Kalpeshwar Temple Dedicated to Shiva – Kalpeshwar Trek in Panch Kedar Yatra

At Kalpeshwar Temple in Uttarakhand, Hindu God Shiva is worshipped as Jateshwar. The matted locks or hair of Shiva is worshipped in this temple which is part of the Panch Kedar Yatra. 

Kalpeshwar is the last visited shrine during the pilgrimage to five temples of Shiva in the Kedarkhand region. This is a cave temple. The trek to Kalpeshwar is steep from Helang, which is around 102 km from Rudraprayag.

Kalpeshwar Temple has the naturally appeared swayambhu jata or hair of Shiva in the shape of a protruding rock. In the temple premises there is a small stream which emerges out of a rock and water collects in a rocky depression to form the Amrit Kund or Nectar pond.

This temple in Panch Kedar yatra is open throughout the year, unlike other temples which are closed during hard winter season (November to March).

Legend has it that Indra worshipped Shiva here after he lost Indralok or heaven due to a curse of Sage Durvasa. Indra regained his position soon with the blessing of Shiva.

The route to Kalpeshwar temple:

• National Highway 58 – Rishikesh to Rudraprayag then to Helang
• Rudraprayag to Helang is 102 kilometers.
• From Helang Trek to Urgam then to Devgaon to Kalpeshwar Temple. Now there is a road up to Devgaon.
• It is a nearly 6-hour trek from Helang to Devgaon.
• From Devgaon it is around 45-mintue walk to Kalpeshwar Temple. There are two guest houses at Devgaon.
• The trek from Helang to Devagaon is steep – Helang is around 4900 ft in altitude and Devgaon is around 8200 ft in altitude.