Rudraprayag - places of spiritual significance

Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag offers innate splendor, places of spiritual significance, beautiful lakes and glaciers. At Rudraprayag, you can see natural beauty in its glory. Sometime back Rudraprayag was a part of the Chamoli and Tehri districts. However, in 1997, the Kedarnath valley and parts of district Tehri & Pauri were conjoined to form Rudraprayag as a new district.
The whole expanse of Rudraprayag is exalted with enormous splendor, many destinations of religious significance and glaciers. Named after Lord Shiva’s Rudra avatar, Rudraprayag has the fortune of being the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini and one can distinctly see the water’s shade merging from two different sources.
Rudraprayag is known as the last stoppage point before pilgrimage treks to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Rudraprayag is dotted with temples which are significant from archeological as well as religious points of view.
The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religious importance, lakes and glaciers.
History :-
Rudraprayag District was established on 16th September1997. The district was carved out from the following areas of three adjoining districts.
1- Whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnprayag block from Chamoli District.
2- Part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District.
3- Part of Khirsu block from Pauri District.
Internationally Known Shri Kedarnath Temple is at North, Madmaheshwar at east, Nagrasu at southern east and Shrinagar at extreme south. The holy Mandakini originated from Kedarnath is the main river of the district.



Historical Back Ground
Today’s Garhwal was known as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand . It is believed that God Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana only four km.from Badrinath.
According to Rigveda(1017-19) after Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana. Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with sanskrit .The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km. from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran vedviyas scripted the story of Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25 km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6th A.D on word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar, lalitsur in Pandukeshwar .The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of Garhwal.
Some Historian and scientist believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal and Kuman. A conflict grew due to this invasion a conflict took place between these outsiders and natives .The natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.
After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated Khasa accomplished their regime. They confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One kantura vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur vashudev katyuri was the founder of katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they reign Garhwal over hundreds of years in this period of katyuri regime Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya. In Bharat varsh other these are Dwarika , Puri and Srinagar. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the fear of Budhas. After this ethicist of vaidic cult started to pilgrim Badrinath.
According to Pt.Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu pratap was the first ruler of Panwar dynasty in garhwal who founded chanpur-Garhi as his capital. This was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.
The devastating earthquake of 8th September 1803 weakened the economic and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in 1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.
Mean while the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted east India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defected Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with the capital srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of Srinagar. After the death of Sudarshan Shah Bhawani Shah succeeded him, who died in 1871 and was succeeded by his elder son Pratap Shah. Pratap Shah ascended the throne of Tehri at the age of 21 only. He was the founder of Pratap Nagar. He also tried to improve the forest, judicial and police administration. During his rule several public uprisings took place in the state. He died in 1886.
Kirti Shah at the time of his father’s death was still in his adolescence, so his mother Rajmata Guleri appointed Vikram Singh as the regent . But after sometime she took over administration herdself. Kirti Shah took over charge of the state in 1892. His rule saw a marked improvement in the functioning of courts, forest and other departments. He is said to have invented typewriter for Hindi but gave the copy write to a company. The religious inclination of Kirti Shah is aptly proved by the fact that he organized a religious conference of the followers of different religion at Tehri. He died on 25th April 1913.
Narendra Shah the successor of Kirti Shah was again a minor at the time of succession. Thus, during the initial years the state administration was looked after by a Regency under the presidency of his mother. During the War period(1939-42) Tehri state supplied a huge amount of wood to the Britishers while the king himself offered his services for them during the first world war. Some of his achievement were developing the new township of Narendra Nagar, construction of Kirti Nagar, Tehri , Muni ki Reti. He died on 22nd September 1950 in a car accident but had already relinquished the throne in favour of his son Manvendra Shah on 26th May 1946. The later ruled the state from 1946 till the state was merged with the Indian Union in August 1949.
The newly crated Rudraprayag District was part of three district Chamoli,Pauri and Tehri. On 16th September 1997 Rudraprayag District was carved out from whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnprayag block from Chamoli , part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District, part of Khirsu block from Pauri.
