Rudranath
रुद्रनाथ मन्दिर
also known as रुद्रनाथ मंदिर
“The face, worshipped as Nilkanth Mahadev in a natural rock shrine.”
Coordinates
30.53°N · 79.33°E
Direct from the trust
official channels — live today
Notice
valid until 30 Sept 2026
Monsoon landslide risk on the Garhwal approach roads
Through the 2026 monsoon the IMD has repeatedly placed Chamoli and Rudraprayag under orange and yellow rainfall alerts, and Down To Earth reported 142 roads closed across Uttarakhand after landslides in late July. Approach roads to every Panch Kedar trailhead run through this terrain. Check road status and the district administration's advisories on the day you travel, and treat a rain warning as a reason to postpone rather than push on.
Read the official noticeIntroduction
udranath Temple (Sanskrit: रुद्रनाथ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains in Uttarakhand, India. Located at 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) above sea level, this natural rock temple is situated within a dense forest of rhododendron dwarfs and Alpine pastures. The temple is the fourth temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region visited in a strict order starting with Kedarnath (Sanskrit: केदारनाथ) at an altitude of 3,583 m (11,755 ft), the Tungnath (तुंगनाथ)(3,680 m or 12,070 ft), Rudranath (रुद्रनाथ) (3,550 m or 11,500 ft), Madhyamaheshwar (मध्यमहेश्वर) (3,490 m or 11,450 ft) and Kalpeshwar (कल्पेश्वर) (2,200 m or 7,200 ft).
Legends & lore
The Rudranath Temple is believed to be established by the Pandavas, of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. After the Pandavas had defeated and killed their cousins — the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War, they wished to atone for the sins of committing fratricide (gotra hatya) and Brāhmanahatya (killing of Brahmins — the priest class) during the war. Thus, they handed over the reins of their kingdom to their kin and left in search of lord Shiva and to seek his blessings. First, they went to the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi), believed to be Shiva's favourite city and known for its Kashi Vishwanath Temple. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra War and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers. Therefore, he assumed the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal region. Not finding Shiva in Varanasi, the Pandavas went to Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, then standing astride two mountains started to look for Shiva. He saw a bull grazing near Guptakashi (“hidden Kashi” — the name derived from the hiding act of Shiva). Bhima immediately recognized the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold of the bull by its tail and hind legs.
Services & Support · सेवा
Soon, you can do more than read about Rudranath.
We’re building the infrastructure for verified pujas, transparent donations, and trust-rated local help around every shrine. Tell us where you want us first.
पूजा बुकिंग
Book a Puja
Connect with verified pujaris at Rudranath. Choose a puja, a date, and the offering — we handle the rest. Each pujari is KYC-checked and rated by the temple committee.
दान
Donate
Support Rudranath’s maintenance, annadana programs, and community work. Every paisa receipted, every disbursement public.
स्थानीय सेवा
Hire Local
Trust-verified local services around Rudranath — pujaris, drivers, cooks, tutors, plumbers — recommended by the temple’s community.