Vyas Gufa: How to visit?

The Vyas Gufa is an ancient cave located on the banks of the Saraswati river at the Mana village in the Chamoli district. Mana is the last Indian village that lies on the Indo-China border. This rustic cave was the temporary abode of Maharishi Vyas, who wrote the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It is also the abode and literary ground of Maharishi Ved Vyas.

The four Vedas are believed to have been written inside this cave by Sage Vyas, who is considered the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. This holy cave is more than 5,000 years old and houses a shrine dedicated to Maharishi Vyas.

Facts

• The rock formation at Vyas Gufa resembles the way palm leaf manuscripts are stacked in an orderly fashion. This is the oldest writing material and is worshipped as Vyas Pustak. Many believe that this rock structure, known as Vyas Pothi, was the part that Ved Vyas couldn’t add to the holy texts or Granths.
• Nestled in the Vyas Gufa, Mana village is linked with the Hindu legend Mahabharata. It was here that the Pandava brothers, along with their wife Draupadi, commenced the Swargarohini Yatra – known as the pilgrimage to heaven. This is the only place on earth where mortals can go to heaven in their human avatar or body.

Vyas cave

The Vyas cave has great religious significance in Hinduism. This is where sage Vyas wrote the 18 Puranas and classified the Hindu Vedas into four parts: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. It was also here that Guru Adi Shankaracharya met Maharishi Vyas for the discourse of Bhashyam to compile Brahma Sutras. Therefore, the cave is considered to be sacred.

Things to See

The most interesting feature of this cave is the rooftop, which looks like the leaves from a holy scripture written by Sage Vyas. You can also see the statue of Maharishi Vyas installed inside the cave, which is worshipped by pilgrims.

Things To do

If you’re looking for a place to find souvenirs and local handicrafts, Vyas Gufa in Mana village is a great option. You can also take a break and have a cup of tea at the last teashop in India, which is conveniently located next to the Vyas Gufa caves. This is also a great spot for photography enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Tip to visit

It’s best to visit Vyas Gufa early in the morning to avoid the crowd. The trek to Vyas Gufa can be quite challenging since it involves a steep climb, so we wouldn’t recommend it for elderly people or anyone who is old, unfit, or has health issues. Instead, they can take the Bhim Pul route to reach the destination.

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