Rudranath Temple is one of the famous Lord Shiva situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This is the third Panch Kedar temple, followed by Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar temples. Here Lord Shiva’s face is worshipped as Nilkanth Mahadeva. Rudranath is considered the most difficult trek to reach, among the Panch Kedar temples. Pools like Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund and Manas Kund are surrounded by Rudranath Temple. Peaks such as Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti are present near the temple.
Rudranath Temple Timings:
Open Time: 6.00 AM
Close Time: 7.00 PM
Morning Aarti: 6.00 AM
Evening Aarti: 6:30 PM
Rudranath Temple History:
The mythological background of the Rudranath Temple is associated with the epic Mahabharata. Vyas Rishi told the Pandavas that they were guilty of killing their own brothers in the war and that their sins would only be forgiven if Shiva forgave them. First, they went to Varanasi / Kashi, which is said to be Shiva’s favorite city and is known for the Kashi Vishwanath temple. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply outraged by the death and dishonesty of Kurukshetra’s war. Therefore, he took the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal area.
Not finding Sri Shiva in Varanasi, the five brothers went to Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, standing astride two mountains, began to seek Shiva. He saw a bull graze near Guptakashi (“Hidden Kashi”). Bhima immediately recognized that the bull was Shiva. Bhima grabbed the bull by the tail and hind legs. But the bull disappeared into the ground and then reappeared in 5 places, the arms appearing in Tungnath, the face showing up at Rudranath, the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheshwar and the hair appearing in Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas, pleased with this reappearance in five different ways, built temples in all five places to worship Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins. It is also believed that the front parts of Shiva appeared in the Doleshwor Mahadeva temple in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal.
Rudranath Temple Festivals:
Mahashivratri: Maha Shivratri is observed by remembering Lord Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga as well as meditating.
Doli Yatra:
In winter, devotees bring a symbolic image of Lord Shiva to Gopeshwar for worship in a Doli Yatra which passes through the village of Sagar. When the yatris arrive in Pitradhar, they worship their ancestors and, at the end of the journey, arrive in Rudranath with the image.
Annual fair: The temple conducts an Annual fair on the full moon day of Shravan month. It is mostly celebrated on Raksha Bandhan day.
Best Time to Visit Rudranath Temple:
Best Months: May, June, September and October
In Summers / April to August: It is very pleasant with a moderate climate, with an average of around 15 ° C. Summer is ideal for sightseeing, visiting temples and also visiting nearby attractions.
In Monsoons / September to November:
They are accompanied by light rains. This period is suitable for sightseeing as the panoramic mountain views are very attractive during the rains.
In Winters / December to March:
These are cold days with an average minimum of touching close to 4°C. The minimum may touch levels below zero.
Rudranath Trekking:
Rudranath Trek reveals the rustic and imposing beauty of charismatic surroundings. The walk to Rudranath is somewhat tedious and risky, but it is very rewarding. Nothing would prevent the hiker from embarking on such a pleasant trail as it takes him through a world of unparalleled beauty. The mountain peaks of Trisul, Nanda Devi, Devasthan, Hathi Parbat and Nanda Ghunti are visible from Rudranath.
Trek Route 1:
There is a motorable road to the village of Sagar, 5 km from Gopeshwar, beyond which it is necessary to hike 20 km to reach Rudranath. The hike winds through forests of tall grass, oaks and rhododendrons. The hiking trail is said to be slippery.
Trek Route 2:
A 17 km uphill hike from Gangolgaon, 3 km from Gopeshwar, through the forest and herds of Panar and Naila.
Trek Route 3:
From Gopeshwar to Rudranath, it goes through Mandal (13 km), then another 6 km to Anusuya Devi temple, then another 3 km to Rudranath. The Anusuya Devi temple is home to the goddess Anusuya, who is believed to help devotees in distress.
How To Reach Rudranath Temple:
By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 258 km.
By Rail: The nearest railhead, Rishikesh is 241 km.
By Road: Rudranath is located on Gopeshwar-Kedarnath Road. From Rishikesh, the entry point is at Sagar is 219 km. A 20 km trek from Sagar will end at Rudranath.
Rudranath Temple Address:
Garhwal District,
Uttarakhand – 246472.
Other Panch Kedar Temples:
- Kedarnath Temple
- Tungnath Temple.
- Rudranath Temple.
- Madhyamaheshwar Temple
- Kalpeshwar Temple