Rudraprayag, carved as a seperate revenue district in 1997 . The geographical area of the District is around 2328 sq.kms.
Geography
The geology of the region shows that the Himalayas are the young mountains in the world. During early Mesozoic times, or the secondary geological period, the land mass now covered by them was occupied by the great geosynclinals Tethys sea. The probable date of the commencement of the elevation of the Himalayas is about the close of the Mesozoic period, but the unraveling of the story of their structure has only just begin, and in many cases no dating of the rocks is yet possible, though they include ancient and relatively recent crystalline intrusive, rocks and sediments allied to the peninsular part of India . The section of the range in the district is deeply cut into by the headwaters of the Alaknanda River, this trunk stream seeming to have reached a latter stage of development than its tributaries. This much, however, is known that there has been intense metamorphosis. In some parts uplift has been considerable since the Mid-Pleistocene period, in others there are great stretches of high but subdued topography and elsewhere there are the deepest gorges.
MINERALS
The minerals that are found in the district are Asbestos,Magnestic, Soapstone or Steatite,Copper, Iron, Graphite, Gypsum, Lead, Slate, Building Stone, Sulphur, Bitumen and some other minerals found in the district are Antimony, Arsenic, Lignite or Brown Marble, Mica and silver.
CLIMATE
As the elevation of the district ranges from 800 mts. to 8000 mts above see level the climate of the district very largely depend on altitude. The winter season is from about mid November to March. As most of the region is situated on the southern slops of the outer Himalayas, monsoon currents can enter through the valley, the rainfall being heaviest in the monsoon from June to September.
Rainfall - Most of the rainfall occur during the period June to September when 70 to 80 percent of the annual precipitation is accounted for in the southern half of the district and 55 to 65 percent in the northern half. The effectiveness of the rains is, among others, related to low temperature which means less evapo-transpiration and forest or vegetation cover. However, the effectiveness is neither uniform nor even positive in areas where either the vegetational cover is poor or / and has steep slops or the soils have been so denuded that their moisture absorption capacity has become marginal.
Temperature - The details of temperature recorded at the meteorological observatories in the district show that the highest temperature was 34C and lowest 00C. January is the coldest month after which the temperature begins to rise till June or July. temperature vary with elevation. During the winter cold waves in the wake of western disturbances may cause temperature to fall appreciably. Snow accumulation in valleys is considerable.
Humidity - The relative humidity is high during monsoon season, generally exceeding 70% on the average. The driest part of the year is the pre monsoon period when the humidity may drop to 35% during the afternoon. During the winter months humidity increases toward the afternoon at certain high stations.
Cloudiness - Skies are heavily clouded during the monsoon months and for short spells when the region is affected by the passage of western disturbances. During the rest of the year the skies are generally clear to lightly clouded.
Winds - Owing to the nature of terrain local affect are pronounced and when the general prevailing winds not too strong to mask these effect, there is a tendency for diurnal reversal of winds, the flow being anabatic during the day and katabatic at night, the latter being of considerable force.
RIVERS
The river Mandakini, which is the most important river coming down from the slopes of Kedarnath peak, joins the Alaknanda (the alaknanda originates at a height of 3641 metres below Balakun peak 16 kms. upstream fromadrinath.) at Rudraprayag. The river actually originates from the springs fed by melting snow of Charabari glacier about one km above Kedarnath temple. Mandakini is itself fed by Vasukiganga, which meets it at Sonprayag 16 km down-stream from Kedarnath.
The fact is that the main river of the Himalaya are older than the mountains they traverse. This is why they flow right across the axis of the ranges through deep gorges carved out by the river themselves. All the rivers of the district are snow fed.
As the water levels of the rivers are much below the arable land levels, the rivers cannot be generally used for irrigation purposes.

Rudraprayag at a glance
Location	District of Uttarakhand
Climate	Summer: 30 C (max.) and 15 C (mini.)
Winter	24 C (max.) and 00 C (mini.)
