Discover the undiscovered at Devbhoomi: The Land of Gods !
With its serene beauty and pristine locations, Uttrakhand , the charming state has been rightly been handpicked by the Gods. And so is one of the less frequented pilgrimage in Uttarakhand - Kalpeshwar Temple. Located at a height of 2134 mts, in the picturesque Urgam valley in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in India, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the last among the renowned Panch Kedars and is the only one that remains open all the year round. What is intriguing about this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage, that here, the matted tresses (jata) of Lord Shiva are worshipped.
The temple serves as one of the most beautiful trek for avid adventurers seeking the rush of adrenaline. The trekking route of 11 km commences from Helang through the Urgam village offering lush green cover and unmatched beauty. Jeepable roads are now also available making the journey easy taking you from Helang and dropping at Urgam village, a trek of about 10 km. From here you can take the rocky trekking route of nearly 2 km that will definitely add a hint of fun, adventure and thrill to your spiritual journeys. Embrace the scenic beauty of the Garwahal Himalyas that form a backdrop enroute to Kalpeshwar. You can enjoy the spectacular view of snow peaks in the Himalyan range including Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti and Trishul and a dense forest area decorated with apple orchards and terrace fields with potato.
The temple of Kalpeshwar located amongst incredible tranquillity and peace has a boon granting Kalpeshwar tree within its precincts. It is a great place to do soulful meditation and get peace of mind. Sage Arghya meditated here and with his austerities created Urvashi, the renowned Apsara at this place. Even Rishi Durvasa, incarnation of Lord Shiva, son of Atri and Anasuya, known for his short temper also meditated under this tree and did atonements here. The divine tree fulfils wishes and grants boons to the devout.
The temple priests, hailing from South India are the Dasnamis and Gossains, who are followers of Adi Shankara. The main festival celebrated at the temple with great fervour is Maha Shivratri. Lakhs of devotees seeking Divine Blessings, attend the ceremonies conducted on this day that go on all through the day and night.
Built with granite stone from the same mountains where the temple stands, it is an architectural marvel. Designed in Nagara style, there is a huge tower that has a porch at the top. The sanctum sanctorum lies in the central area under the huge tower. Here a small Shiv Lingam is worshipped. A nearby cave has the matted locks of Mahadev that can be seen on the face of the rock that hangs overhead adding to the mystic charm of the cave. A large brass bell hangs outside from a stone pillar. The ethereal experience of spirituality and beauty at the temple will surely leave you overwhelmed.
The history of the temple adds to the magnetism of the place. The Pandavas after the battle at Kurukshetra wanted to atone for the killing of their brothers. So, they went to look for Lord Shiva, who however was angry and avoided them. He turned himself into a massive bull but was found and chased by Bhima. Lord Shiva dug a hole to hide within the earth but Bhima tried to pull him out by tugging at his tail. At that time, the head of the bull detached and was found at Pashupatinath in Nepal. The other parts were found at various places, which are now the Panch Kedar temples. – Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath & Kalpeshwar. Kalpeshwar is the place where the jata or tresses of Lord Shiva were divined and so Shiva is also worshipped as Jateshwar or Jatadhar.
Kalpeshwar temple is the abode of God Himself. It sure should be a must visit in your travel bucket list with its spectacular beauty and history that will fill your soul with eternal peace.
