Shri Rudranath Temple
High meadows above Gopeshwar, inside the Kedarnath Musk Deer (Wildlife) Sanctuary, Chamoli district · Lord Shiva as Rudranath, worshipped in his face (Ekanan, 'one-faced') form – a natural rock face of Shiva
The fourth Kedar, where Shiva's face is worshipped in a rock shrine in the high meadows – the longest and hardest walk of the Panch Kedar.
Rudranath is a small rock-cut shrine in the alpine meadows above Gopeshwar, at roughly 3,500–3,600 m (sources vary). Here Shiva is worshipped as Ekanan Rudra – his face, which is said to have appeared here when his bull form sank into the earth. It is the fourth of the Panch Kedar and is widely regarded as the hardest to reach: the usual route is about 20 km each way from Sagar village near Gopeshwar, crossing Lyuti Bugyal, Panar and the Pitradhar ridge. The temple is open from about mid-May to October; in winter its deity is worshipped at the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar. Because the trail lies inside the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, the Forest Department regulates entry.
Timings
- Season: Usually mid-May to October. The opening date is fixed by panchang and announced on Basant Panchami (January/February) at Gopinath temple, Gopeshwar; 2026 opening: 18 May 2026. Closing dates vary – check locally.
- Temple hours (season): approx. early morning to evening; confirm with the priests
- Trail entry: In 2025 the Chamoli administration allowed entry to the trail only until 2:00 PM (reported); check the current rule
- Winter seat: Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar (approx. Oct/Nov – May)
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Puja / abhishek by the temple priest – Varies – dakshina agreed with the priest (Mornings in season)
- Pind daan at the Vaitarani – Varies – agree with the priest (Daytime in season)
- Doli Yatra and opening – Free to attend (Mid-May (18 May in 2026))
- Shravan Purnima fair – Free (Full moon of Shravan (Jul–Aug), usually Raksha Bandhan)
How to book darshan
Registration/permit with the Forest Department (Kedarnath Wildlife Division) is required before entering the sanctuary trail. Permits (about ₹200 per Indian adult) are sold on the Kedarnath Wildlife Division's site, kedarnathwildlife.uk.gov.in, for the Sagar/Siroli and Kunjon-Maikot routes; dates can sell out, and each trekker must carry the original ID used for booking. Trekkers report a cut-off of about 2 PM for starting up the trail. Check current rules with the Kedarnath Wildlife Division office at Gopeshwar before you travel. No booking is needed for darshan.
Panch Kedar information (BKTC) – Rudranath permits are issued by the Forest Department
Dress code
No formal code. Trekking clothes, rain gear and warm layers.
Best time to visit
Mid-May to June and September to the closing in October. Avoid July–August: heavy rain, cloud on the ridges and slippery trails.
How to reach
- air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun – about 220–260 km to Gopeshwar by road.
- rail: Rishikesh (about 210 km to Gopeshwar).
- road: Rishikesh – Rudraprayag – Karnaprayag – Chamoli – Gopeshwar, then about 5 km to Sagar village, the usual starting point. Other routes start from Mandal (via Anusuya Devi) and Gangolgaon.
Festivals
- Opening and doli yatra – Mid-May
- Shravan Purnima fair – Jul–Aug
- Closing and return to Gopeshwar – October