Rudraprayag

Total Area: 610 Mts.
Clothing: Summer - Cotton, Winter - Woolen
Best Season: Round the year.
Languages/Dialects: Garhwali, Hindi & English

Rudraprayag is named after the Lord Shiva (Rudra),The entire region of Rudraprayag is blessed with immense natural beauty, lakes & glaciers , important Hindu temples such as Kedarnath, Shankaracharya Samadhi , Gaurikund ,Son Prayag , Panch Kedar ,Madmaheshwar,Tungnath, Koteshwar , Guptkashi etc.

This small town , Rudraprayag , is situated at the holy confluence of river Alaknanda and river Mandakini , at a distance of 34 kms. From Srinagar (Garhwal). The presence of two separate routes for Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham from Rudraprayag render great importance to the place. There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath.

Sites/Temples
Kedarnath
Situated at an altitude of 3584 mts from the sea level on the head of holy river Mandakani, the great shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. Majestic Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.Lord Shiva is also called Kadar that's why this tample is called Kadarnath.The Kedarnath Temple has an imposing impressive sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by white snow covered mountains. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th centuary A.D. The tample stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple which is belived to be built by the great Pandavas. The inner walls of the tample are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology.A large statue of the Nandi Bull stands out side the tample as a guard of Lord Shiva. The tample is believed to be more than 1000 years old.The architecture of Kedarnath temple is a wonder to the mordern architects, as to how those heavy slabs of stones had been placed perfectly in those earlier days. The tample is built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones.

Son Prayag
On the way to Kedarnath , Son Prayag is situated at the confluence of river Basuki and Mandakani. This holy place,Son Prayag,has a great importance in religious people. It is believed that a mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag helps one to attain the Baikunth Dham or Nirvana.

Shankaracharya Samadhi
Shankaracharya Samadhi is in Rudraprayag District.It is located just behind the holiest tample of Hindu's Kedarnath .It is believed that after setting up the four Dhams in India, Adi Guru Shankaracharya went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Madmaheshwar Tample
The temple of Madmaheshwar is one of Panch Kedars The rigid journey to this place involves many sacred places and one see the unparell beauty of nature .The journey is truely very adventurous .The treck starts from Guptkashi to Kalimathand than from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar .The route is full of wild unparalleled scenic beauty and engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks.Before reaching to Madmaheshwar one sees the Gaundar at the confluence of Madmeshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga.Lord Shiva is worshipped here in the form of belly.

Panch Kedar
The five tample of Lord Shive are called Panch Kadar and these temples are Kedarnath, Kalpnath,Tungnath, Madmaheshwar and Rudranath which form the Panch Kedar.

Guptkashi
Guptkashi is situated at an altitude of 1319 mts above the sea level.Guptkashi has a great singnifance in devootee .it is as revered as Kashi because the two streams of the Ganga and the Yamuna are believed to meet. The ancient temple of Vishwanath ,Ardhnareshwar and Manikarnik Kund are the main places of attraction in Guptkashi.

Koteshwar Temple
Koteshwar Temple is situated on the holy bank of river Alaknanda at a distance of 3 kms. from the heart of Rudraprayag. The Koteshwar temple is in the form of a cave temple. There are many idols which have been formed naturally. It is said that Lord Shiva did meditation here before going to the Kedernath . A great fair is held here in months of August and September and thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva come here to worship him.

Festivals
As Rudraprayag is a district of temples which have a great religious importance to the Hindu's ,it hosts a number of festivals and events round the year such as the season at the "Kedarnath" temple or at "punch Kedar".The prayer at these great temple is no less than any festivals therefore there has always been festivals and events in the district Rudrapyayag.

Places like Guari Kund , Son Prayag , Madmaheshwar , Shankaracharya Samadhi and Guptkashi have fairs round the year , because these places are always visited by the pilgrims and the devotees not only from India but also from around the world for religious and other reason.

Excursions Around Rudraprayag
Gaurikund
Famous for the hot water sprigs and it's miraclous healing power this hamlet is also serves as the trekking base to Kedarnath.

Tri-Jugi Narayan
It is said that this place has witnessed the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati .Their marriage was solemnised in front of the Shiva Temple where an eternal flame has been lightning since their wedding. Tri-Jugi Narayan is situated at a distance of 12 Kms.from Sonprayag.

Chorabari Lake
This crystal clear,unspoilt,untouched by the mordern civilisation is located at the distance of 2 Kms. away from Kedarnath. Vasuki Lake Situated at a high altitude of 4,135 Mts. above the sea level Vasuki lake surrounded by the fabulous snow -clad mountains and greenery.It offers a picturesque view of the the Chaukhamba peak and other Mountain peaks of the Himalaya.

Son Prayag
The holy place Son-Prayag is situated at the confluence of river "Basuki" and "Mandakani" .The height of this place is 1,829 Mts. above the sea level and it is situated on the way Kedarnath . Son Prayag has immense religious significance among the Hindu and it is said that a dip in the holy water of Son Prayag helps devotees to attain the Baikunth Dham.

How to get there?
Rail
Rishikesh at a distance of 140 Kms. Connected by rail with all major cities of India

Air
Jollygrant at a distance of 110kms.

Road
Rudraprayag has a regular bus service to Dehradun,Haridwar,Rishikesh,Tehri etc.