“Gods were married at a nearby temple”, someone said. This sentence was enough to ignite my curiosity. So, without delay, I was on my way there. Scriptures state, Lord Shiva and Parvati married at Triyuginarayan temple, and the ceremonial fire has been burning since. This mystical temple attracts devotees.

ABOUT TRIYUGINARAYAN TEMPLE

The Triyuginarayan temple is a Vishnu temple in Rudraprayag, Uttrakhand. It is a sacred Hindu temple. Devotees from all over visit the temple before or after visiting the Kedarnath temple. The temple shares its resemblance with the Kedarnath temple. It is a Vishnu temple, but many visitors associate this temple as Lord Shiva and Parvati’s wedding locale. Another sacred feature is the eternal fire (dhuni) burning inside the temple. This fire has been burning since Shiva and Parvati’s wedding.

Tri means 3; yuga means an epoch or era; Narayan is Lord Vishnu’s, one of several names. That’s how the temple gets its name. It is also known as the Akhand Dhuni temple. It refers to the eternal fire outside the temple. Pilgrims have been adding logs to the fire for three yugas to keep it burning. Devotees believe the ashes from the Kund (fire) foster happy marital relations. You can add a log to the Kund for Rs.10.

SACRED KUNDS AT TRIYUGINARAYAN TEMPLE.

The temple shares resemblance with the Kedarnath temple. The main temple is stone. There are other smaller shrines in the temple courtyard dedicated to various deities.

The temple courtyard has 4 Kunds (ponds), and each pond serves a different purpose and meaning. They are- Vishnu kund, Brahma kund, Rudra kund and the Saraswati kund. Devotees believe that the Gods bathed in these Kunds before the wedding ceremony. The Rudra Kund is the largest and is for bathing. Visitors wash their hands and feet here before entering the temple. Next, the Vishnu Kund is for cleansing. Water from the Brahma Kund is holy and sipped by pilgrims. The Saraswati Kund is the most important. It Pilgrims believe the Saraswati Kund is important because it provides water to all the other Kunds. Legend states that Lord Vishnu’s navel is the Kund’s origin. Several pandits will perform pujas. The pujas are performed at the stone next to the Rudra Kund or Near the Bhim Shila.

Next to the Saraswati Kund is a stone. It is known as Brahma Shila. It marks the exact place where Lord Shiva and Parvati got married. The wedding was a huge event attended by the great sages of the time. Lord Vishnu stood in as Parvati’s brother during the ceremonies and Brahma as the priest.

HOW TO REACH TRIYUGINARAYAN TEMPLE?

Triyuginarayan temple is accessible by road from various towns such as Sonprayag, Guptkashi, Rudraprayag and others. ROAD:- There is a narrow motorable road to the temple. You can take taxis/buses to the temple. Buses are few, but taxis are readily available. Sonprayag is the closest town to the temple. You can take a taxi from here. Distance:- Sonprayag is 7.2 km from the temple. It takes 40-50 minutes to reach here due to the road work.
Guptkashi is 37.6 km from the temple and takes 2 hours.
The road to the temple is a narrow mountain road with numerous blind turns.

TRAIN:– The train station in Rishikesh is the closest. You can take a bus/taxi to Sonprayag. Daily 3, buses depart from Rishikesh. Or you can also book or share a cab to Sonprayag. From Sonprayag, take a taxi to the temple.

FLIGHT:- Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun is the closest airport. Taxis and buses to Sonprayag are available. Daily, only two buses depart from Dehradun to Sonprayag. If you miss those, taxis are another option. From Sonprayag, you can take a taxi to the temple.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The temple is open seven days a week from 7 am to 7 pm. The main temple is closes from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. You can still visit the Kunds. But for that hour, entry to the Vishnu temple and the fire is closed.

The best time to visit the Triyuginarayan temple is during the summer months from April to June and during the Autumn months, October to November. During the winter months, the temple is covered in thick layers of snow and making access difficult. June to September, there is heavy rainfall. There are high chances of landslides during these months.

WHERE TO STAY?

The accommodations near the char dhams include guesthouses, homestays or small hotels with basic facilities. There are numerous accommodation options in Guptkashi, Sonprayag, Sersi.

*DISCLAIMER:- This is not a sponsored post.

• CAMP NIRVANA Camp Nirvana in Guptkashi. Many people forgo staying in Guptkashi because it is far from Gaurikund. But if you are looking for a hygienic and pleasant place to stay with family or friends, then Camp Nirvana is just the place. They have both tents and cottages. They have another establishment in Barkot.

• SHIVALIK VALLEY RESORT Shivalik Valley resort in Sonprayag. It is a family-friendly place. There are a few clothing shops and a medical nearby. Many people who are walking to Kedarnath prefer staying here due to its proximity to Gaurikund.

• GMVN GUESTHOUSE The GMVN guesthouse in Triyuginarayan. It is just a few meters from the temple. It is one of GMVN’s pleasant properties. Also, it offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

It takes about 3 hours for the round trip from Sonprayag. After visiting the temple, walk towards the GMVN guesthouse. From there, you will have an unobstructed view of the snow-laden mountains and the town. So on your next trip to Uttrakhand, be sure to visit the Triyuginarayan temple. Also, recently it has become a popular place for destination weddings.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

Sometimes you just need to change your altitude.

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On a trip to the Char dhams- Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath? And want to add a little adventure to your trip? Here are a few places to liven up your trip- Gartang Gali, Triyuginarayan temple, Mana village and more.