Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple Pithoragarh Uttarakhand History

Kapileshwar Mahadev Cave Temple is situated on a steep hill above Ancholi village, about 3 km from Pithoragarh. This ancient temple is away from all the hustle and bustle of pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar and offers a panoramic view of the famous Saur or Soar valley and Himalayan peaks.

According to a legend, Maharishi Kapil Muni, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, did penance at this place, hence it came to be known as “Kapileshwar”. The figures of Shiva, Surya, and Shivling are present on a rock inside this cave. One has to climb more than 200 steps to reach the main temple.

The climb is tough but the view of the Tire Valley makes up for it. There is an old Bhagwati temple in the middle which provides a much-needed respite. The challenging trek leads to an old temple with a spectacular view of miles of lush greenery and snow-capped Himalayas. The hill where the famous Dhwaj Temple is situated is also visible from here.

The temple has an entrance that leads to a cave deep in the hill. It is very difficult to get into the cave. The passage is so narrow that at times your body barely has room to squeeze itself through. The cave is about 25 feet deep and one has to wonder how the great sage spent so much time here in Tapsya. This cave is believed to be millions of years old and the rocks are indicative of the same.

While it is a thrilling experience to visit the cave and see Lord Shiva, one must also consider the greatness of the saints, seers, and sages who experienced supreme energy in such places where the oxygen level is so low. It is remarkable that they came to know about these places and chose to spend their time in Tapsya, undisturbed.

Locals tell of another cave temple near Pithoragarh dedicated to Lord Shiva. Legend has it that a cow from a village near this area used to worship Lord Shiva every day and offered all the milk in her udders. The cowherd could not understand why the cow had stopped giving milk. One day, he followed the cow and saw that the cow was anointing Lord Shiva with the milk from her udders. The cowherd got angry and destroyed the idol of Lord Shiva.

The next day, he visited the place and suddenly a cave appeared. Locals say that there is a tunnel connected to the cave from where a breathtaking view of the Saur or Soar Valley is visible.

Now, it is not known whether this story is also linked to Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple as the cave has not been explored. Many people visit this holy temple in Shivratri. A Jagran is organized and one’s prayers are said to be answered by Lord Mahadev.