Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple is located in the Chamoli district of the state of Uttarakhand. This temple is one of the five temples on the Pancha Kedar circuit. Situated at an altitude of 2400 m, this is the only temple accessible throughout the year. Along with the spiritual vibes of the place, this place offers splendid views of the Himalayan peaks and a fantastic aura that captivates your attention as soon as you reach the place.
With cold Air gushing on your face carrying spiritual and devotional vibes, Kalpeshwar Mahadev brings various legends surrounding its origin. The Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple is the heart and soul of this town, with pilgrims and locals offering worship to Lord Mahadev.
Pilgrims from far-flung areas cover the Pancha Kedar circuit and take the blessings of Lord Mahadev. It is also believed that there is an old Kalpa Vriksha here, which grants all the wishes per the Hindu tradition.
The story behind and the Mythology of Kalpeshwar Mahadev
After the Bloodshed of the great war of Mahabharata, Pandavas realized they had indulged in the sins of Brahmahatya, Pitrahatya, and others. So they decided to go on a pilgrimage and worship lord Mahadeva.
Knowing that Pandavas were coming, Lord Mahadev chose to avoid them, so he took the form of a bull(Nandi) and appeared at different places. Bhima identified him but couldn’t do anything about it.
These five places where the Lord appeared with varying body parts are collectively known as Pancha Kedar. The place where the Hair or Jatas appeared is known as Kalpeshwara. The other parts of the Pancha Kedar circuit are, Tunganath, Rudranath, Kedarnath, and Madhyamaheshwara.
Other legends also link this place to the Durvasa Rishi and Agasthya Muni of Hindu origin. It is believed that he meditated here. One of the inscriptions here also tells that Lord Shiva gave a Patra (container) here, which produced 14 gemstones (Ratnas). At the same time, the Samudra Manthan was being performed.
How to reach Kalpeshwar Mahadev
Joshimath is the rendezvous point for three of these Kedar temples, so it is pretty preferential to reach Joshimath by any means you come to Uttarakhand. If you are coming by Air, you must reach the Jolly Grant Airport. You will need to go to Rishikesh by road, either by your vehicle or a hired one; you can reach Joshimath directly.
Joshimath provides a perfect stop to stay, food and rest, so you can sleep and enjoy the local Pohe Bhajiya here. From Joshimath, you can hire either a shared or private jeep to Kalpeshwar Mahadev. If you are coming from your vehicle, make sure you fuel up the car at Helang village, which has the only petrol pump here.
The way and the temple of Kalpeshwar Mahadev
Joshimath to Kalpeshwar is quite a magnificent journey. It offers views of the rolling hills, lush green alpine plains, and clouds and sunshine playing hide and seek on higher altitudes. The wind plays with their hair, and enchanting brooks and endemic flowers greet them along the way. Passing through this picturesque view road, one reaches the Urgam valley, home to one of the Sapta Badri temples. Finally, the path leads to the Devagram village.
This is the nearest place to the Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple where you can have a stay. Though you can ride up to the temple in a vehicle, that way, you would miss the endemic flowers and other things.
If you take a Pagdandi through the Devgram village, you will indeed be passing through the Deva Kedar temple of the town with Nandi awaiting you to whisper your wish in his ears. People plant veggies on their farms in the region. The main harvested crops include Red chilies, Reddish, Cabbage, and Bhang herbs.
You will find Himalayan-style tiny colorful homes with roofs made of stone slabs in the hut-shaped style. Passing through this, you can rejoin the main road we left, taking you to the temple.
Passing this village, a board will show up, letting you know that the Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple is just 300 m away. Then there is a stone inscription about the temple with stories linked to the place. There is an extension bridge that you have to cross to reach the temple. Multiple sources feed the gurgling river.
The key source is a nearby waterfall, and the other is the Hiranavati river nearby. The confluence is called Kalpaganga. Indeed, Ganga has been found everywhere near the Lord Mahadeva. After a few stair steps, one can easily see the Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple. The temple has a courtyard with Yajna Vedi and various primitive old idols of other gods. The idols include those of Lord Hanuman and the Shiva family.
As we mentioned earlier, the Kalpeshwar Mahadev is where the Jatas, or hair of the Lord, got their appearance. There is a huge rock under which this temple is situated. There is an Amrit Kund from which water is filled, with which the Shivalingam is consecrated.
Since Kalpeshwar Mahadev is accessible throughout the year, you might find pilgrims singing bhajans here and enjoying the spiritual vibes and blessings of the Lord. Do Not Forget to participate with them and dance your soul out.
Since the Jatas are worshiped, there is a tradition here that the worship is offered only in a standing position. You’re not allowed to sit inside the temple. Inside the temple is a pujari Ji of the Negi family of Brahmins. They are known as Bhalla in the local language. He will tell you everything about how to worship and the temple’s origins.
Do’s and Dont’s t Kalpeshwar Mahadev
- Coming from your vehicle, make sure you know to drive well on mountainous roads. Otherwise, go with someone who is an expert in such driving.
- Avoid travel during monsoons. There is a good chance for the roads to be destroyed due to landslides.
- Don’t forget water bottles if you decide to trek up, even though it is the easiest.
- Carry your woolens as per your requirement. The climate is excellent, and you don’t want to fall ill.
- You might also want to take your tent to stay out on the hillside.
Best time to travel to Kalpeshwar Mahadev
The best time to travel to Kalpeshwar is from April to October. During this time, the snow clears out, allowing easy access to the temple.
Do not miss the fantastic Kumaoni and Garhwali cuisines. The rich cuisine includes dishes such as Alloo ke Gutte, Gahat, Chainsoo, and Kaapa. Visiting Bhole Baba is considered one of the most virtuous acts in the Hindu religion. Kedarnath is considered to be one of the main char Dhams. To start the tour to Kedarnath, you must visit these temples on the Panch Kedar circuit.
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