Trek RUDRANATH (04 Ni / 05 Day): 3600m

(Difficulty: Moderate to High)

Rudranath Trek is the perfect way to get your adrenaline pumping! This challenging trek takes you to Rudranath, one of the Panch Kedar temples located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is an ideal trek for trekkers who love to indulge in the tranquillity of nature and witness its beauty.

Rudranath is the highly revered temple of Lord Shiva is peacefully adorned in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is the fourth temple to visit in the circuit of Panch Kedar pilgrimage.

Rudranath temple is the toughest one to reach in comparison with other temples of Panch Kedar. The Himalayan peaks adding to the glory of Rudranath are Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.

Rudranath trek begins from Sagar village and passes through some of the most picturesque villages and forests of Uttarakhand. The trail passes through deep forests, waterfalls, and meadows which will leave you mesmerised by the beauty of nature. This trek is quite difficult as it involves steep ascent and descent, numerous passes.

The celestial temple is snuggled inside the rhododendron forests and the alpine meadows. The exhilarating trek to Rudranath temple can be either commenced from Sagar village, Helang or Urgam village.

Rudranath Trek Highlights

  • The trek starts from Gopeshwar and takes you through lush green forests and majestic snow-capped peaks. You can also experience some of the most awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas.
  • The trek will take you through some of the most beautiful and untouched parts of the Himalayas, including the Rudranath temple, which is one of the most important Shiva temples in the region.
  • You can get to see the holy lake of Tungnath, which is known for its religious significance. A visit to the sacred Mansarovar lake is necessary because without going there, the trip seems incomplete. 
  • Exploring the wild nature of the Himalayas offers an adventurous journey that will give you a lifetime of memories. The trek is perfect for all levels of trekkers, whether you are a beginner or experienced.

Best time for the Rudranath Trek

The summer months of May to October are the warmest and most popular times to go on the Rudranath Trek. During this time, the temperatures are at their highest and the trails are at their most accessible. Plus, the wildflowers make the scenery even more mesmerizing.

There are three main routes you can take to reach the Rudranath summit: 

  1. From Helang: Helang >> Urgam >> Kalpeshwar >> Dumak >> Bansi Narayan >> Panar >> Rudranath
  2. From Sagar: Sagar Village >> Liti Bugyal >> Panar Bugyal >> Pitradhar >> Rudranath (Suggested)
  3. From Mandal: Mandal Village >> Anasuya Temple >> Hansa Bugyal >> Naola Pass >>Rudranath

Route Plan

You can begin your journey from Rishikesh to Gopeshwar. From Gopeshwar travel to the Sagar village which is 5 km from Gopeshwar. From Sagar Village there is an 18km trek to Rudranath passing amid alpine forests, dwarf rhododendrons and gorgeous looking surroundings.

Since Rudranath is not a place where you can reach in just a single day. You must do 1-2 days of trekking. During the trek, you will arrive at several places where lodging facility is available. On the route from Sagar village to Rudranath, Liti Bugyal, and Panar Bugyal have the staying provisions.

The trek to Rudranath temple is steep and is between 18-22 kms from Sagar Village. It is the toughest trek among the 5 kedars.

Suggested Itinerary

 

Day 01: Rishikesh to Gopeshwar (Drive 210 kms)

Start our journey from Rishikesh up to Gopeshwar which is about 210 kms and night halt, this is about 5 kms short of Sagar village.

Day 02: Gopeshwar – Sagar to Pun Bugyal & Panar Bugyal (Trek 12 kms)

On next morning pack our bag with necessary trek equipment. We’ll see a gate from where our treks start. After 2 hrs we will reach Pun Bugyal, have breakfast there. Post our breakfast we’ll make our advance towards Panar Bugyal which will be our destination for the second day.

From here, i.e., Pun Bugyal we will climb uphill through the damp forest. As we move up, we will see the change in atmosphere and the vegetation. Here we can capture nature at its best as varied flowers, mushrooms, insects thrive here. After about 4 to 6 kms from Pun Bugyal, we’ll come across Litti Bugyal, we will have lunch there. It will take 3 hrs to reach Panar Bugyal from here. On reaching Panar Bugyal, roll on the soft carpeted grasslands of Pannar Bugyal. Here we will set up our tents and relax for the day.

Day 03: Panar Bugyal to Rudranath (Trek 08 kms)

Post breakfast, start early for Rudranath temple. We can see the Chaukhamba peak, perched at an elevation of 7,138 m above sea level. The Rudranath temple is 08 kms from Panar. After traversing from 02 hrs, we’ll come across Pitradhar, adorned with bells and flags.

About 01 km downhill from here, we will reach Naola Pass where we can have our Lunch. After traversing for about 04 kms, we will see the The Rudranath Temple besieged by the misty clouds. We will wait for the sandhya aarti at 6pm. Photography is prohibited here, so take the blessings from God and return to Naola Pass before the weather changes. Pitch our tents here and have an overnight stay. Alternatively, if we get permissions will pitch our tents in the vicinity of Rudranath temple and stay overnight there itself and return after morning aarti. If we don’t get permissions for overnight stay, we come down to Naola Pass and return for morning aarti at 8 am and finally descend.

Day 04: Rudranth to Mandal (Trek 20 kms)

Wake up early to start traversing downhill to Mandal Village. On reaching Mandal, check in at a hotel and have an overnight stay here.

Day 05: Mandal to Rishikesh

After having our breakfast, check out from the hotel and leave for Rishikesh.

The comprehensive price is INR 36,000/- (per person excluding GST) for a group size of 7-10 participants. Prepayment of 50% of the above price by each participant be paid up for confirmation. Remaining payment be made by 15 before the start to reserve climbing slots & secure all stay bookings.

Available Dates in June / Oct is as under: 

15.06.2024 To 15.10.2024

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions

  1. All return movement from Sagar village.
  2. If a participant can’t continue the acclimatization or can’t go to the summit, he / she can either return to the hotel or stay in the Tent Camp. For this additional stay, the charges shall be borne by the participant which are not included in the price.
  3. Mountain guides; Group climbing equipment; first aid kit; Accommodation and food.
  4. Trek Certificate.

Exclusions

  1. Personal clothing and equipment rentals.
  1. Insurance policy, we recommend 14 days insurance. 
  1. Snacks when climbing (fast carbohydrates: sweets, dried fruits, candies, etc.). 
  2. Tips or rewards for the porters & guides.

Pl note: Tips shall be borne by the individuals at their discretion, if the lead guide proposes for tips to the porters or to his team, it shall be decided through a discussion with the guides / instructors / tour lead and an equal share shall be given to the main guide for disbursement.

  1. (L) shall not be provided on the departure day.
  1. Offloading baggage allowance.
  1. Any other items not listed in the inclusions.

The above quote is subject to revision w.r.t environmental changes and valid until midnight of 15th June 2024.

Picture of Trek Rudranath

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