Kalpeshwar Temple - One among Panch Kedar - CHAR DHAM DESTINATIONS

Kalpeshwar is a sacred Hindu temple located at an elevation of around 2200 meters above sea level in the picturesque town of Ugram valley in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The kalpeshwar temple is devoted to the lord Shiva. Kalpeshwar temple is the last temple in the pilgrimage circuit of panch kedar temples (Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhmaheshwar).

The lord Shiva worshipped here in the form of matted hair. Lord Shiva is also known as “Jatadhar” or “Jateshwar” because he has very long matted hairs. The kalpeshwar temple is the only temple from the list of panch kedar temples which remains open throughout the year, and all other temples from panch kedar circuit remain close for nearly six months. The Kalpeshwar temple has very significant and place in heart of lord Shiva devotees. Thousands of Shiva’s devotees visit this temple throughout the year.

This temple is situated at a very splendid place and the journey to reach here is much more adventurous and offers astonishing and stunning view of green valleys and high altitude, sky kissing mountains. It has a 10 km long trekking trail but it also has a drivable road till ugram valley wherefrom the trekking is for just 1 kilometer.

Kalpeshwar Temple is a unique and beautiful temple located in the heart of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and is revered for its religious significance, natural beauty, and cultural significance.

Mythology of Kalpeshwar

According to the ancient legends the kalpeshwar temple is related to the Pandavas, when they were chasing lord Shiva to seek their pardon for the liquidator sins they have committed in the war of kurukshetra, when lord Shiva came to know this he didn’t want to appear in front of Pandava brothers so he took the form of a bull and when Bhima one of the brothers of Pandavas wanted to catch him, he ran towards the bull formed Shiva, then the bull vanished at Guptkashi and appeared at five other places in five different forms of Human body parts: Shiva’s Head appeared at Rudranath, hump at Kedanath, arms appeared at Tungnath, the madhyamheshwar as the name suggests the mid part stomach and navel were surfaced here, and his jata (matted hairs) emerged at Kalpeshwar. So the pandavas had to visit all of these places (Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar and kalpeshwar) to meet lord Shiva for their atonement. The temple of kalpeshwar was built and named by Pandavas.

Rudranath Temple: Rudranath Temple is another important pilgrimage site located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is one of the Panch Kedar temples, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located at an elevation of 2,286 meters above sea level and can only be reached by trekking. The trek to Rudranath Temple is a challenging one, but the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys make it worth the effort.

Nanda Devi National Park: Nanda Devi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located near Kalpeshwar. The park is famous for its biodiversity and is home to several rare and endangered species of animals and plants. The park is also home to Nanda Devi, the second-highest peak in India. Visitors to the park can go trekking, camping, and wildlife spotting.

Badrinath Temple: Badrinath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples in India, and is located near Kalpeshwar. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The temple is located at an elevation of 3,133 meters above sea level and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Valley of Flowers National Park: The Valley of Flowers National Park is another UNESCO World Heritage site located near Kalpeshwar. The park is famous for its stunning natural beauty, and is home to several species of rare and endangered plants. The park is open to visitors from June to October, and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Auli: Auli is a popular ski resort located near Kalpeshwar. The resort is located at an elevation of 2,800 meters above sea level and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors to Auli can go skiing, snowboarding, and trekking.

Hemkund Sahib: Hemkund Sahib is a Sikh pilgrimage site located near Kalpeshwar. The site is located at an elevation of 4,632 meters above sea level and can only be reached by trekking. The site is famous for its beautiful lake, Hemkund, and the Sikh gurudwara located nearby.

Joshimath: Joshimath is a small town located near Kalpeshwar. The town is famous for its beautiful temples, and is a popular destination for religious tourists. Visitors to Joshimath can also go trekking and camping in the surrounding mountains.

Kalpeshwar Temple is situated in a region of Uttarakhand that is home to several famous pilgrimage sites, national parks, and ski resorts. Visitors to Kalpeshwar can explore the natural beauty and cultural diversity of the region by visiting these nearby places.

This temple is situated in the ugram valley of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand state and this town is connected with most of the major cities of Uttarakhand with roads.

By Road: One can visit Kalpeshwar by car but the car should have a good ground clearance because the roads till lari village is very good but after that the roads are not in good condition to drive. One can visit kalpeshwar by walk from here. The kalpeshwar temple is situated around 2 km away from here.

By Rail: The nearest railway station here are Haridwar & Rishikesh railway station wherefrom one can hire a cab and drive to visit Kalpeshwar.

By Air: the nearest airport here is Dehradun airport which situated around 260 km away from kalpeshwar temple from there one can hire any cab to visit Kalpeshwar.

This lord Shiva devoted temple kalpeshwar remains open throughout the year for devotees. One can visit this temple whenever they wants but there are also some time when devotees should avoid this place to visit:

Summer: Summers are the best time to visit the kalpeshwar temple because the roads remain clear and also there isn’t any chances for landslides. So summers are very good time to visit kalpeshwar temple and take blessings from lord Shiva.

Monsoon: The monsoon weather is not a good time to visit kalpeshwar temple, because the chances of landslides remain high so plan your tour accordingly.

Winter: Winters are also a good time not as summer but one can visit kalpeshwar temple during winter. Carry woolen clothes.