Rudranath Trek

Rudranath Trek – Part of Panch Pedar Yatra in Uttarakhand

Rudranath Trek location in 3600m, Rudra Nath is a remote but highly celebrated third pilgrimage site of the famous ‘Panch Kedar’ in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. 

This natural rock temple is situated within a dense forest of rhododendron dwarfs and Alpine meadows. The temple is the third of five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region that make up the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. Here, the deity Shiva’s face is revered as “Neelakantha Mahadeva.” The Pandavas are said to have built the temple after the great Mahabharata war. It is believed that after the war, the Pandavas left their reign in search of atonement, and in the process, they attempted to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva, on the other hand, was deeply affected by the bloodshed and refused to meet with the Pandavas. Lord Shiva hid in the Garhwal Himalayas in the form of a bull, and when he was caught by one of the Pandava brothers, the body of the bull submerged in the ground, only to later rapper in other forms, which is now popularly known as ‘Panch Kedar.’

The trek starts from Sagar Village, which is approximately 3 km away from Gopeshwar. The return route of this trek goes through the Anusuya Devi Temple. Rudranath should not be mistaken as any easy trek, hikers not accustomed to long journeys and altitudes might face some problems, hence it is generally advisable that trekkers practice a reasonable amount of physical fitness.

Key Points of Rudranath Trek

Some of the Trek Highlights

Before the trek starts, trekkers are subjected to beautiful vistas en route with stunning temples every few kilometers clearly stamping that yes, trekkers are indeed at the “Land of Gods, Uttarakhand”.

The trek officially begins in Sagar village and takes in a number of campsites along the way. The majestic meadows of Pun Bugyal and Punar Bugyal, with the Himalayan Mountains as a backdrop, are the closest thing to pure bliss. The trail to Rudranath is also covered in rhododendrons and changes in Himalayan vegetation after every few kilometers. 

Devotees would chant and celebrate the trail for the duration of the journey. The reverberation of “Har Har Mahadev” imbues you with a powerful spiritual presence.

The final reach of Rudranath is enough to overwhelm devotees with the chants of “Mahadev”. The temple is covered in long ribbons of marigold garlands, long happy queues of devotees and the calmness of the Rudranath, everything about this place will capture you in its essence.

Things to look out for-

• Souviners from Rishikesh are great for memories.
• There are countless photogenic vistas, so we recommend that you prepare yourself for any aesthetic shoots. The best pictures are those taken under a blue sky with snow-covered peaks in the background.
• Explore the tranquility of this holy site and submerge yourself in “Neelkanth Mahadev” blessings.
• The route goes through a ‘Pitradhar’ ridge where trekkers can look out for awe-inspiring views of Chaukhamba peaks and Kedarnath.

The altitude covered in Rudranath Trek 

• Rishikesh-340m
• Sagar village-1568m
• Pung Bugyal-2258m
• Rudranath-3600m

Best Time to Visit  Rudranath Trek

Rudranath temple is best visited during the months of May to November. Devotees and trekkers can enjoy the mild temperatures of these months. The unfavorable temperatures and precipitation make this trek a pre and post monsoon season trek. Temperatures typically range from 13 to 17 degrees Celsius during the day, with substantially colder nights.

Views along the journey

Rishikesh to Sagar village- Beautiful routes covered in Himalayan vegetation, Temple dedicated to Sagar in Sagar village.

Sagar village to Punar Bugyal-Pun bugyal after the 2hr journey from Sagar village before reaching Punar Bugyal is beautiful grassland with hills covered in green pastures and strong confluences of distant mountains. Pitradhar ridge lying En route provides a spectacular view of Chaukhamba Peaks.

Nearby places to visit in Rudranath Trek

Visit the famous sagar temple in the Sagar village, the village is a great exploration point for a start and end stop of a trek.

While returning from the temple trekkers can opt for trek via Anusuya Devi temple to Mandal further from where teams can either walk or take a cab to Sagar Village. The temple of Anusuya Devi is dedicated to goddess Sati. Sati was believed to be the wife of Atri Muni, one of the great sages from Saptarishi.

Is it safe

Set amidst the high altitude ranges, concerns regarding Rudranath Trek safety are undeniably very valid questions. Yes the trek to Rudranath is indeed very safe and reliable, trails and much clearer safety protocols are sure to ease anyone’s concern.

Difficulty level in Rudranath Trek

Because the top is relatively high in elevation for any beginner level trekkers we strongly recommend a reasonable level of physical fitness. We advise trekkers to physically and mentally prepare themselves prior to this trek. 