Area	1896 sq km
Population	227439
Literacy	74.23%
Time to Visit	Round the year Sp. April to mid-July
Languages	Hindi, English and Garhwali
STD Code	01364
Pin Code	246174

Tourist Attractions
Rudraprayag offers a number of beautiful tourist attractions. And almost all of these attractions are religious structures or related to nature. These tourist attractions wonderfully present the cultural, religious and historical significance to the visitor.
Agasteshwar mahadev:
18 kms. from Rudraprayag, at an altitude of 1000 mts. and on the bank of river Mandakini, this is the place were rishi Agastya meditated for years.
A temple by the name of Agasteshwar mahadev is dedicated to sage Agastya and this temple is also of an archaeological significance; figures of Gods and Goddess have been carved out on stones. On the occasion of Baisakhi a large fair is held and many devotees come here to worship and pay their homage to God.
For food and accommodation, a Forest Rest House and private hotels are available. Other facilities include market, bank, hospitals etc.
Guptkashi
Location: Rudraprayag District, 49 Km from Kedarnath
Altitude: 1, 319 meters ASL
Places to visit: Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnik Kund
Tourist Attraction: Pilgrimage & Trekking
Time to Visit: All round the year
Guptkashi, a place filled with serenity and tranquility, is located in the district of Rudraprayag within the hill state of Uttarakhand in India.
Guptkashi is situated at an elevation of 1319 mts. The one Stupa is situated in Nala which is quite close to Ukhimath. Some local people call it the grave of Rana Nal. Guptkashi is about 49 km from the famous Kedarnath.
3 kms. from Guptkashi, the remains of Ramgarh(in Ronitpur) still seem to echo the love between Lord Krishna’s son Anniruddha and Vanasur’s daughter Usha.
Guptkashi is considered to be as important as Kashi since it is here at Manikarnik Kund that the streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet. Guptkashi, situated in the lap of nature, is surrounded by spiritual air that is sure to captivate anyone with its mystic charm.
It is believed that after the battle of Kurukshetra when the Pandavas were on a lookout to meet Lord Shiva and seek his blessing, the Lord evaded them by leaving Guptkashi for Kedarnath. Lord Shiva did not wish to meet them as he held them responsible for bloodshed and destruction of their family dynasty even though they fought for the right cause and they were also responsible for destroying their own dynasty.
Holy Places In Guptkashi
Vishwanath temple
Ardhnareshwar temple
Manikarnik Kund
Guptkashi has a great importance quite like that of Kashi. The ancient Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet, are the main places of attraction in Guptkashi.
Shankaracharya Samadhi
It is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. Adi Shankaracharya after establishing four sacred Dhams is said to have gone into his samadhi here at an early age of 32 years.
Son Prayag
At an elevation of 1829 mts. and on the main Kedarnath route, Son Prayag lies at the confluence of river Basuki and Mandakini. The holy site of Son Prayag is of immense religious significance. It is said that a mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag helps one to attain the “Baikunth Dham”. Kedarnath is at a distance of 19 kms. from Son Prayag. Triyuginarayan, which is supposed to be the marriage place of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is at a distance of 14 kms. by bus and 5 kms. on foot from here.
Khirsu The snow covered mountains of Khirsu offers a panoramic view of the central Himalayas and attracts a large number of tourists. From here one can get a clear view of many named and unnamed peaks.
Located 19 kms. away from Pauri at an altitude of 1700 mts., Khirsu is a peaceful spot, free from pollution. The tranquility of the adjoining thick Oak and Deodar forests and people orchards, is broken only by chirping of birds.
The ancient temple of Ghandiyal Devta in the vicinity is well worth a visit. Accommodation is available at Tourist rest house and Forest rest house.
