About Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
The Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple is located in the Chamoli district of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the Panch Kedars, number fifth among the Panch Kedars. It is located 2134 meters above sea level. The Kalpeshwar temple, which is a modest one, is located in the Kalpaganga valley. It is thought that Lord Shiva’s hair debuted here. Jata is a Hindi word that means “hair.” For this reason, Lord Shiva’s hair is revered in this shrine. Another name for Lord Shiva is Jatadhar or Jateshwar.
Why is the famous Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
Kalpeshwar is situated in the Kalpaganga valley, Kalpaganga was called by the name Hiranyavati in ancient times. Durbasa Bhoomi is the land to its right, where there is a Dhyan Badri temple. There is an ancient cave in Kalpeshwar. Within which the self-styled Shivling is seated. Which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and here the hair of Lord Shankar is worshipped. Anadinath Kalpeshwar Mahadev is another name for this temple. There is a Kalwar Kund near this temple, the water of this pool is always clean and travelers take water from here. Devotees get freedom from many diseases by drinking this holy water. Here sages use this holy water to give water to Lord Shiva. The Kalpeshwar road passes through a cave. To reach the temple, one has to walk about a kilometer inside the cave, where pilgrims worship the hair of Lord Shiva. Devotees from far and wide come and bow down to this temple of Lord Shiva.
History and Mythology of Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
This temple is thought to have been constructed by the Pandavas. This is the place where, after the war of Mahabharata, the victorious Pandavas, suffering from self-aggrandizement of killing their relatives in the war, set out on a journey to see Lord Shiva get rid of this sin. The Pandavas first reached Kashi. Wished for Shiva’s blessings, but Lord Shiva was not inclined to give his darshan to him. Considering the Pandavas guilty of murder, Shiva did not want to give darshan to the Pandavas. The Pandavas turned to Kedar. Seeing the Pandavas coming. Lord Shankar got lost in Guptkashi. After that, after going some distance, Mahadev took the form of a bull out of a desire not to have darshan and went and got along with other animals. Kunti’s son Bhima, taking a huge form, spread his feet on two mountains, from under which other animals came out, but the bull like Shiva was not ready to go from under his feet. Bhima pounced on the bull, but Shiva’s bull started to meditate in the marshy land. Then Bhima grabbed the bull’s back. The bull-back figure of Lord Shiva is worshiped in Kedarnath in pind form. It is said that when Lord Shiva vanished in the form of a bull, the upper part of his torso appeared in Kathmandu, where the Pashupatinath temple is located. In Tungnath, the arms of Shiva, in Madmaheshwar, the navel, in Rudranath, and in Kalpeshwar, the face and the Jata. Panch Kedar is the name given to these five locations.
A place to see near Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
Kalpeshwar has two tourist attractions where visitors can spend their free time. Here is a list of all the Kalpeshwar sightseeing options that you should visit and plan your schedule around. Discover Kalpeshwar’s hidden gems with this well-researched list, and learn about the most happening places, things to do, and famous picnic spots for a memorable vacation in Kalpeshwar.
Urgam Village
The area is well-known for its ancient Shiva temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, which is one of the Panch Kedars. Kalpeshwar Mandir is only 2 kilometers from Urgam Village.
Urgam Village, located in the picturesque Urgam Valley near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, is a picturesque hamlet tucked at an elevation of about 2100 mts. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas and surrounded by dense forests, farmlands, and apple orchards, Urgam Village is located in Urgam Valley, which is far removed from modern life and transports you to another world.
Bansi Narayan Mandir
The temple, which is located at an altitude of about 3600 meters, is surrounded by the Himalayan range of Nanda Devi and is surrounded by dense forests of oak and rhododendrons.
Bansi Narayan Temple is a single-structure temple dedicated to Lord Krishna that is located in Urgam Valley in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. The temple is located 10 kilometers ahead of Bansa, the final village in Urgam Village. As a result, there are no human settlements near the temple.
How to reach Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
By Train:- The nearest railway station is Ramnagar, which is at a distance of 233 kms. Rishikesh Railway Station is at a distance of 247 kms.
By Air:- The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, located at a distance of about 266 kms.
By Bus:- Bus services are also available from Rishikesh, Dehradun, and Haridwar to reach Kalpeshwar.
Location
Travel Tips for Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
- When traveling during the monsoon season, it is best to consult with local authorities, tour guides, or tour operators about the weather and road conditions before embarking on your journey.
- The temple usually opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM, and you can receive the divine blessing of morning Aarti at 6 AM and evening Aarti at 6.30 PM.
- Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar that is accessible year-round.
- Inside the temple, especially in the sanctum sanctorum, photography may be prohibited. Please follow the guidelines outlined by temple officials and respect the temple’s sanctity.
- There isn’t much to see and do in Kalpeshwar. Rudranath Temple is accessible by trek from Kalpeshwar. Check out the Kalpeshwar to Rudranath trek route.
