Situated at an elevation of 1,319 m above sea level, Guptakashi is famous for the ancient Vishwanath Temple and Ardhnarishwara Temple - both dedicated to
Lord Shiva. According to local legends,
Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva after the battle of
Kurukshetra. Lord Shiva avoided granting boons to them and hid in a place near
Trijugi Narayan in the
Himalayas. This place came to be known as Guptakashi. 'Gupta' in
Sanskrit means 'hidden'. Guptakashi is also known for a holy tank, Manikarnik Kund. It is believed that two streams of the
Ganges and
Yamuna meet in this holy tank.
