5 Famous Pilgrimages in Uttarakhand which are Hard to Access

What’s left of hard in this modern era? Take pilgrimages, for instance. The old idea of embarking on difficult journeys to meet the Divine in the unlikeliest of places is just that- old. Or is it? They have become rarer, of course, but pilgrimage shrines that are truly difficult to access aren’t a thing of the past. Let us illuminate you of five such pilgrimages in Uttarakhand that are hard to access, so that next time your pilgrim’s soul meets your adventure spirit, you will know where to head to.

1- Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple ranks highest in the coveted pilgrimage destinations of many people. Kedarnath temple is not just one of the twelve of Shiva’s jyotirlingas , but also an integral shrine amongst Char Dham temples. A typical Kedarnath Yatra route consists of road journey till Gaurikund/Sonprayag, and subsequent trekking for 18-19 kilometre.

Interesting feature of Kedarnath Trek:
It is heart-touching to witness multitudes of pilgrims on their walk till the shrine with devotional chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ upon their lips. Many cite their faith in Shiva rather than their physical fitness to be the major reason behind their successful trek till Kedarnath Temple. The temple mythology is intrinsically linked to the legend of Pandavas, although the present temple is said to have been constructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century.

2- Kartik Swami Temple

Just 40 km ahead from Rudraprayag in Rudraprayag-Pokhri Road, lies the village of Kanakchauri from which the 3 km trek till the Kartik Swami Temple begins. This scenic abode of Kartikeya, Lord Shiva’s elder son offers an almost 360 degree view of the encircling Himalayan ranges.

Interesting feature of Kartik Swami Temple:
One cannot ‘see’ the actual temple till one has almost reached the end of the path. But the multitude of bells hung in its sacred premises ring their collective invitation to the traveler as early as she is 1 km near the temple. Also, one needs to climb up a stairs of 80 steps to enter the actual temple premises.

3- Hemkund Sahib

Perhaps the most iconic of Sikh pilgrimages, Hemkund Sahib is reached after trekking for about 19 km from Govindghat, located at a distance of 275 km from Rishikesh. The Gurudwara dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh is set amidst the picturesque backdrop of a glacial lake encircled by seven mountains. Govindghat is a prime stopover in Badrinath yatra route map as well. In fact, many wish to cover both Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath in a single pilgrimage since one needs to travel a mere 12.5 km ahead from Govindghat, the base-camp for trekking till Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.

Interesting feature of Hemkund Trek
After trekking for about 13 km from Govindghat, one reaches the village of Ghangaria. One can take shelter at a Gurudwara in Ghangaria. Alternatively, one can stay at the few hotels or pitch in their own tents at the campground. The rest of the six kilometer journey involves a steep climb of 1,100m.

4- Tungnath Temple

The ‘highest’ of Shiva temples can be accessed only after trekking for about 4 km from Chopta. The 5,000 year old temple forms an integral part of Panch Kedar Temples.

Interesting Feature of Tungnath Trek
Scenic Beauty, period. This is one of those journeys whose path is as beautiful as the destination. A paradise for nature lovers, one can continue trekking ahead of the temple to reach the zenith of Tungnath temple at Chandrashila. The mesmerizing panorama offered by views of the peaks of Trishul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba and Nanda Devi enchant everyone’ senses.

5- Rudranath Temple

The natural rock temple at Rudranath worships Lord Shiva as ‘Neelkanth Mahadeva’. The adjacent Vaitarani River is deemed the ‘river of salvation’. Most trekking routes to Rudranath begin from Gopeshwar and is over 20 km long.

Interesting feature of Rudranath Trek
A 25 km trek exists from Mandal towards Rudranath which passes through Anasuya Devi Temple, dedicated to the saint-wife of Atri Muni who was revered for the purity of her being. Rudranath Temple is an additional 20 km trek from this temple. The thick Rhododendron forests and Alpine meadows that characterize its topography is said to be protected by Vandevi, Goddess of forests, as per local beliefs.