Uttarakhand

Shri Kalpeshwar Temple

Urgam valley, near Devgram and Urgam villages, Chamoli district · Lord Shiva as Kalpeshwar (Kalpnath), worshipped as the matted hair (jata) of Shiva

The fifth Kedar and the only one open all year – a small rock shrine in the apple orchards of the Urgam valley, now just a short walk from the road.

Kalpeshwar is the fifth and last of the Panch Kedar, at about 2,200 m in the Urgam valley of Chamoli district. Shiva's matted hair (jata) is worshipped here in a small shrine set against rock. It is the only Panch Kedar temple that stays open throughout the year. The motor road now reaches Devgram village, leaving a walk of only about 300 m (earlier it was a trek of about 12 km from Helang on the Rishikesh–Badrinath highway). The Dhyan Badri temple, one of the Sapta Badri, is close by at Urgam.

Timings

• Season: Open all year – the only Panch Kedar temple not closed in winter
• Temple hours: approx. morning to evening; confirm locally (no published timings found)

Darshan types and costs

• General darshan – Free

Sevas and costs

• Abhishek / puja – Varies – dakshina agreed with the priest (Mornings)
• Maha Shivaratri worship – Free to attend (Feb/Mar)

How to book darshan

No booking needed. Arrange any puja with the priest on arrival.

Kalpeshwar – background (no official temple website found)

Dress code

No formal code; modest clothing and warm layers in winter.

Best time to visit

Any time of year. March–June and September–November are most pleasant. In July–August the Helang–Urgam road is prone to landslides; in winter, snow may block the road for a time.

How to reach

• air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun – about 270 km to Helang by road.
• rail: Rishikesh (Urgam is about 253 km from Rishikesh by road per Wikipedia).
• road: Rishikesh–Badrinath highway (NH7) to Helang, a short way before Joshimath, then a narrow road up the Urgam valley to Devgram; about 300 m walk to the temple.

Festivals

• Maha Shivaratri – Feb/Mar
• Shravan month – Jul–Aug