Rudranath trek is a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva, located in the Garhwal Himalayan Range in Chamoli Uttarakhand, India. Located at 3,600 meters (11,800 ft) above sea level, it is also considered the toughest Kedar out of the five. It is a natural rock temple situated within a dense forest of rhododendron dwarfs and Alpine pastures. The temple is the Fourth temple in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. Only in this temple, you can see the face of lord shiva. it is believed that lord Shiva resides here in his most vigorous form and every year thousand of devotees come here to perform rituals and worship the almighty. Apart from its religious popularity, this trek is a breathtaking adventure for trek lovers.
The face (Mukha) of God Shiva is worshipped as "Neelakantha Mahadeva" here. The trek starts from Sagar Village which is approximately 5 km away from Gopeshwar. The other trek starts from Mandal which is 12 km away from Gopeshwar. This trek goes through the Anusuya Devi Temple. The trek is very hard with a distance of approximately 24 km.
The trek starts from Sagar village and covers a distance of approximately 24 kilometers. It takes around 4-5 days to complete the trek, depending on the pace of the trekker. The trek passes through dense forests, gushing streams, and picturesque meadows. The trail is quite challenging and requires a good level of fitness and stamina. Trekkers need to be prepared for steep ascents and descents, rocky terrain, and variable weather conditions. The highest point of the trek is Rudranath temple, which is located at an altitude of 3,880 meters above sea level.
Rudranath temple is one of the five temples that form the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva's face appeared during the ancient mythological tale of Mahabharata. The temple is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks, making it a must-visit destination for both religious and nature enthusiasts.
The Holy Place "Rudranath"
Some believe that offering a pind to ancestors here equals offering a hundred million at the holy city of Gaya. The name "Rudranath", literally means, "Him who is Angry." The mountain cave of Rudranath was modified into the temple we see today. There are different kunds nearby the temple which are Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund, Manas Kund, Vaitarani, Baitarani, and Rudraganga Rivers. Rudranath temple is open only for 6 months (May to October). In the winter season, it Comes to Gopinath temple Gopeshwar.
The Best time to visit this trek :
1. Mid-May to Mid-June.
2. Mid-July to October. (This time the whole trek is full of many flowers)
Overall, the Rudranath trek is an unforgettable experience that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and spiritual significance. It is recommended to plan the trek during the summer months of May to June or in the post-monsoon season from September to November for the best experience.
Board an early bus from Rishikesh to Gopeshwar directly or up to Chamoli and then hire a shared taxi to Gopeshwar. Gopeshwar is the headquarters for the Chamoli district, so it would be easy to get a bus. Having a majestic view of valleys and the river throughout the day you will approximately cover 215kms and reach the meeting point by the evening. Today’s stay will be here only so you can grab all the last-minute things and also visit the Gopinath Temple which is also the winter abode of Rudranath Mahadev.
As we start our journey make sure you are all geared up and ready for a long day hike, keep your raincoats close because it can rain anytime. From Gopeshwar we will drive to Sagar village which is 5kms from the town. Strolling through this old-built hamlet we will reach Pung Bugyal in 2 hours. Right in front of us would be a gigantic mountain that we would climb today. The trail ahead is full of adventure and a steep climb with damp forests and water sources throughout. Today we will walk approximately 10 km, so we would have enough time to sit and relax in between if we keep our speed steady. On reaching Panaar Bugyal you would be mesmerized by the ethereal beauty of the place, it is a stretched lush green grassland with peaks to be seen from all over. The fresh cool breeze will fill your body with utmost satisfaction. We will camp here and enjoy nature at its best.
After spending the night at Panaar and having a cheerful morning with amazing views we will head towards the main temple which is 8 km from here. We can keep our bags and things at our campsite and Panaar and walk easily, also today would be an easy hike as compared to the previous day. We will reach our destination within 2 hours if we walk steadily. Sit at the temple, talk to the priests, breathe and leave all your worries right where you are. Take pictures and be ready to hike downhill up to Sagar village.
We will have our lunch at Panaar and immediately leave for Sagar. By the evening we will reach back to Gopeshwar and stay there.
You can also visit Chopta Tungnath on your way back if you take another route from Gopeshwar. We would have loved to have you with us and will be glad to see you soon again on some other adventure.
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@RajeshNegi, 2023-02-15 08:33:47
The Rudranath Temple trek was an unforgettable experience that I will always remember. The route was challenging, but the views were stunning and the temple itself was a marvel of architecture and beauty. Highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for an adventure that nourishes the soul.
@NishaK, 2023-02-15 08:33:26
The Rudranath Temple trek was an incredible experience that I will always cherish. The trek was challenging but definitely doable, and the beauty of the surrounding landscape made every step worth it. The temple itself was awe-inspiring and I felt truly blessed to have visited.
KunalSingh, 2023-02-15 08:33:03
The Rudranath Temple trek was a truly spiritual journey. The trek was demanding, but the scenery was gorgeous and the sense of peace at the temple was unmatched. Highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.
Meera Bam, 2023-02-15 08:32:43
The trek to Rudranath Temple was an unforgettable adventure! The trail was challenging at times, but the scenery and views were absolutely breathtaking. The temple itself was truly magnificent and I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to experience it.
SujitB, 2023-02-15 08:32:26
I had the most incredible experience trekking to Rudranath Temple! The route was challenging but definitely worth it as the scenery was stunning. The temple itself is a true marvel and I felt a sense of serenity just being there. Highly recommended! - Sujit B
Ankit bhandari, 2022-09-23 10:18:15
Great experience with firstrek. nice and cooperative team. this trek is so beautiful, awesome sceneries , the fields of grass and full of flowers.