Gaurikund
Location: Rudraprayag District
72 Km from Rudraprayag and 5 Km from Sonprayag
Altitude: 1, 982 meters ASL
Attractions: Hot water pond; Gauri Devi Temple
Pilgrimage & Trekking
Time to Visit: March to November
Gaurikund, situated amidst pristine Himalayan environs, is located in the district of Rudraprayag in the hill state of Uttarakhand in India. At an elevation of 1, 982 meters above the sea level, Gaurikund offers breathtaking panoramic view of snow capped higher Himalayan peaks. On clear days, one can even see the famous Kedarnath shrine from here.
Gaurikund, situated on the banks of river Mandakhini and about of 5 kms. from Son Prayag, Gaurikund is the last bus station on the Kedarnath route. Before proceeding for Kedarnath on foot, people bath in the hot water pond here and visit the Gauri Devi temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva.
Gaurikund is a natural wonder that still remains unblemished by the ever increasing industrial world. It offers comfortable boarding and lodging facilities like tourist guest houses and hotels. Besides, there are a couple of Dharamshalas also where one can put up.
Apart from being the last stop before steep Kedarnath trek, Gaurikund in itself has some interesting places to visit. There is a hot water pond where the pilgrims en route Kedarnath, bathe. The quaint mountainous destination of Gaurikund is also home to the ancient temple of Gauri Mata. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Gauri or Parvati.
Interesting Places Around Gaurikund
Hot and Cold Water Tanks
On way to Gaurikund, one finds two water tanks - one consisting of hot water with traces of sulphur and the other, a fascinating cold water spring that changes color in keeping with the changing time of the day.
Ancient Temple Of Ganesha
Located a few kilometers away from the water tanks, this temple is unique in its own way. It is an ancient temple of beheaded Ganesha.
How To Reach
By road, it is well connected with important destinations of the region like Sonprayag, Rudraprayag, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and so on. Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh and nearest airport is Jolly Grant of Dehradun.
Deoria Tal
It is situated on the Chopta-Ukimath road about 2 kms. from road head at Sari village. This lake has captivating surroundings with forest all around. Te reflection of the mighty Chaukhamba peak in the lake creates a beautiful effect.
The road is motorable upto Sari, 10 kms. from Ukhimath and from there one has to trek about 2 kms. All arrangements have to be made for a night halt at the spot.
Chopta
Situated on the Gopeshwar - Ukhimath road, about 40 kms. from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2900 mts., Chopta is one of the most picturesque places in the entire Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges and surrounding areas. P.W.D. guest house is available at Dogalbhita 8 kms. from Chopta.
Ukhimath.
This is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath and worship is done here during the winters when the temples of Kedarnath remain closed. The temples of Usha and Aniruddha, Lord Shiva and Parvati are worth visiting. Ukimath is at a distance of 41 kms. from Rudraprayag and 13 kms. from Guptkashi. It is situated at an elevation of 1311 mts.
Gandhi Sarovar
A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is believed to have departed to heaven is known as Gandhi Sarovar. The floating ice on the sparkling water is a fascinating site.
Vasuki tal
Vasuki tal is 8 kms. from Kedarnath, at a height of 4135 mts. The lake is surrounded by high mountains and offers an excellent view of the Chaukhamba peaks.
Temple and Peaks:
Rudraprayag is full of temples and these temples have various myths and legends associated with them. Most of the temple legends are associated with Lord Shiva, Mahabharata, Ma Gauri and the Pandavas.
Out of the five Kedars, three lies in Rudraprayag District.The term Kedar itself means a natural rock formation or glacial moraine. According to legend, Kedarnath, the chief seat of Panch Kedar, came into being during the period when the five Pandava brother were asked to seek Lord Shiva's blessing, purging them of the sin of killing their cousin brothers in the battle of Kurukshetra. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to plunge underground when he was spotted by the Pandavas. No wonder, the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles the rump of bull. The other two places where Shiva is worshipped take their appearance from different pats of his body - the navel at Madmaheshwar and the arm at Tungnath.
Panch Kedar
There is an interesting legend about the Panch Kedar. According to it, after the battle of Kurukshetra the Pandavas went out look for Lord Shiva to seek his blessings. But Lord eluded them since he did not wish to meet them.
