Patal Bhubaneshwar, which literally means the sub- terranian shrine of Lord Shiva is a cave temple located about 91 kms. from Pithoragarh and 14 kms north of Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel which leads into a cave and through a narrow dark passage of water.
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main entrance
The first human to discover this cave was Raja Ritupurna who was a king in the Surya Dynasty (Surya Vansha) who was ruling Ayodhya (from the time of Rama) during the Treta Yuga. The story starts with Ritupurna and King Nal. It is said that once, King Nal was defeated by his wife, Queen Damayanti. In order to escape his wife’s prison Nala requested Ritupurna to hide him. Ritupurna took him to the forests of the Himalayas and asked him to stay there. While going back home he was fascinated by a deer which ran into woods and went after it. He could not find it and took rest under a tree. He had a dream where the deer was asking Ritupurna not to chase him. His sleep broke and as he woke up and went to a cave where a guard was standing. After enquiring about the cave he was allowed to go inside. Right at the entrance,
Ritupurna met Sheshnag who agreed to take him through the cave. It carried him on its hood. He saw the marvels of Gods taking place inside. He saw all the 33-koti (33 gods not 33 crore) gods and goddesses including Lord Shiva himself. It is said that after his visit, the cave was closed for ages with a slight prediction in the Skanda Purana that it will be reopened again in Kali Yug. In the Kali Yug, Adi Shankaracharya, during his visit to Himalayas re-discovered this cave. Since then regular worship and offering are being done at this place
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