Rudranath Temple

Rudranath is located at an 2286 mts in Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand.This temple is dedicated to lord shiva.The temple is the third temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region. The other temples in the circuit include: Kedarnath and Tungnath to be visited before Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar or Madmaheshwar and Kalpeshwar to be visited after Rudranath.

History :

This temple was constructed in 8th Century.

Legends :

The Rudranath temple is believed to be established by the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Legend has it that the Pandavas came to the Himalayan mountains in search of god Shiva, to redeem them of the sins of killing in the epic Kurukshetra war. God Shiva did not wanted to meet them and escaped in form of a bull in the ground and reentered in parts in the Panch Kedar places: the hump raising in Kedarnath, the arms appearing in Tunganath, the navel and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheswar, the face showing up at Rudranath and the hair and the head appearing in Kalpeshwar.

Temple :

Here Lord shiva is worshipped as Nilkanth Mahadeva.Here first the Vandevi is worshipped. The local belief is that Vandevi protects the area. The Kheshtra is protected by Vandevi or Vandevatas.

Poojas :

Every morning priest perform the Shingar to the idol of Lord Shiva and decorates as a face and removed in the evening.

Festivals :

The temple celebrates an annual fair on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Sravan (July–August) that is mostly on the day of Rakshabandhan. The fair is attended mainly by locals.

In winter a symbolic image of Shiva is brought to Gopeshwar for worship. The Doli Yatra starts from Gopeshwar via Sagar. The Doli Yatris cross Lyuti Bugyal and Panar and finally reach Pitradhar. The worship of ancestors is done here. Then, after crossing Dhalabni Maidan, the Doli or the symbolic image of Shiva, reaches Rudranath.

Best Time To Visit : May to october

Summers (April to August): The climate is very pleasant with around 15 - 20°C

Monsoons (September to November) : This period is good for sight seeing as the hilly panoramic views are very attractive in rains.

Winters (December to March):  chilly days with average minimum touching near 4°C. Minimum can touch sub zero levels.

How to Get Here :

By Bus : Gopeshwar is well connected through road. Rudranath can be accessed by foot from Gopeshwar. Gopeshwar is connected by state buses to Rishikesh, Dehradun, Kotdwara, Haridwar and other hill stations of Kumaon and Garhwal Hills. 

By Train : Nearest railhead at Rishikesh, 215 km away from Rudrarnath.

By Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 230 km from Rudranath.