In this cave the severed head of Lord Ganesha is kept

Located in Uttarakhand, the Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves are home to many different mysteries. As understood by the name, ‘Patal’ refers to the underworld, so the cave also has its link to the netherworld. It is not just a geological wonder, made with natural limestone, but also attracts pilgrims and mythology enthusiasts from all over the world. The cave is located much below the normal ground level and is famous for the unique and ‘natural’ formations inside the cave.

It is said that the first person to discover this cave was a King. One day, King Rituparna saw a deer in his dream who requested him to not kill it. Upon waking up, the King scales great distance to spot the deer again but instead stumbles upon a cave. When he enters the cave, Sheshnaag himself guides him ahead and King Rituparna sees all the Gods and Goddesses inside. Upon coming out, the King decides that it will be best if nobody else gets to know about the cave and shuts it till Kaliyua.
Then, during Kaliyuga, it was Adi Shankaracharya who re-discovered the cave and since then it is being flocked by devotees and pilgrims.

The journey to Patal Bhuvaneshwar begins with a steep descent of about 90 feet. The way down is extremely narrow and slippery and one can start feeling cold as soon as their feet touch the stone. This journey deep down is also said to be a symbol that people are now entering into the underworld.

(Image: Meg Khandige/Wiki)

One of the most unique and awe-inspiring stories of the cave says that when Lord Shiva severed Lord Ganesha’s head, he had to replace it with the head of a baby elephant. But, as Mata Parvati did not want to leave her son, Lord Shiva safely kept the severed head in this cave so that it will be protected by the Gods who are present in the gufa.
But, the clear face is not visible anymore as it is now covered with a thick layer of limestone.

Another mysterious thing about the cave is that when people walk inside they can see on the ground something that looks like the spine and ribs. But, the spine is so long that it is impossible for it to be a human’s.
Legends believe that the ribbed floor on which people walk in Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave is the spine of the divine and all-powerful serpent Sheshnaag. The formation of Sheshnaag’s spine runs along the ceiling and the floor of the cave.

The locks in Shiv ji’s hair or ‘Shiv jata’ are what help control the flow of the Ganga river. And, inside the cave, there is also a natural formation that looks exactly like Shiv ji’s hair locks.
And, to make things even more interesting, just like it is said that Shiv ji’s jata helps slow down the flow of river Ganga, even in the cave drops of water flow down from those lock formations. Nobody knows where that water comes from!

Another legend about the Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves says that there is a hidden passage inside, now blocked with huge stones and marbles, that is believed to lead to the source of the river Saraswati.

Another intriguing formation inside the cave is a Shivling that is believed to grow a little everyday. It is said that the size and height of the Shivling has been growing for years now and when the Shivling touches the ceiling of the cave the world will end. Some folklore also says that the Shivling measures the bad deeds of the world and grows accordingly. Once the bad karma of people reaches its pinnacle, Lord Shiva will deem it fit to end the world and transform it into something better.