Kalpeshwar Mahadev – The Eternal Blessing of Lord Shiva in Urgam Valley

📖 Mythology & the Panch Kedar Connection

After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas wanted to get rid of their sins. But Lord Shiva didn’t want to meet them. He took the form of a bull and disappeared into the earth. His different body parts appeared at different places in Uttarakhand:

• Kedarnath – Hump

• Tungnath – Arms

• Madmaheshwar – Navel

• Rudranath – Face

• Kalpeshwar – Hair (Jata)

👉 Read my detailed articles on the other temples here:

• Kedarnath

• Madmaheshwar Trek

• Chopta Tungnath

🛕 Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple: Quick Info

• Location: Devgram, Urgam Valley, Chamoli district

• Altitude: 2,200 metres

• Main Deity: Lord Shiva (Jata)

• Type: Rock cave temple

• Accessible Months: Open all year

• Trek Distance: Only 3 km (easy)

🚗 How to Reach Kalpeshwar

1. Reach Helang village (on Rishikesh–Badrinath road)

2. Take a shared jeep or taxi to Devgram village (12 km)

3. Walk 3 km to reach the temple

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun
Nearest railway: Rishikesh

🌿 Urgam Valley – A Natural Paradise

Urgam Valley is a peaceful valley with green farms, rivers, and Himalayan apple orchards. You’ll also find:

• Friendly Garhwali villages

• Traditional homes made of stone and wood

• Beautiful views of Hathi Parvat, Gauri Parvat, and Dronagiri

🛕 Bansi Narayan Temple – A Hidden Gem

Just above Kalpeshwar, there is another very special place called Bansi Narayan Temple.

📍 Location:

• Near Dumak village

• Altitude: Around 3,600 metres

• Trek distance: Approx. 12–14 km from Kalgot village (Urgam side)

🌟 Significance:

• Dedicated to Lord Vishnu

• The only temple in this region where Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Bansi Narayan (Krishna playing flute)

• Believed to be over 1,000 years old

• Surrounded by open meadows and 360° Himalayan views

Every year in August, a local yatra and fair is organised. Villagers from Helang, Kalgot, Bansa, and Lyuti climb to this temple together.

🛕 Phyuli Narayan Temple – Locally Important Shrine

Another temple near Urgam is Phyuli Narayan, located close to Bansa village.

• Dedicated to Lord Narayan (Vishnu)

• Situated in a thick forest, it is a small but sacred place

• Very few tourists know about it — mostly visited by local villagers

• Peaceful surroundings, great for short hikes or spiritual walking

You can reach Phyuli Narayan by walking from Bansa village. It is a nice 1–2 hour local trek.

🥾 Kalpeshwar to Rudranath Trek

One of the most beautiful and hidden trekking routes in the Panch Kedar circuit is from Kalpeshwar to Rudranath.

Route:

Kalpeshwar → Lyuti Bugyal → Panar Bugyal → Pitradhar → Rudranath

• Takes around 2–3 days of trekking

• You’ll cross lush green meadows, wildflowers, and alpine forests

• The views on this trek are unbelievable, especially at Panar and Pitradhar

• Basic forest huts or tents are available along the way

This is a less crowded alternative to the Sagar–Rudranath route.

🏨 Where to Stay

• Homestays in Devgram and Kalgot

• Guesthouses in Urgam or Helang

• Tented accommodation possible for Bansi Narayan and Rudranath routes

📅 Best Time to Visit

🧘‍♂️ Final Words

If you are looking for something beyond the crowd of Kedarnath or Badrinath, then Kalpeshwar and its nearby divine places like Bansi Narayan and Phyuli Narayan are perfect. You can experience spiritual energy, natural beauty, and peace — all at once.

And for true pilgrims and trekkers, connecting Kalpeshwar to Rudranath is one of the best offbeat Panch Kedar routes. You’ll walk through hidden bugyals, local villages, and untouched forests — the real Himalaya.

✅ Also Read:

• • Difference Between Inner Line Permit & Protected Area Permit in Himalayan Treks
  • Goechala Trek Itinerary – A Detailed Guide
  • How Tea Estates Developed in Darjeeling – A Detailed History

You can also explore more on Himalayan treks like Darma Valley, Adi Kailash, and others on my website mohitbangari.com, where I share full guides, routes, permit tips and cultural info.

Do you know about Ramman festival of Salud-Dungra village? It’s one of the intangible world cultural heritage of India in UNESCO. You can read a detailed article on this topic here.