Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is home to many legends; some poplar while others not-so- often repeated, like the one about Lord Kartik. Perched on a hilltop near the village of Kanakchauri, Rudraprayag, the Kartik Swami temple is one of the most prominent ones dedicated to Lord Shiva's son, Lord Kartik, in the state. Situated atop Kronch Parvat, the temple pays homage to Lord Kartik, also known as Lord Muruga or Lord Murugan in parts of India, and his devotion to his parents.
While there are many legends about this temple, the most popular one dates back to the era when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's two sons - Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesha - were asked to circumambulate the universe seven times, Lord Kartik set off on the expedition, undertaking the challenging task of taking seven rounds of the universe, whereas Lord Ganesha took rounds of his parents, referring to them as his universe.
When Lord Kartik returned and learnt of how Lord Ganesha had completed the task and won the appreciation of Lord Shiva, he was enraged. The Puranas say that an angry Lord Kartik left Kailash, his parents' abode, and arrived at Kronch Parvat. Some legends say that after this, Lord Kartik went to a mountain named Srisailam in Southern India, where he was known as Skanda, one of his many names apart from Lord Muruga, Lord Murugan, and Lord Subramanya. Others say Lord Kartik was so furious, he sacrificed his physical self at Kronch Parvat to appease his parents.
| District | Uttarkashi |
| Nearest Railway | Rishikesh |
| Nearest Airport | Jolly Grant Airport |
| Famous For | Trekking |
| Altitude | Approximately 3,050 meters above sea level. |
| Languages | Hindi |
| Best Time to Visit | October to June |
Kartik Swami temple can be easily reached by bus, jeep and shared cab from Dehradun (5 hours) and from Rudraprayag (30 minutes).
Take a flight to Dehradun and then travel by road.
Nearest railhead for Rudraprayag is Rishikesh at a distance of around 140 km.
Chandrashila is the peak of the ridge hosting the famous Tungnath temple. It literally means "Moon Rock". It is located at a height of about 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) above sea level. This peak provides enchanting vistas of the Himalayas, including Nandadevi, Trisul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch and Chaukhamba peaks. There are various legends associated with this place. Chandrashila treks are one of the most popular treks among trekkers seeking the beauty of nature sans the crowd.
Chopta is a small region of meadows and evergreen forest area which is a part of kedarnath wildlife sanctuary located in Uttarakhand state, India and a base for trekking to Tungnath, third temple of Panch Kedar, which lies 3.5 kilometres away. Chopta is a picturesque hamlet which is still unexplored by travelers, is also famous as "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand". Wake up with cool salubrious breeze and chirping of birds in Chopta which is a far cry from the blaring horns of the cities.
Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located approximately 3 kilometres from Rudraprayag city centre. According to the legends, this place is considered to be the spot where Lord Shiva stopped for meditation on his way to Kedarnath. According to local mythology the temple has existed since the time of Bhasmasura - a demon who turned to ashes anyone whose head he touched.
There are many variations of passages the majority have suffered in some injected humour or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable.
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There are many variations of passages the majority have suffered in some injected humour or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable.
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Jesse Sinkler
29 August, 2025There are many variations of passages the majority have suffered in some injected humour or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable.
Reply