Any medical assistance that is required will be provided at any point of the journey; however, trekkers must consult their professional care before beginning any trek. We also strongly advise trekkers to learn about altitude sickness and to notify our teams as soon as any symptoms appear.

Weather Conditions in Rudranath Trek

Weather conditions depend on the time of the year trekkers are travelling. In the months leading up to and following the monsoon season, the daytime temperatures are moderate, but the nighttime temperatures are significantly lower. Monsoons receive moderate to heavy rainfall.

Things to carry in Rudranath Trek

1) Because nights at elevations tend to be considerably colder, we suggest having well-graded, warm and comfortable clothing along with good quality shoes.

2) Despite the fact that we handle medical crises, we urge individuals to keep their emergency kits at hand in any case of personal underlying illnesses.

3) Since the journey provides you with a picturesque view of many peaks, don’t forget to bring your camera along with extra batteries.

4) Our staff will consult with fellow trekkers about their luggage and, if lacking, will assist trekkers in obtaining any necessary equipment. Only the relevant luggage should be brought, as a result.

Other trekking Essentials-

Connectivity and Transactions

1) Because connectivity along the route is unpredictable, we urge people to do all of their work ahead of time.

2) Last ATM transactions available will be at Gaurikund but we recommend travelers to collect cash beforehand or while in Rishikesh as ATMs available at other places might not dispense cash at times.

How to Reach in Rudranath Trek

If you are travelling from any metropolitan city in India or from outside India, getting to the capital city of Delhi may be the first and most important step. All major modes of transportation, such as air, road, and rail, can take you to Delhi.

Rishikesh is connected to most major cities in India via all chief modes of transportation. Trekkers could perhaps conduct extensive research for their direct mode of transportation to ensure a much smoother arrival.

How to reach Rishikesh from Delhi

By air– Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Rishikesh. It is well connected to Delhi and many chief cities with daily flights. 

By road-Delhi has direct road routes to Rishikesh. Trekkers will have to book either a bus or private cabs. Prior booking for cabs and buses are easily available at various sites.

Delhi> Rishikesh >Sagar village

By railway– Nearest Railway station to Rishikesh will be Rishikesh Railway station. Since Rishikesh is connected to all major railway routes, trekkers can opt for a direct route or via Delhi. They can also opt for direct trains to Dehradun or Haridwar and then take a cab or bus to Rishikesh.

Some important points to note-

• Please note that we don’t provide timings schedules for transportation before Rishikesh. Subjected to various conditions the scheduled timings and availability of particular rides may differ. We recommend trekkers to reach out to our teams for any queries. You can drop an email or call us for an initial guided session.
• Our teams will be collecting trekkers at fixed points of airports, railway stations and bus stands. It is recommended that unless any delay arrives, trekkers are advised to reach the destinations at least 2 hours prior.

Short itinerary of  Rudranath Trek

Day  01-  Pick up to you from Dehradun  to Sagar village by tempo  traveler  (10/11 hours) over night stay hotel/ Home stay

Day  02- Trek  – from  to  Sagar village to pung bugyal  (6 km) (4/5 hours) (7138 eet) Over night stay In Cmap

Day 03- Trek from Pung Bugyal to panner bugyal  (6 km) over night stay Camp

 Day 04 –Trek from Panner bugyal to  Rudarnath (07 km) (5/6hrs) (7569 feet) overnight stay Camp

Day 05 – Trek from from  Rudarnath to   Pung Bugyal  (13 km)  (6/7 hours hours) over night stay Camp

Day 06– Trek from pung bugyal to Sagar village   (6 km) (4/5 Hours) over night stay Camp

Day 07- Trek from Sagar Village to Rishikesh / Dehradun (9/10 Hours)

Note: – Our service will remain from Rishikesh to Rishikesh – for more details please check includes or excludes

Things Himalayan Hikers Recommend

As previously stated, a camera, as well as spare batteries and memory cards, are recommended. We can assure and guarantee that you will be stopping frequently along the trail to observe the grandeur of the trekking experience.

We strongly recommend trekkers to prepare beforehand for the journey ahead. Regular practicing physical fitness and mental endurance will surely assist trekkers in great time.

After the trek, we strongly encourage trekkers to tag us on social media when they post any memories from the trip; this will not only prove invaluable to us with our work, but will also serve as a motivational example for all of our experts.

Why you should Choose us

We’re here to give you the greatest experience possible through the eyes of highly skilled and qualified specialists who have a passion for adventure sports. We are community members attempting to promote our favorite adventure sports while also supporting local businesses. We, at Himalayan hikers, dedicate ourselves to providing you with an unforgettable experience.