Gaurang Damani, 2022-06-20 08:33:45
Rudraprayag is the confluence of 2 rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini, both tributaries of Ganga. Rudranath is a temple, which is a part of the Panch Kedar circuit. There are 3 ways to reach Rudranath temple: A> From Kalpeshwar temple/ Devgram, it is a 12 km trek to Dumak, another 13 km trek to Panar and final 8 km trek to Rudranath B> It is also possible to reach from Saggar, on the Kund-Chopta-Mandal-Saggar-Gopeshwar-Chamoli Road. From Saggar it is 12 km to Panar and then final 8 km to Rudranath (via Pitradhar and Panch Ganga). This route is very tough through a dense forest. But climbing up may be slightly better option than coming down from here. There are quite a few dhabas on this route. These dhabas provide good food and basic overnight staying facilities and enclosed toilets. On the way we hear the chirping of birds, noise of the crickets and cicadas, rustling of leaves by the langurs. The gurgling waterfalls add to the surreal experience. Drinking water directly from the fresh water streams is rejuvenating. The 360 degree Himalayan view from Panar will remain etched in my memory forever. The elegant Monal bird and grazing cattle add to the beauty. Pitradhar is a place where our forefathers are said to have departed for the other realms. There is a small unattended shrine here. C> Again on the Kund-Chopta-Mandal-Saggar-Gopeshwar-Chamoli Road, one can climb from Mandal. This is 5 km trek to Anusuya Devi temple and another 11 km trek to Panch Ganga and final 3 km to Rudranath temple. After Anusuya Devi, this track is isolated. But this route is good for trekking down, through the Naola pass which is around 14,000 ft above MSL. It is unique sight to see mountain goats on precarious slopes. We even sight a viper snake. We did have to cross a knee-deep Ganga tributary, as a bridge was broken. The view from Rudranath temple is stupendous. We see a wide range of icy Himalayan mountain peaks. Nanda Devi and Kamet peaks look very enticing, specially at sunrise. Taking a guide along for the entire Rudranath trip is highly recommended, as it is the toughest trek a pilgrim may ever do!
Yashwant Jaiswal, 2022-06-20 08:33:06
Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 km from Srinagar (Garhwal). Rudra Prayag is a small town that is located in the state of Uttarakhand and in the district of Rudraprayag. The town is situated at the confluence of the River Alaknanda and River Mandakini. It has a special religious significance for many people as well. It is said that the place where the two rivers meet resembles two sisters embracing each other and there is a unique beauty about the place. Many visitors travel to the place to witness this phenomenon every year. The entire area is surrounded by immense beauty and one can see many lakes, glaciers, rivers and streams here. There are a few temples that are located in the town as well and these are a must visit while travelling to Rudra Prayag City Facts State: Uttarakhand District: Rudra Prayag Famous for/as: Pilgrim Languages: Hindi Best Season: Oct - Mar Weather: Summer 22 to 35°C Winter: 15 to 25°C Altitude: 895 m Pincode: 246174 STD code: 01364 Distances Delhi to Rudra Prayag: 357 km Chandigarh to Rudra Prayag: 359 km Rishikesh to Rudra Prayag: 150 km Corbett National Park to Rudra Prayag: 163 km Haridwar to Rudra Prayag: 171 km The climate of the town is pleasant for many months of the year, especially during the summer season and this is one of the best times to visit the place. The heat is never extreme in the town
PraveenRao, 2022-06-20 08:32:20
Rudranath is 4th place of Panch Kedar Darshan after kedarnath/MadhyaMaheshwar/Tunganath. It is one of the toughest trek of all Kedar where Face of Lord Shiva is worshiped. There exist 3 route to reach Rudranath. 1. Gopeshwar- Saggar(by vehicle 4 Km) - (By trek) 18 Km Paner- Rudranath. 2. Urgam - Devgram-Dhakwani_ Paner- Rudranath. 3. Mandal- Anasuya Devi- panchganga-rudranath, Of all the three route, only route-1, one can go without Guide. Route-2 is very narrow route and steep not frequented by pilgrimage. route -3 is longer and need min 4 days from Urgam. But Kalpeshwar Mahadev the 5th Panch Kedar is near by just 1 Km from URgam by road. After scanning few details, reached Gopeshwar on 2nd Morning at 10 AM, dumped the excess luggage in GMVNL guest house which just front on main bus stand. With few warm cloth and other thing we took an vehicle up to the Saggar village it is just 3 Km from Gopeshwar. started tredk at 10:30 AM. The starting point is near Hotel Rudra on Main road and is well demarcated by Welcome Mantap. This is the route to be followed for Ustav moorti during opening and closing. It is exactly 18 Km from this point up to Rudranath Temple. The first 1.5 Km is going through Village/ Agricultural Field with moderate gradient and paved with concrete. At 1.5 Km there is a shop for juice/ Tea/ Biscuts etc. one can take rest here for a while. For normal person it takes about 1.5 hrs to reach here. From here upto Pana Bugyal is approx 1 Km and road is unpaved and un even. and gradient keep increasing. with bush on either side. By the time we reached Pana Bugyal it was around 12 30PM, There is a tent shed/ accommodation for night stay is available. (Rs 300 /head ) From here steep gradient starts and road is full of un