On the banks of the Bhagirathi, surrounded by the rivers Varuna and Assi, this sacred, fast developing town is the capital of the newly constituted westernmost district of Uttarakhand along the Indian border. This is a town packed with temples, historical monuments, `ashrams` and `dharamsalas`. It is a Shiva town populated by over 12,000 people. Shiva is the leading deity and is worshipped morning, noon and night in the ancient temple of Lord Vishwanath. The evening song evokes an atmosphere of beauty in religion as the music of singing bells blends with the chants of the pandits. Within the courtyard and directly opposite to the temple is the Shakti Temple  dedicated to the Goddess of Energy, projecting a massive brass trident which, according to an inscription in Sanskrit fixed on it reveals that the temple of Vishwanath was built by king Ganeshwar, whose son, Guh a great warrior, had the trident forged. Another inscription bearing

trident, on a smaller scale, can be found in the Shiva Temple in the town of Gopeshwar, near Chamoli.

On the day of Makar Sankranti, Uttarakashi in Uttarakhand is energetic and enthusiastic with the costumes of the people from the surrounding villages while the gods and goddesses are carried through the town, men, women and children throng the temples at the banks of the Ganga. The colourfully dressed women bejeweled with chunky ornaments, worn on festive occasions, join the men in song and dance as music fills the air. The Ganga, worshipped as the `Mother` who gives life to the making the most fertile Gangetic plains, now she is providing energy with the construction of the series of hydroelectric projects in the hills.

Thousands of pilgrims passing through on their way to the Yatra add to the wealth of the town and maintains the economy of the district, where hills are deeply forested, and the terraces are fully cultivated.