When the Pandavas found out where Lord Shiva was, the Lord assumed the form of a bull. The legendary Pandava Bhima tried to pick up the bull but it sank into the earth. However, Bhima could manage to retain the hump of the bull.
Impressed by their determination, Lord Shiva finally blessed the Pandavas and freed them from their sins. The lord then asked them to worship his hump at Kedarnath.
The other parts of Lord Shiva's body, arms, face, nevel and hair locks appeared at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheswar and Kalpeshwar. These four shrines along with Kedarnath are worshipped as Panch Kedar.
Thus, the five kedars or Panch Kedar are as under:-
1) Kedarnath 2) Madmaheswar 3) Rudranath 4) Tungnath
5) Kalpeshwar
Kedarnath
Another name of Lord Shiva, is located at an elevation of 3, 584 meters above the sea level in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It lied on the head on river Mandakhini and is considered amongst the most sacred placed of Hindu faith. Here, the hump of Shiva is worshipped. Kedarnath is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas'.
As one approaches from Garurchatti, the magnificent Sri Kedarnath temple is visible on advancing barely half a kilometer. With the stunning background of towering white mountains mantled with snow, the temple presents an enchanting sight. All around it is an aura of peace and purity. Here, the unholy are said to become holy and the holy, holier still. The temple of Kedarnath is considered to be more than a thousand years old. The temple is magnificent in its style and architecture. It is built on a morainic ridge jutting out at right angles from the snowy range. The temple has a “garbha-griha” for worship and mandaps for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors.
Madmaheshwar
Madhmaheshwar, situated at an elevation of 3, 289 meters above the sea level, is located at a distance of 31 Km from Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district. Here, the navel of Lord Shiva appeared. Thus, the Lingam here is navel shaped.
There is a motor able road from Guptkashi to Kalimath. The best statue of Har Gauri in India measuring over a metre high is found in the Kali temple. The trek from Kalimath to Madhmaheshwar is distinguished by wild unparalleled scenic beauty and engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Gaundar at the confluence of Madhmaheshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last settlement before one reaches Madhmaheshwar, the place where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of belly.
The Shiva temple near the source of the Madmaheshwar river, is the second Kedar. According to a legend, when lord Shiva was avoiding the Pandavas, he sank into the earth at Kedarnath with a desire to elude them and his torso surfaced here at Madmaheshwar.
Located amidst serene environs, the temple has no crowd of Pandas, Pujaris, Shops or the bustle of major pilgrimage centres . There is a small Dharamshala and provisions must be carried from the village of Gaundar.
The temple is close for six month during winter when the silver idols are taken ceremonially to Ukhimath for worship. Only the Shivling remains. Saraswati kund, where Tarpans are offered is closed by.
Tunganath
Located at an elevation of 3, 680 meters above the sea level, highest amongst the five kedars, Tunganath is where Lord Shiva's arm appeared. Tunganath is about 3 Km uphill trek from Chopata in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that form the river Akashkamini. By road, one can reach Chopta which lies on Kund-Gopeshwar road at a distance of 212 Km. Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh (215 Km) and nearest airport is Jolly Grant (232 Km) of Dehradun.
Rudranath
Rudranath, situated at an elevation of 2, 286 meters above the sea level, is about 23 Km from Gopeshwar. Rudranath can also be reached from Sagar by a 22 Km trek. Here, the face of Lord Shiva is worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev. Some of the holy Kunds like Suryakund, Chandrakund, and Tarakund are situated nearby. The temple site offers breathtaking views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Trishuli and other peaks. To reach Rudranath, one can take either the Gopeshwar-Kedarnath road or come from Sagar which is about 219 Km from Rishikesh. Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh (241 Km) and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant (258 Km) of Dehradun.
Kalpeshwar
Kalpeshwar, located at an elevation of 2, 134 meters above the sea level is where the hair of Lord Shiva appeared. Kalpeshwar can be reached after a 12 km trek from Helang which lies on motorable Rishikesh-Badrinath route, 242 Km from Rishikesh. Nearest railhead for Kalpeshwar is Rishikesh (255 Km) and nearest airport is at Jolly Grant (272 Km) of Dehradun.
