Complete information about Rudranath Mahadev Temple located in Chamoli, Uttarakhand

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Complete information about the trek to Rudranath Mahadev Temple located in Chamoli The trek to Rudranath temple mainly starts from three places and each place has its own different experience of visiting the temple. This journey starts from Sagar village, Mandal village, or Helang. Mainly people start it from Sagar village itself. The journey takes at least 3 to 4 days, so you should carry your accommodation and food and drink along with you as the above arrangements are minimal. Sagar Rudranath Trek: Sagar Village-Liti Bugyal-Panar Bugyal-Pitradhar-Rudranath Temple Sagar village is situated at a distance of 5 kilometers from Gopeshwar. The journey to Rudranath starts from here, that is, from here onwards you cannot go in a vehicle. The distance from here to Rudranath temple is about 20 km, which has to be crossed on foot. This trek is the shortest and easiest to reach Rudranath Temple, so mainly this trek is done by everyone. For this, you will find a way from Sagar village from where this trek starts. Liti Bugyal and Panar Bugyal will come in between where you can have food and drink or you can stay here for a day. Panar Bugyal is about 12 km from Sagar village. Then at a distance of 3 kilometers from here, you will reach Pitradhar where you will get to see stones, bells, Chunris, etc. offered by the devotees. You should bow down to your ancestors at Pitradhar and move ahead from there. One has to climb to Pitradhar, but from here onwards the descent starts. The distance from Pitradhar to Rudranath Temple is about 5 km in which you will have to do most of the descent. After this, you will reach Rudranath temple via Dhalabni Maidan. Mandal Rudranath Trek: Mandalgaon-Anusuya Temple-Hansa Bugyal-Nola Pass-Rudranath Temple This trek is mainly undertaken by those who want to visit the Rudranath Temple as well as the temple of Mata Anusuya. Mandal village is at a distance of 12 to 14 km from Gopeshwar where this trek starts. The temple of Anusuya Mata falls in the middle of this trek, which is about 2 km from here on a different route. That's why the tourists first come through the temple of Mata Anusuya and then start the trek to the Rudranath temple. The journey from Mandal village to Anusuya temple is 4 to 5 kilometers which takes 3 to 4 hours. After that, passing through Hansa Bugyal, Dhanpal Maidan, and Nola Pass, you reach Rudranath Temple, which is 23 kilometers away. If you ever plan to go on a trek, then you can do the Deoban trek. Helang Rudranath Trek: Helang-Urgam-Kalpeshwar Temple-Dumak-Bansi Narayan-Panar-Rudranath Temple In the middle of this trek, you will also get to visit another Kedar Kalpeshwar Mahadev, one of the Panch Kedar, which falls near Urgam village. This trek is the longest trek of Rudranath Temple trek which is around 45 km. Helang is near Joshimath from where this trek starts. After that devotees reach Urgam village from where Kalpeshwar Mahadev is visited by a short trek to Kalpeshwar temple. After that Rudranath temple is reached via Palla, Kimanakalgont, and Dumak. There is also a temple of Bansi Narayan in between which can be visited. Other names of Rudranath Temple: Neelkanth Mahadev Neelkanth is also another name for Lord Shiva because Halahal was one of the 14 gems that came out during the churning of the ocean, which Lord Shiva drank. After this, his name was changed to Neelkanth Mahadev. Rudramukh Along with Rudranath, the Shivling established in this temple is also known as Rudramukh. In this Rudra is a name dedicated to the Rudra form of Lord Shiva while Mukha means mouth.

Rudranath Temple is one such temple dedicated to Lord Shiva where only his face is worshipped. This is the only temple in the world where only the face of Shiva is worshiped while the rest of the body is worshiped in the Pashupatinath Temple of Nepal. An interesting story from the time of Mahabharata is attached behind it. Rudranath Temple is situated in a cave in the midst of forests and mountains in the Chamoli district of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This temple is the fourth Kedar among the five Kedar of Lord Shiva, whose ascent is the longest. Today we will tell you the story, history, geography, structure, travel, tracking, etc. of Rudranath temple.

Rudranath Temple, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

History of Rudranath Temple

It is believed that this temple was built by the Pandavas during the time of Mahabharata. According to the story of the construction of the Rudranath temple, when the Pandavas won the fierce battle of Mahabharata, they went to Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin of killing the clan, but Shiva was very angry with them.

That’s why Shivji took the form of a bull and started merging into the earth, but Bhima saw him. Bhima caught that bull from behind. For this reason, the back part of the bull remained the same while the other four parts came out at four different places. Shiva temples were built by the Pandavas at these five places by establishing Shivling which we call Panch Kedar.

Rudranath is the fourth Kedar in Panch Kedar:

The face of Lord Shiva’s bull-like incarnation had appeared in the Rudranath temple. The Kedarnath temple is located on the part of the bull which was caught by Bhima. Madhyamaheshwar (navel), Tungnath (arms), and Kalpeshwar (jatas) come in the other three Kedar. Rudranath Temple is known as the fourth Kedar out of Panch Kedar.

Geography of Rudranath Temple:

This temple comes under the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is 20 kilometers away from Sagar village in the Chamoli district, where the path has to be crossed on foot. The height of the Rudranath temple is 3,600 m (11,811 ft) above sea level.

The path to the temple is surrounded by alpine and Buran’s forests and trees where you will find innumerable trees, flowers, animals, and birds. Natural waterfalls and caves will also be seen while climbing the temple. Its climbing route is called the Bugyal region of Uttarakhand. The temples are also situated inside a cave which gives them a unique look.

If you ever plan to go on a trek, then you can do a Deoban trek for trekking.

Structure of Rudranath Temple:

Whether it is called the mystery of Rudranath temple or something else, the Shivling established here is no less than a mystery for all. According to the ancient story, the face of Shiva’s bull-like incarnation appeared here, hence it is also known as Swayambhu Shivling.

The Shivling has the shape of a face whose neck is crooked. This Shivling is a natural Shivling whose depth has not been ascertained to date. Devotees from far and wide come here to visit it and seek the blessings of Mahadev.

Pitradhar located in Rudranath Temple:

The trek to Rudranath starts from Sagar village which is 20 km long. At the end of this route comes a holy place called Pitradhar from where the temple is located just 5 kilometers downhill. This Pitradhar has been considered a holy place for the offering of ancestors. It is believed that instead of Gaya, people can offer Pind Daan of their ancestors here. People who come here place stones with the names of their ancestors in Pitradhar and seek their blessings.

Vaitarani River in Rudranath Temple:

According to the Garuda Purana, the soul reaches Yamaloka only after crossing the Vaitarani river on its thirteenth day. The river that flows near the Rudranath temple is also called the Vaitarani river. Apart from this, it is also known as the Baitarni river or Rudraganga. Local people also call it the river of salvation. A stone idol of Lord Shiva/Vishnu is installed in the Vaitarani river. Many people do Pind Daan here too.

The scene around Rudranath Temple:

Around the temple, you will also find many other small temples dedicated to the five Pandavas, Mata Kunti and Mata Draupadi. Apart from this, there are six kunds located around the temple and at some distance, whose names are: