Kalpeshwar Temple

Significance

Kalpeshwar is the fifth and last temple of the Panch Kedar circuit, at about 2,200 metres in the Urgam valley. The matted hair, or jata, of Shiva is worshipped in this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage. It is the only Panch Kedar temple open throughout the year.

History and legend

In the Panch Kedar legend, Shiva, fleeing the Pandavas in the form of a bull, sank into the ground at Kedarnath, and his hair appeared here.

The temple was once reached only by a 12 km trek from Helang. The road now runs up to Devgram, leaving a walk of about 300 metres.

Before you go

• As the one Panch Kedar temple open in winter, Kalpeshwar can be visited when the others are snowbound.
• The Urgam valley road is rough; hire a local driver if you are not used to mountain roads.
• Badrinath is on the same road north, and the two are often combined in season.