Kalpeshwar Temple Trek
TREK DIFFICULTY
Easy
TREK DURATION
3 Days
HIGHEST ALTITUDE
7,217 feet (2,200 meters)
GROUP SIZE
12
TREK DISTANCE
2 Km
BASECAMP
Kalpeshwar Temple, Uttarakhand
BEST TIME
All Year
PICKUP POINT
Dehradun (Prince Chowk)
Kalpeshwar Temple Trek Overview
In Uttarakhand, there are the Panch Kedar, which is five holy temples of Lord Shiva - Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. The Kalpeshwar temple is near the Kalpganga river at an altitude of 2,200m. This temple is located in the Urgam Valley of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. The way to the temple is through lush forests and apple orchards that give calmness. This temple is unique because it is the one of the Panch Kedar temple that remains open throughout the year. This temple is not a stone structure, it is made in a natural cave, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in a small place (Grabha-girha). To reach this temple from the last stretch, there’s a 2 km walk from Urgam village. To experience spirituality, it is very easily accessible.
Mythological Belief Of Kalpeshwar
Kalpeshwar is one of the five spiritual temples of the Panch Kedar, all of which are of Lord Shiva. The story of Panch Kedar is of the Mahabharat period. After the great Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas were burdened with guilt for the destruction they had caused. They went to seek Lord Shiva’s forgiveness. But Shiva, still upset, did not want to meet them. He took the form of a bull and disappeared into the ground at Kedarnath.
What followed was divine—parts of his body appeared at five different places in the Himalayas. The hump of the bull rose at Kedarnath, his arms at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, his stomach at Madhyamaheshwar, and his matted hair—his jata—at Kalpeshwar.
Lord Shiva is worshipped as a Jatadhari at the Kalpeshwar. Jatadhari is Shiva with tangled, twisted, and thick hair. Those locks of hair show his eternal, untamed energy—the spirit of an ascetic who holds the universe within his silence. It is believed that if you bow with devotion, it cleanses your energy.
Why Visit Kalpeshwar Temple?
Among all other Panch Kedar shrines, Kalpeshwar remains open all year and is also very peaceful due to fewer crowds. This temple is structured in a natural cave, and the temple is all surrounded by forests and villages, and the temple is near the confluence of the Alknanda and the Kalpganga, and one can spend more time with Lord Shiva. For anyone who craves silence and wants to connect with Shiva and the Himalayas.
Best time to visit Kalpeshwar Temple
The best time to visit Kalpeshwar Temple is between May and October, which is also the main pilgrimage season. During these months, the weather stays pleasant and the trekking path remains open. If you plan your visit in May or June, you’ll find comfortable temperatures. If you go after the monsoon, in September or October, you’ll be able to enjoy clear skies and pleasant weather.
It’s advisable to avoid traveling here in winter (November to April), because of heavy snowfall; the route might get blocked, which can make the journey a struggle to reach the temple. The monsoon months (July to September) are also not ideal because of landslides and heavy rainfall, which can make the journey risky.
How to Reach Kalpeshwar Temple
To reach Kalpeshwar Temple, there is a combination of a long drive and a small walk. One-way trips start from Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. Here’s a general guide to reach:
By train, flight, and road
By train, you can come to the Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh railway stations. And the drive to Kalpeshwar from Haridwar is 271 km, from Dehradun it is 286 km, and from Rishikesh it is 248 km.
Nearest airport
- The nearest railway station for Kalpnath is Rishikesh, which is 251 km from Kalpeshwar.
- The nearest airport for Kalpnath is Jolly Grant Dehradun, which is 265 km from Kalpnath.
Day 1: Dehradun/Rishikeash to Chamoli
Day 2: Chamoli to kalpeshwer, back to Chamoli
Day 3: Chamoli to rishikeash/Dehradun
- Visit Kalpeshwar Temple - worship Lord Shiva as Jatadhari and meditate to connect.
- Explore Urgam Valley - Roam around greenery and feel the moment.
- Join Maha Shivaratri - If you plan on Maha Shivaratri, then you can explore the culture and Gharwali festivities.
- Photography - Capture the beauty of Kalpeshwar.
- Day trip to Joshimath - explore Narsingh Temple and enjoy Himalayan views.
- Meet the local community - visit the village and taste their local food and interact with people.
Day 1: Dehradun/Rishikeash to Chamoli
Arrival at Dehradun/Haridwar/Rishikesh and drive to Chamoli 8-9 hours, overnight stay in homestay/hotel
Here, we will get to cross 4 prayags:
- Devprayag - where the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda to officially form the holy Ganga.
- Rudraprayag - where the Mandakini merges with the Alaknanda.
- Karnaprayag - where the Pindar River joins the Alaknanda.
- Nandaprayag - where the Nandakini River meets the Alaknanda.
Day 2: Drive to Kalpeshwar from Chamoli and back to Chamoli.
Day 3: Departure from Chamoli to Dehradun
The best time to visit Kalpeshwar Temple is from May to October:
- May to June: The weather is nice, and the environment is lush and verdant.
- September to October: After the monsoon, the skies are clear, and the sceneries are bright.
- Avoid this time of year (July to September) since the trails are more likely to be slippery and landslides are more likely to happen.
- Winter (November to April): Heavy snow makes the trails impossible to walk on.
Usually, the trek includes both driving and a brief hike.
- Reach to a big hub: First, go to Rishikesh or Haridwar, which are easy to reach there by train and road. Rishikesh is the closest big train station, and Jolly Grant in Dehradun is the closest airport.
- Getting to the trailhead: You can take a bus or shared taxi from Rishikesh to Helang on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway.
- To go to Urgam Valley, take a local shared taxi from Helang to either Urgam village or Devgram village. This is where the last short trek to the temple begins. The road now goes all the way to Devgram, which makes the hike much shorter.
Hiring any trekking agency or local guide is a good idea, even though it's not strictly necessary because the final approach is short and simple. Guides can help you learn about the history and culture of the Urgam Valley and keep you safe.
There are a number of homestays and guesthouses in the villages of Urgam and Devgram, which are not far from the temple. It is best to book ahead of time, especially during the busiest times for pilgrims.
- You should bring sturdy hiking shoes to make the trek more comfortable.
- Wear warm clothes, especially at night and at higher altitudes.
- A waterproof jacket or poncho to keep you dry in the rain.
- A kit for first aid.
- Snacks and water for the trek.
- Things you need, like a torch and a power bank, are important, especially if you're staying overnight at a homestay.
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