Triyuginarayan
This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, lies in the village of Triyuginarayan, on the ancient bridle path that connects Ghuttur to Shri Kedarnath. It is similar in architectural style to the temple of Kedarnath making this village an important pilgrimage centre.
According to a legend, Triyuginarayan was the capital of the legendary Himvat and is the place where Shiva wedded Parvati duing the Satyug. the fire for the divine wedding was lit in the huge four cornered Havan Kund. All the sages attended the wedding of which Vishnu himself was the master of ceremonies.
Remnants of that celestial fire are believed to be burning in the Havan kund even today. Pilgrim offer wood to the fire that has seen three Yug hence the name TRIYUGINARAYAN. The ashes from this fire are supposed to promote conjugal bliss.
There are three other kund in this village,Rudrakund, Vishnu kund and Brahmakund. These are kund where the Gods bathed at the time of Shiva-Parvati wedding. The water in these kund flows from the Saraswati kund which is said to have sprang from Vishnu’s Navel. Women seeking children bath here, believing that it cures infertility.
Maa Hariyali Devi
A route diverting from Nagrasu, on the main Rudraprayag Karnprayag route, leads to the Siddha Peeth of Hariyali Devi. Haryali Devi is 22 kms. from Nagrasu which in turn is 37 kms. from the main town of Rudraprayag. At an altitude of 1400 mts. this place is surrounded by peaks and thick forests.
According to the Hindu mythology, when Mahamaya was conceived as the seventh issue of Devki, Kansa threw Mahamaya violently on the ground. Consequently, several body parts of Mahamaya got strewn all over the earth. One part - the hand - fell at Haryali Devi, Jasholi. Since then it become a revered siddh peeth. There are 58 sidd peeths in all. Ma Hariyali Devi is also worshipped as Bala Devi and Vaishnav Devi. The temple houses a regally bejewelled idol of Ma Hariyali Devi, astride a lion. During Janamastimi and Deepawali this place is visited by thousands od devotees. On these occasions, the devotees accompany the idol of Ma Hariyali Devi, covering a distance of 7 kms. to reach Hariyali Kantha. The temple houses chiefly three idols namely, Ma Hariyali Devi, Kshatrapal and Heet Devi. From Hariyali Kantha one can see the mountain range in a semi-lunar spread. The splendor of the range is sure to fill one’s heart with awe.
Koteshwar Temple
Location: district of Rudraprayag, 3 Km from Rudraprayag
Place of Interest: Koteshwar Temple
Attractions: Pilgrimage, Trekking
Best Time To Visit: July-August (during the month of Shravan)
The temple of Koteshwar is located at a distance of 3 Km from the main city of Rudraprayag in the hill state of Uttarakhand. Koteshwar is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Koteshwar Temple, cradled in untouched pristine surrounds of Himalayan nature, is famous for its naturally made idol. It is believed that it is here that Lord Shiva meditated before leaving for Kedarnath.
Located on the banks of river Alaknanda, this ancient temple of Koteshwar is in the form of a cave temple. There are many idols here which are naturally formed. Apart from Lord Shiva, there are idols of other deities - Parvati, Ganesh, Hanuman & Durga - as well.
Every year, thousands of devotees visit this holy temple of Koteshwar to pray to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. The best time to visit Koteshwar is during the month of Shravan i.e. in July-August.
How To Reach
By road, Koteshwar Temple is 3km short of Rudraprayag, 55 km from Srinagar, 168 km from Rishikesh and 249 km from Dehradun. Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh (168 Km) and nearest airport is Jolly Grant of Dehradun.
Kartic Swami Temple
38 kms. from Rudraprayag on the Rudraprayag - Pokhri route is a village Kanak Chauri from where 3 kms. trek leads to Kartikswami. This place has a temple and idol of Lord Shiva’s son Kartikeya, situated at a elevation of 3048 mts., the place abounds in natural beauty and one can have a close and panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks.
