Rudranath — The Face of Shiva in the Alpine Meadows

The face of the divine bull

Rudranath, where the face (mukh) of Shiva appeared, is the wildest of the Panch Kedar — a multi-day trek through bugyals (alpine pastures) with views of Nanda Devi and Trishul. The deity is worshipped as a natural rock face within a small stone temple; the approach passes sacred kunds like Surya Kund and Chandra Kund.

Tradition

Like all Panch Kedar temples, Rudranath is bound to the story of the Pandavas’ search for Shiva after the Kurukshetra war — read the full narrative on the Kedarnath & Mahabharata page and the overview on the Panch Kedar page.

Visiting

Verify current route and weather conditions before travel, and carry proper mountain gear. Winter access varies by temple; check locally.