Rudranath holds special importance in the hearts of Lord Shiva's devotees. Among the 'Panch Kedar' (Rudranath, Kedarnath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar), Rudranath is a remote temple situated in the Garhwal region of the Chamoli District in Uttarakhand. The site is surrounded by the lofty Garhwal Himalayan Mountains and is located at an elevation of 3600 m. This significant Hindu shrine is believed to have been built in the 8th Century AD and is said to house the face of Lord Shiva. In contrast, other parts of his bull incarnation, such as the hump, are in Kedarnath; arms in Tungnath, navel, and stomach in Madhyamaheshwar, and the hair and head in Kalpeshwar. Trekkers must traverse through a challenging trail to reach this pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand.
Plan your Rudranath Temple tour with and avail the best holiday deals on the Tungnath Temple tour package, Panch Kedar Yatra tour package, and Uttarakhand religious tour packages. Book a customized package today and experience the best of Panch Kedar at the most competitive prices tailored to your requirements. For authentic information about Rudranath Dham, explore our travel guide below. It provides insights on how to best explore the place during your visit, including its history, religious significance, optimal time to visit, opening and closing dates, accommodation options, as well as how to reach the destination.
An important pilgrimage destination for the followers of Lord Shiva, the Rudranath Temple is part of the Panch Kedar Yatra circuit that devotees undertake each year in his worship. Panch Kedar are a set of five temples lying in Uttarakhand that are dedicated to Lord Shiva and include the temples of Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. Located in the Chamoli district of the state, the Rudranath Temple lies among the beautiful regions of the Garhwal Himalayas at a mesmerizing height of 7,512 ft and offers a sense of peace and calm being surrounded by the scenic landscape of Uttarakhand. With an entrancing view of the Himalayan ranges of Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, and Trishul, this temple is one that must be visited on a temple tour of Uttarakhand.
When it comes to the history of the Rudranath Temple, it is an interesting one. According to a popular legend, it was after the war at Kurukshetra that the Pandavas were overburdened with guilt about the bloodshed that occurred by their hands. In an act of repentance, they decided to seek out Lord Shiva, who chose to hide from them as he could not unsee the barbarous atrocities that were committed by the Pandavas, and in order to do so he took the form of a bull, but was recognized by one of the brothers. In an attempt to hide from them, Lord Shiva manifested in five different places of the Garhwal region, in the form of the bull. The places where he appeared as a bull are where the Panch Kedar stand today built by the Pandavas, and are categorized by the different parts of him that were seen by the brothers. Kedarnath is where the hump showed up, Tungnath is where his arms were seen, Rudranath showed his face, Madhyamaheshwar showed his stomach, and at Kalpeshwar his hair.
Forming a part of the Panch Kedar Temples, the Rudranath Temple is an important pilgrimage destination for the Shaivites. Highly revered by his followers, visiting the Rudranath Temple is incomplete without visiting the other temples that form the Panch Kedar circuit and include, Kedarnath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. A visit to these temples is believed to be the most important pilgrimage for Shaivites, since these are places where Lord Shiva himself manifested. Situated among the panoramic Himalayan ranges, the Rudranath Temple is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the soul, a visit to which is something one should not miss out on.
Since the Rudranath Temple is located in the region of the Garhwal Himalayas, it experiences extremely cold weather and heavy snowfall, due to which the temple remains closed during the winter months. During the time of the closure of the temple, the idol of Lord Shiva is moved to the Gopinath Temple at Gopeshwar in the district with a religious ceremony.
The closing and opening dates of the Rudranath Temple are as follows:
The pilgrimage site of Rudranath Temple is surely a mesmerizing site but it is not all that the region has to offer. There are some beautiful places that one must explore on a visit to the temple.
Homestays near the Rudranath Temple are the most popular choice of accommodation that is preferred by devotees visiting the temple for a pilgrimage. Other accommodations include a Dharamshala stay which is maintained by the temple’s committees, which have a limited number of options. Apart from these, you can also find places to stay at Urgam, Sagar, Lyuti Bugyal and Panar. You can also opt to stay in camps or tents near the Rudranath Temple, if you are one for camping.
Since the Rudranath temple remains open during the months of May to October, there are only a handful of months to visit the temple. It is advisable to visit the temple during the months of May, June, September and October, as it is the most pleasant time of the year for a visit to Uttarakhand. The state experiences heavy rains and landslides during the months of July and August due to the monsoon and hence it is advisable to avoid traveling to the state during this time.
The best time to visit Rudranath Temple is during the months of May, June, September, and October.
Sagar Village is the village situated the closest to the Rudranath Temple, lying at a distance of 5 km.
The nearest railway station to Rudranath Temple is Rishikesh Railway Station at a distance of 241 km.
The Panch Kedar Temples in Uttarakhand include:
The trek to the Rudranath Temple is of moderate intensity with some challenging paths, due to the high altitude and the rough terrains of the region. The sight of the temple at the end of the trek is surely a mesmerizing experience that will heal your tired body and make for the perfect reward.
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