Chadrashila
Chandrashila is most accessible peak of the U.P. Himalayas, at an Altitude of 3679 mts, especially since most of the peaks are difficult to scale. A climb to this mini peak in Rudraprayag district is arranged by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam(GMVN). This combines scaling, skiing and trekking through a route of rich flora and fauna, lakes, meadows full of fresh snow in the winter months. The Chandrashila peak itself provides a rare panoramic view of innumerable snow clad peaks.
Indrasani Mansa Devi
The temple is situated in village Kandali Patti at a distance of 14 kms. from the main town of Rudraprayag and at about 6 kms. from Tilwara.It is believed to have been constructed in the age of Adi Shankaracharya. The temple has unique architecture surrounded by temple of Jalkedareshwar, Khetrapal and Jakh Devta.
The origin of Indrasani Mansa Devi is described in Skandpuran, Devibhagvata and Kedarkhand. It is believed that Indrasani Devi is a Mansi Kanya of Kashyapa and is known as VAISHNAVI , SHAVI AND VISHARI. Folklore claims that the Devi cures persons who have been bitten by snake.
During Devi Jat held in the month of December 2000, on digging a Nag Jalkund was found and snakes were seen by the devotees in Jalkund. It is also claimed that if any person is bitten by snake, the person is brought before the Devi temple for worship and SANKH JAL (water) is applied on the affected area which removes the poison of the snake.
Weather
Weather of Rudraprayag depends largely upon its varying altitude of 800 to 8,000m above sea level. The temperature remains pleasant to cold for most parts of the year, though one might need light woolens.
The minimum temperature in summer remains about 15o C and but the maximum temperature may go above 25o C. The winters, however, are colder with the mercury dipping to the freezing point during nights but jumping to 15-18o C in the day. The average annual precipitation hovers around 55 to 60 percent, especially in the months of June to September. The humidity generally remains 35 to 45 percent all through the year but goes upto 70 to 80 percent in the monsoons. One will be comfortable wearing cottons and maybe light woolens in summers and heavy woolens in winters.
Culture and Living style
HOUSE
The houses are build of stones and are generally double storeyed, a few having three to five storey’s, the very low rooms on the ground floor, which are usually 1.8 mrts. high being used for housing the cattle. Each house has in front of it a courtyard called a Chauk. A mud or stone staircase or a wooden ladder leads to the upper storey, the roof being of wood. The height of the upper storey is generally 2.1 mtrs. and the roof is usually a sloping structures of timber covered with Patals (quartzite slabs), the well off use corrugated galvanized iron sheets. Generally the upper storey has a Verandah in front of the upper rooms.
At times the cattle sheds are made at some distance from the villages. The houses are built in rows of half a dozen or so and strikingly picturesque in their fort like appearance.
FOOD
The staple grains consumed by the people of the district are wheat, rice, maze, mandua and jhanjora, the last three being coarse grains generally eaten by the poorer sections. The pulses consumed are urad, gahat, bhatt, soontha, tur, lopia and masor.
JEWELLERY
Bichhuwas ( toe-rings of silver) are worn by married women whose husband are alive. Keels (Small studs) worn on the left nostril, nose ring (Naths) and ear rings made of gold and hansulis (ornament worn round the neck), chandanhar (necklaces) and necklaces consisting of colored beads or rupees or of the teeth and claws of the Panther are generally worn by women and girls. Silver amulets set with turquoise are also worn round the neck and arms. Married women wear anklets made of copper or silver. Churis (Bangles) of gold , silver or of colored glass are usually worn by women and girls. Bhotiya women wear this type of jewellery and articles made of ivory are also worn at times. Men usually wear rings and some wear gold chain round their neck.
