The trek to Rudranath temple mainly starts from three places and each place has its own different experience of visiting the temple. This journey starts from Sagar village, Mandal village, or Helang. Mainly people start it from Sagar village itself. The journey takes at least 3 to 4 days, so you should carry your accommodation and food and drink along with you as the above arrangements are minimal.
Sagar Rudranath Trek:
Sagar Village-Liti Bugyal-Panar Bugyal-Pitradhar-Rudranath Temple
The village is situated at a distance of 5 kilometers from Gopeshwar. The journey to Rudranath starts from here, that is, from here onwards you cannot go in a vehicle. The distance from here to Rudranath temple is about 20 km, which has to be crossed on foot. This trek is the shortest and easiest to reach Rudranath Temple, so mainly this trek is done by everyone.
For this, you will find a way from Sagar village from where this journey starts. Liti Bugyal and Panar Bugyal will come in between where you can have food and drink or you can stay here for a day. Panar Bugyal is about 12 km from Sagar village. Then at a distance of 3 kilometers from here, you will reach Pitradhar where you will get to see stones, bells, Chunris, etc. offered by the devotees.
You should bow down to your ancestors at Pitradhar and move ahead from there. One has to climb to Pitradhar, but from here onwards the descent starts. The distance from Pitradhar to Rudranath Temple is about 5 km in which you will have to do most of the descent. After this, you will reach Rudranath temple via Dhalabni Maidan.
Mandal Rudranath Trek:
Mandalgaon-Anusuya Temple-Hansa Bugyal-Nola Pass-Rudranath Temple
This trek is mainly undertaken by those who want to visit the Rudranath Temple as well as the temple of Mata Anusuya. Mandal village is at a distance of 12 to 14 km from Gopeshwar where this trek starts. The temple of Anusuya Mata falls in the middle of this trek, which is about 2 km from here on a different route.
That’s why the tourists first come through the temple of Mata Anusuya and then start the trek to the Rudranath temple. The journey from Mandal village to Anusuya temple is 4 to 5 kilometers which takes 3 to 4 hours. After that, passing through Hansa Bugyal, Dhanpal Maidan, and Nola Pass, you reach Rudranath Temple, which is 23 kilometers away.
If you ever plan to go on a trek, then you can do the Deoban trek.
Helang Rudranath Trek:
Helang-Urgam-Kalpeshwar Temple-Dumak-Bansi Narayan-Panar-Rudranath Temple
In the middle of this journey, you will also get to visit another Kedar Kalpeshwar Mahadev, one of the Panch Kedar, which falls near Urgam village. This trek is the longest trek of Rudranath Temple trek which is around 45 km.
Helang is near Joshimath from where this trek starts. After that devotees reach Urgam village from where Kalpeshwar Mahadev is visited by a short trek to Kalpeshwar temple. After that Rudranath temple is reached via Palla, Kimanakalgont, and Dumak. There is also a temple of Bansi Narayan in between which can be visited.
Other names of Rudranath Temple:
Neelkanth Mahadev
Neelkanth is also another name for Lord Shiva because Halahal was one of the 14 gems that came out during the churning of the ocean, which Lord Shiva drank. After this, his name was changed to Neelkanth Mahadev.
Rudramukh
Along with Rudranath, the Shivling established in this temple is also known as Rudramukh. In this Rudra is a name dedicated to the Rudra form of Lord Shiva while Mukha means mouth.
