly alone here in the quiet but surrounded by horses and the local Nandi (black bull). Nandi took a liking to me as he seemed to follow me around for a bit but then the yummy pasture grass was much more interesting then my roving about.

Little girls in the town of Sari