Sagar · Uttarakhand
Sri Rudranath Mahadev Temple — Sagar Trek, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand
Rudranath — third Kedar (fourth in Panch Kedar sequence); the manifestation site of Shiva's face (mukha-arvinda); Nilkanth Mahadeva
अन्य नाम: Rudranath · Nilkanth Mahadeva · Mukha-Kedar
इस मन्दिर की विशेषता
Sri Rudranath Mahadev — per the Pandava Panch Kedar narrative, Shiva's face (mukha-arvinda) emerged here; a swayambhu ~3-foot natural rock projection in the form of a face; gold ornaments cover the eyes and upturned moustaches; worshipped as Nilkanth Mahadeva; in winter the Utsav Murti is moved to the Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar
Swayambhu natural rock-face form (unique mukha-iconography among the Panch Kedar); daily nightly unveiling for darshan
सम्प्रदाय: Shaiva — Pandava Panch Kedar tradition; priesthood is the Bhatt and Tiwari Brahmins of Gopeshwar
After the Kurukshetra war the Pandavas sought Shiva's forgiveness for gotra-hatya and brahma-hatya; Shiva eluded them — Kashi → Guptkashi → Kedarkhetra; took bull (Nandi) form; Bhima identified him; the bull dissolved into the earth and re-emerged at 5 sites; at Rudranath the face emerged
06:00 (open season May-October; morning aarti 06:00-08:00) से 19:30 (open season; evening aarti 18:30-19:30) तक
विशेष नियम: Trek-only access (~20-22 km from Sagar); toughest of the Panch Kedar treks; overnight halts at Panar/Lyuti Bugyal; 3-day round trip recommended; avoid monsoon
BKTC temple — no admission fee; trek-only access.
Traditional bath at Narad Kund before darshan.
Pitradhar ridge (~4,000 m) on the route — site for pitra-tarpan and pind-daan; per local tradition the merit is equated to Gaya shraddha.
When Rudranath closes, the Utsav Murti is moved to the Gopinath Temple (Gopeshwar); a Katyuri-era (9th-11th century) temple; a ~5 m octa-metallic Trishul (12th century) is worshipped there.
Monday 18 May 2026 — BKTC official; the Utsav Murti palanquin procession begins from Gopinath Gopeshwar on 14 May; reaches the Rudranath stretch by 16 May.
2026 — Friday 28 August 2026; the principal annual fair at Rudranath.
Saturday 17 October 2026 (BKTC official); Utsav Murti moved to Gopinath Gopeshwar; the formal winter installation follows after Diwali.
Rudranath closed; worship at the winter-seat Gopinath Temple (Gopeshwar). 2026 — Sunday 15 February.
Site where the face of Shiva (mukha-arvinda) emerged per the Pandava narrative; the face-tirtha of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage
स्रोत: Pandava Panch Kedar tradition
Unique among the Panch Kedar — the face (mukha-arvinda) itself is the principal symbol; gold ornaments cover eyes and moustaches; worshipped as Nilkanth
स्रोत: Sthala tradition + Wikipedia
Per local tradition pind-daan at Pitradhar ridge is equated to Gaya shraddha; for pitra-tarpan and shraddha rites
स्रोत: Local tradition
The Vaitarani (Baitarani / Rudraganga) river flows past the temple — identified in Puranic tradition with the cosmic salvation-river crossed by departed souls; basis of the pind-daan tradition
स्रोत: Wikipedia + EcoHeritage CPREEC
The four sacred kunds in the temple complex
Traditional pre-darshan bathing site
Identified in Puranic tradition with the cosmic salvation-river crossed by departed souls
Kund associated with Nandi tradition; antique iron swords set in rock (legend) along the route
Site for pitra-tarpan and pind-daan; per local tradition equated to Gaya
Winter seat for Rudranath; Katyuri-era (9th-11th century) temple; a ~5 m octa-metallic Trishul (12th century) — per tradition hurled by Shiva at Kamadeva
Ancient temple of Anusuya Devi, wife of sage Atri
Vishnu temple; mid-point on the 2-Kedar trek route
Face-tirtha; sequence: Kedarnath (hump) → Madhyamaheshwar (navel) → Tungnath (arms) → Rudranath (face) → Kalpeshwar (hair)
5 मंदिर · 12 दिन
Helang → Urgam → Kalpeshwar → Dumak → Bansi Narayan → Panar → Rudranath — combined 2-Kedar circuit
2 मंदिर
For 6 months between November and May the Utsav Murti is worshipped at Gopinath Temple (Gopeshwar)
1 मंदिर