Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada Cave

About Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada Cave

This is the cave in which Guru Adi Shankaracharya is said to have learned his lessons from the Govinda Bhagavatpada Granth. Local tradition holds that Shankaracharya walked hundreds of miles through forests and valleys, crossing mountains and rivers, before reaching Omkareshwar and finding Govinda Bhagavatpada in a state of Nirvikalpa Nishtha, the Sanskrit term for unwavering concentration in deep meditation, in a cave under a banyan tree on the bank of the Narmada. The site is small and is visited for that association rather than for architecture.

At the cave

The cave chamber

The cave itself is small and low, and is kept as a place to sit rather than as a display. Most visitors spend their time here quietly; it is the one spot in Omkareshwar where that is the expected behaviour.

The banyan and the riverbank

The cave is described as lying beneath a banyan tree on the Narmada bank, and the setting is a large part of why the place is remembered. The bank here is far calmer than the ghats near the main temple.

Planning your visit

This is a short, quiet stop rather than a half day sight, and it is best fitted around the main temple visits.

• Go early or late, when the riverbank is cool and empty.
• The cave is small and low; mind your head and footing at the entrance.
• Keep voices down, as people sit here to meditate.
• Ask locally for directions, as the cave is easy to walk past.

Best time to visit

October to March is the comfortable season. Early morning on the riverbank is the best part of the day here. During heavy monsoon the bank near the water can be unsafe and the cave approach wet, so check locally before setting off.