Letstravail
Travel planning content.
Hindu
panch kedar
2,286 m
Peak season
Rudranath Temple
Shiva (Rudranath)
Location
Rudranath, Uttarakhand
Darshan
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Best time
October, November, December
Difficulty
challenging
Est. cost / person
₹7,000
About Rudranath Temple
Rudranath (2,286 m) is the fourth Panch Kedar, where the face (mukha) of Lord Shiva is worshipped in a natural rock formation. It is considered the most dramatic of the Panch Kedar — a remote cliff sanctuary reached by a 24 km trek through dense forests and alpine meadows from Sagar village. The approach passes through the magical Ansuya Devi forest and the Pitar Dhar meadow, with stunning views of the Nanda Devi massif. The path is dotted with a remarkable number of natural rock lingams and carved panels, revealing centuries of Shaiva pilgrimage.
One of the five Panch Kedar shrines established by the Pandavas. The location ensures that at Rudranath one face of Shiva is worshipped, while the corresponding form at Pashupatinath, Nepal, completes the panchayatana. Shankaracharya passed through and established the worship.
Darshan & Aarti
Darshan timings
- · 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
🚌 How to reach
By Air
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (220 km)
Taxi to Gopeshwar ~7 hrs; then 1 hr drive to Sagar; then 2-day trek.
By Rail
Rishikesh (220 km)
Taxi from Rishikesh to Gopeshwar/Sagar ~6 hrs.
By Road
Road to Sagar village via Gopeshwar; then 24 km trek.
- Gopeshwar: 5 km · ~0.25h · to Sagar village; then 24 km trek
- Rishikesh: 220 km · ~6h · via Devprayag–Chamoli–Gopeshwar
Last mile: Trek from Sagar (7 km east of Gopeshwar). 2-day trek with campsites at Puyyana and Pitradhar. Guide recommended.
Where to stay
Estimated expense (per person)
| Transport | ₹2,800 |
| Stay | ₹3,000 |
| Meals and local travel | ₹1,200 |
| Total | ₹7,000 |
Estimated for a short 2-day pilgrimage.
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