DRESS
The dress of the people of the district is simple, economical and well suited for the hill environment. The usual dress for men is a Kurta (long lose shirt) or shirt, Pyjama (tight from the knee down ), Sadri (jacket), a cap and a knee length coat, the last named being worn in winter. Those better off are increasingly taking to trousers and buttoned up coats.Women often wear the Sari and full sleeved shirt or Angra (a sort of jacket) in place of a shirt, the well to do wearing woolen jacket in winter. In the rural areas most of the women still wear the long full .Women often wear the Sari and full sleeved shirt or Angra (a sort of jacket) in place of a shirt, the well to do wearing woolen jacket in winter. In the rural areas most of the women still wear the long full .Girls students often wear the Salwar (very full pyjama narrow at the ankle ), Kamiz (knee length shirt) and Dupatta ( long scarf for the head and shoulders).The Bhotiyas who lives at high altitudes generally wear woolen clothes. The usual wear for the men are Pyjamas, shirt, coat and cap.
The women wear gay colored Angras, a Ghagra (long full shirt), phantu (colored scarf) and a woolen shawl which is worn so as to make a pocket on each side. Both men and women wear a long piece of cotton cloth as a tight Kamarband (a sort of belt)shirt, tight fitting long sleeved jacket and an Orhni (long scarf for covering the head and shoulders).
Fairs And Festivals
The Thadiya dance, which is accompanied by song, is performed on Basant Panchami, the festival celebrating the advent of spring, the Mela, another dance, is perform on Deepawali and the Pandava during the winter after the harvesting of the crop and depicts the principal events of the Mahabharata. Other folk dances are Jeetu Bhagdawal and Jagar or Ghariyali. These dances enact mythological stories, the participants, both men and women, put on their traditional colorful dress and dance to the tune of drums and Ransinghas. Another dance perform during the fairs and accompanied by song is the Chanchari in which both men and women participate.
Festivals play an important role in the life of people in the district, as elsewhere, and are spread over the entire year, the most important festivals are Ram Navami, Nag Panchmi ,
Raksha-Bandhan, Janmastami , Dashahra, Diwali ,Makar Sankranti ,Sivaratri, Holi enjoy as usually by whole India.
On the 13th day of April every year the big fair known as Bishwat Sankranti is held in the district. This fair is also mentioned in the Pandukeshwar inscription of Lalitashuradeva issued in the 22nd regnal year. It is also held at Ming (April 14), Aser (April 15), Hans Koti (April 16), and Kulsari and Adbadri (April 17). Another important fair of the district is the Gaucher Mela held at Gaucher in Karnprayag in the month of November every year and is attended by number of persons. Others fairs of importance are the Nautha at Adbadri, Naumi at Hariyali, Nanda Devi at Bedni, Dattatreya Pooranmasi at Ansuya temple, Nagnath at Dewar Walla
Best Time to Visit
The months of mid-March to mid-June are specially favored since the weather at this time is most pleasant. The mildly cool breeze gives one huge relief from the hot winds from the plains. The months of September to November are also worth going to Rudraprayag.
How to Reach
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun. It is located approximately 158 km from Rudraprayag.
By Rail
The nearest railway stations to Rudraprayag are Kotdwar, located at a distance of 173 km and Rishikesh, situated at a distance of 140 km.
By Road
Rudraprayag is well-connected by a network of roads. Almost all the major towns and cities of the region like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Pauri, Joshimath, Gopeshwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Nainital, Almora and Delhi are well linked with Rudraprayag by motorable roads. From Delhi, one has to take NH 58 to Rudraprayag which is about 337 Km away, via Meerut. Haridwar, Rishikesh, Devprayag and Srinagar.
E-Mail Directory...

S.No.	Office	E-Mail Address
1	District Magistrate	dm-rud-ua@nic.in
2	CDO	cdorudraprayag@yahoo.co.in
3	S.P.	rpg-police@yahoo.co.in
4	Treasury Officer	treas-rud-ua@nic.in
5	D.E.St.O	dsto-rud-ua@nic.in

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (159 kms)
Nearest Railhead: Kotdwar Railway Station, about 173 kms away
Must Visits: Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple, Panch Kedar, the Confluence, Augustmuni, Guptkashi, Gaurikund, Chopta and Ukhimath