Kalpeshwar Temple

Starting with Kedarnath followed by Tungnath, Rudranath, and Madmaheshwar, the famous pilgrimage circuit of Panch Kedar concludes at Kalpeshwar. It is the only temple among the five that remains open throughout the year and is accessible by motorable road, although only for skilled drivers. Situated about 287 km from Dehradun, Kalpeshwar temple is located in Urgam village in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. Jeep and taxi service are available mostly to Sagar village, from where you can take a taxi to Urgam village. After reaching Urgam, you need to trek 2 km to the temple.

Nestled in the lush green mountains and dense forest, the temple offers calmness and serene natural beauty. A passage through a small cave leads to the small stone temple of Kalpeshwar, where you can worship Shiva in his matted hair form. En route to the temple, you can also see the confluence of Alaknanda and Kalpganga rivers. Moreover, in the dense valley of Urgam, you can find the apple orchards and terrace fields where villagers usually grow potatoes.

Temple's history dates back to the Dwapar era which was constructed by Pandavas. According to folklore, after defeating Kauravas, Pandavas were in great grief and wanted to atone for their sins. For this, they sought refuge from Lord Shiva and went to Kashi. However, Shiva was incensed by the dishonesty and death in Kurukshetra. As a result, Shiva did not want to meet Pandavas and disguise himself as a bull. When the Pandavas could not find Shiva in Kashi, they continued their search and eventually reached Guptkashi.

During the search, Bhim noticed Shiva in the form of a bull grazing near a field. When Bhim tried to catch his tail and hind legs, Shiva, in the bull form, disappeared into the earth. Amazed, the Pandavas looked around, and suddenly saw Shiva appearing at five different places in his five body parts; the Hump in Kedarnath, Hands in Tungnath, Face in Rudranath, Navel in Madmaheshwar, and matted hair in Kalpeshwar. 

Seeing Shiva in his true form, the Pandavas were elated and begged for his forgiveness. They then worship Shiva at all five places and constructed temples to honor and venerate him. Impressed by their devotion, Shiva forgave them for their sins.