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Rudranath
– 3rd Pancha Kedar
Shiva's face is worshipped at the Rudranath temple. It is about 2,286 m
above sea level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the distance is motorable
and 18 km is on foot. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque
bugyals (meadows) and involves trekking over high ridges (sometimes 4,000
m). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi,
Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of holy
kunds or ponds near the Rudranath temple like Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund.
The entire area is utterly enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty. Anusuya
Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional
trek of 3km.
Devotees come to Rudranath to offer ritual obeisance to their ancestors, for it is here, at Vaitarani river (the water of salvation), that the souls of the dead cross when changing world.