 Uttarkashi is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.The name of the town reflects its similarity to and location (as north of) the city of Kashi (Varanasi).Similar to Varanasi, town of Uttarkashi is situated on the Ganges, lies next to a hill named "Varunavat", on confluence of two rivers "Varuna" and "Asi", has a ghat called Manikarnika Ghat and has a temple dedicated to Shiva similar to (Kashi Vishwanath Temple) in Varanasi, in the center of the town.