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Dwarahat, Uttarakhand

Mahavatar Babaji Cave

Also known as Babaji's Cave, Kukuchina Babaji Cave

Mahavatar Babaji Cave sits on the Pandukholi mountain above Kukuchina village, about 25 km from Dwarahat in Almora district. Kriya Yogis come here because this is where, by tradition, Mahavatar Babaji gave Lahiri Mahasaya the Kriya Yoga initiation in 1861 - the reason Dunagiri is called the birthplace of modern-day Kriya Yoga. Kukuchina is the last motorable point; from the Kukuchina-Ratkhal road a renovated mountain path climbs about 3 km, roughly an hour on foot, past a shrine built by the Self-Realization Fellowship. There is no village at the cave, so pilgrims stay at Dwarahat or Ranikhet and come up for the day.

  • Where Mahavatar Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya in 1861
  • Dunagiri - the birthplace of modern-day Kriya Yoga
  • Kukuchina is the last motorable point, then a ~3 km walk
  • Forest and valley views over the Gogash river country
Places around Mahavatar Babaji Cave Browse Uttarakhand stays
Mahavatar Babaji Cave, Dwarahat
Photo: Dunagiriretreat · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Places to stay
None listed yetno stay listed in this area yet
Railway station
Kathgodam Railway Station130 km away
Around the spot
5 placesnearest first, with distances
Best time
March to June and September to November

How to reach Mahavatar Babaji Cave

  • Kathgodam Railway StationNearest railway station130 km
  • Dwarahat Bus StandNearest bus stand28 km
  • Pantnagar AirportNearest airport150 km

Travel facts come from the records of the properties listed near Mahavatar Babaji Cave, OpenStreetMap and public travel sources - on hill roads allow more time than the distance suggests. Local taxis and autos run from the station and bus stand.

Location

Coordinates 29.83325, 79.46569

Map of Mahavatar Babaji Cave29.83325, 79.46569 - if the map stays blank, use the button below
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Map data: OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances on this page are straight-line, so a hilly or riverside road can be longer.

What is around Mahavatar Babaji Cave

5 places

Nearest first, with straight-line distances - a hilly or riverside road can be longer. Rows marked "from our listings" are distances reported by the properties listed here.

Worth seeing 2

Towns around 3

Timings & best time

Timings

A trek rather than a ticketed temple: most pilgrims leave Dwarahat by about 9:00 am and are back by late afternoon.

Best time to visit

March to June and September to November; the trail is slippery in the monsoon and cold in January.

Good to know
  • Leave Dwarahat by about 9:00 am - the round trip takes 6 to 8 hours.
  • The last 2 km of road to the trail head is rough; a Bolero or another 4x4 is safer than a small car.
  • Carry water and a packed lunch - there is nothing to buy at the cave.
  • The path is steep in places, so go slowly and take the descent carefully.

Stays near Mahavatar Babaji Cave

No verified stay is listed near Mahavatar Babaji Cave yet. If you run a property here, add it free and it will show on this page.

Questions about Mahavatar Babaji Cave

Are there places to stay near Mahavatar Babaji Cave?
Our directory does not have a verified stay within 6 km of Mahavatar Babaji Cave yet. Listings are added from property records and owner submissions, so this page will fill up as coverage grows.
How do I reach Mahavatar Babaji Cave?
The nearest railway station - Kathgodam Railway Station (130 km), and nearest bus stand - Dwarahat Bus Stand (28 km), and nearest airport - Pantnagar Airport (150 km). Local taxis and autos run from there to the spot.
What are the timings of Mahavatar Babaji Cave?
A trek rather than a ticketed temple: most pilgrims leave Dwarahat by about 9:00 am and are back by late afternoon.
When is the best time to visit Mahavatar Babaji Cave?
March to June and September to November; the trail is slippery in the monsoon and cold in January.
What is there to see around Mahavatar Babaji Cave?
Within a short drive you have Dunagiri, Kukuchina village, Dwarahat, Sitabani Wildlife Reserve, Ranikhet and more - each with the distance from Mahavatar Babaji Cave.

Keep exploring

All spots Search the directory Plan this yatra Yatra guides

Timings, distances and facilities come from the properties listed here, OpenStreetMap and public sources - no invented data. Something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.