Dedicated to Lord Shiva's elder son, Kartikeya, Kartik Swami is a temple of mystic ambiance and exquisite views.
The popular Hindu temple is perched on a hilltop at an elevation of 3050 m and situated near Kanak Chauri Village on Rudraprayag-Pokhari route in the district of Rudraprayag of the state Uttarakhand.
In order to reach the temple, one has to undergo a 3 km thrilling trek that starts from Kanak Chauri Village. The route of the trek is rugged but it assures astonishing verdure to relish the exquisiteness of nature.
The religious site in the Garhwal Himalayas that is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya has a strong history behind it. As per Hindu Mythology, Lord Shiva challenged his sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya that whoever will first take seven rounds of the universe will have the honor to be worshiped first. Hearing that, Lord Kartikeya headed off to circle the universe on his vehicle, whereas, Lord Ganesha took seven round of his parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Impressed by Ganesha, Lord Shiva gave him the privilege of being worshipped first. Resultant, Lord Kartikeya showed his anger on the decision and sacrificed his body and bones to his father as reverence.
It is believed that this whole incident took place here, and thus, the temple is named as Kartik Swami. Lord Kartikeya is also known as Lord Kartik Murugan in South India, where he is believed to have settled later.
Apart from being a prominent tourist attraction, Kartik Swami is also renowned for offering the magnificent sunrise and heart-melting sunset views. Evening prayers, chanting of mantras, and maha bhandaras are the major attractions of the temple for tourists. Moreover, the shrine houses an idol of Lord Kartikeya and here few festivals and events like Kartik Poornima and 11-days-long Kailash Yatra are observed with much zeal. Once here, one has the chance to view some top attractions standing in the form of snow-clad Himalayan peaks of Bandarpoonch, Kedarnath Dome, Meru & Sumeru, Chaukhamba Peak, Neelkanth, Dronagiri, Nanda Ghunti, Trishul, and Nanda Devi group of peaks. Apart from the breathtaking views and indescribable feeling, the trek to the temple also offers an opportunity for bird watching, camping, and village tourism.
Where to Stay near Kartik Swami Temple?
Vishnuprayag being a small destination have fewer accommodations. Thus, a better place to find a variety of hotels near Vishnuprayag would be in Joshimath. The town offers a plethora of best staying places that range from budget to mid-range and ensures a comfortable and memorable experience.
How to Reach Kartik Swami Temple?
One can access the Kartik Swami Temple through a 3 km trek from Kanak Chauri Village which is at a distance of just 40 km. The Kanak Chauri village is situated on Rudraprayag-Pokhari route for which cabs on hire are available from different parts of the state and Delhi as well. Therefore, roadways are the best way to reach Kanak Chauri from where one has to trek to Kartik Swami Temple.
Overview:
Trek
distance: 3 km
Difficulty
level: Easy
Ideal
for: Beginners
Altitude:
3050 m
Best
time: January to June, and October to December
Location:
Rudraprayag, Garhwal
Starting
point: Kanakchauri Village
Nearest
railway station: Haridwar Railway Station (nearly 205 km away)
Nearest
airport: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (nearly 222 km away)
Known for: Religious site, trekking, sunset & sunrise, bird watching, mesmerizing views
As per Hindu legendary beliefs, Sage Narada visited the celestial court of Shiva at Mount Kailash to present him a fruit, the gnana-palam (literally, the fruit of knowledge). He decided to award it to whoever of his two sons who first encircle the world thrice. Accepting the challenge, Murugan (Karthikeya) started his journey around the globe on his mount peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and Shakti combined, circumambulated them and won the fruit. Murugan was furious and felt the need to get matured from boyhood and hence chose to remain as a hermit in Palani hill (Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu).
(Two Almost Similar Stories in Two Temples in North and South India)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are welcome