Kalpeshwar – Where the Locks of Shiva are Worshipped

Kalpeshwar

Kalpeshwar Temple Uttarakhand is the last and fifth Temple in the list of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit and is the only temple in the holy Panch Kedar that remains open throughout the year. Lord Shiva’s hair is worshiped inside this temple. Lord Shiva is worshiped in Kalp-Peshwar in the form of matted hair and the path to this sacred radiance leads through dense forests and green terraced fields.

There is also an old Kalpavriksha, which is said to be the wish-granting tree in Hindu mythology. Kalp-Peshawar trek starts from the nearest road head of Helong on the Rishikesh-Badrinath road. It is approachable only by 11 km trekking.

Kalpeshwar History and Legend

Kalpeshwar Temple is located in the Chamoli district of Garhwal, Urgam Valley, Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Kalp-Peshawar Temple legend associated with the Pandavas, the protagonists of the epic Mahabharata, is the fifth temple of the Pancha Kedaras (five temples) of the five bodily divine forms of Shiva; The other four temples in the order of their worship are Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, and Madhyamaheshwar Temple.

The epic legend told on the construction of the Panch Kedar temples is that the Pandavas from the epic history of the Mahabharata, while following Lord Shiva to seek his forgiveness for the fratricidal sins committed by them during the Kurukshetra War, realized that Shiva, himself The Pandavas assumed the incognito form of a bull to get away from the Lord.

But when this form of Shiva was seen by Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers, he tried to capture the tail and hind legs of the bull. But the bull went underground in Guptkashi. Thereafter, it reappeared in five different forms: his hump appeared at Kedarnath, his bahu (arm) was seen at Tungnath, his head surfaced at Rudranath, his belly, and the navel was discovered at Madhyamaheshwar and his hair (trace) was divided into Kalp-Peshwar.

Rudranath Temple 2023

Places to See While Visiting the Kalpeshwar Temple

Urgam Village – A Serene Village near Kalp-Peshwar:-

Situated in the picturesque Urgam Valley near Joshimath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Urgam village is a scenic spot at an altitude of about 2100 meters surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas and surrounded by dense forests, farms, and apple orchards. Urgam village is situated in the Urgam valley which is far away from the modern lifestyle and takes you to a world of its own.

The place is famous for the ancient Shiva temple, Kalp-Peshwar Temple, which is one of the revered Panch Kedars. Kalp-Peshwar Dham is situated just 2 km ahead of Urgam village.

Bansi Narayan Temple:- Located in the Urgam Valley in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, the Bansi Narayan Temple is a single-structure 8th-century temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. This temple is located 10 km ahead of Bansa, the last village of Urgam village. Hence, there are no human settlements around the temple. As the temple is situated at an altitude of about 3600 m, it is surrounded by the Himalayan range of Nanda Devi and surrounded by dense forests of oak and rhododendron.

Best Time to Visit Kalpeshwar Panch Kedar

Kalpeshwar Weather

Kalpeshwar in Summers (April to August):- are very pleasant with a moderate climate, with an average of around 15°C. Summers is ideal for all sightseeing, temple visit, and also for visiting nearby attractions.

Kalpeshwar in Monsoons (September to November):- are accompanied by scanty rains. This period is good for sightseeing as the hilly panoramic views are very attractive in rain.

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

Best Months To Visit Kalpeshwar:- May, June, September, and October.

How to Reach Kalpeshwar

By Road:-

The last point where the road network is connected is Urgam village, from there you have to complete an easy grade trek of about 6 km. You can get taxis to Urgam or Joshimath from major destinations in Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, and Joshimath. The total distance Rishikesh to Kalpeshwar is 251 km via NH 7

By Rail:-

The nearest railway station to Kalpeshwar is Rishikesh. Rishikesh to Urgam village distance is 120 km. from there you can catch a taxi or Uttarakhand Transport Corporation bus.

“The railway project from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag is under construction, after a few years, the nearest railway station to Kalp-Peshwar or any part of Chamoli will be in Siwai, Karnaprayag. After there, you can book a cab to reach the destination.”

By Air:-

The nearest Airport to Kalpeshwar is Jolly Grant airport. But don’t worry you can cover your journey from Dehradun to Gauchar via helicopter and then book a cab from Gauchar to Kalp-Peshwar. It is the fastest way to reach Kalp-Peshwar.

Kalpeshwar to Rudranath Trek

This trek is one of the less frequented pilgrimages in Uttarakhand and that is the reason that has saved its characteristic magnificence in place. The trail goes through well-supporting towns that essentially rely on vegetation. This trek offers a virgin trail with various courses to approach. While most people start this circuit from Helang, it can likewise start from Saggar and Mandal close to Gopeshwar.

Both Kalp-Peshwar and Rudranath are part of Panch Kedar temples in addition to Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, and Tungnath.
Region: Garhwal Himalayas
Duration: 6 Days
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Total Trekking Distance: 60 km (approx)
Highest Altitude during trek: 4000 mts

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