Gopinath Temple

Gopinath Temple in Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand

A much-revered shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar is said to have been commissioned by king Saggar. Although the exact dates of construction are not known, it is estimated to have been built sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries. The inscriptions present on the divine trident placed in the temple dates back to the 12 century. The Gopinath Temple is the home of Rudranath, one amongst the Panch Kedar temples. The Shivalinga here is worshipped as Ekanan (face of Lord Shiva) in his Mridh Roop (avatar of Lord Vishnu). Architecture of Gopinath temple resembles that of other Shiva temples in Uttarakhand such as Kedarnath and Tungnath.

The temple architecture consists of a large central dome which constitutes the sanctum sanctorum. Swayambhu Shivling, which is known as Gopinath, is placed inside the sanctorum and has 24 doors. The famous Shiva Trident which is 5m long is placed inside the temple’s courtyard. One can also find partially damaged idols in the temple premises. The main temple is constructed in Nagra Pattern. The construction of this temple made of gorgeous Shilas and the nature of architecture attracts everyone. There are many small-big Shivling present in the temple premises. In the premises of the temple, there are also temples of Mata Durga, Shri Ganesh and Shri Hanuman Ji.

There is a legend associated with the trident (Lord Shiva’s weapon) in the temple compound. As per mythology, it is the same trident that Lord Shiva is said to have thrown at Lord Kamadeva (the God of love) when the latter tried to disrupt Lord Shiva’s meditation. The trident, which is a nationally-protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, is fixed to a spot and the local residents believe that it can only be moved by a true devotee.

This is the only temple of Lord Shiva where water and milk are not offered to the Shivling.

Legend and Mythology About Gopinath Temple

According to the legend, the trident in the temple courtyard belongs to Lord Shiva. Another legend says that, after the death of Goddess Sati and the killing of a demon named Tadaka Sur, has a connection with the place. When Goddess Sati sacrificed her body, Shiva sat in meditation posture at this place. On the other hand, because of the terror of Tadka Sur, Indra left the heaven and Tadaka Sur fought on all three sides. Tadaka Sur had a boon that only Shiva’s son could kill him.

This is the reason that the gods asked Brahma for a remedy for this, and Brahma dev sent Kamdev to disturb Shiva’s penance. When Shiva’s penance was broken because of Kamdev’s arrows, he became very angry and he killed him with his trident. Shiva hurled his trident in order to kill Kamadeva (God of Love) when the latter tried to disrupt Lord Shiva’s meditation. The trident got fixed in that spot and has been there ever since. It is believed that only a slightest touch of a true devotee can shake the trident which otherwise remains unmoved even with brute force. Another belief is that when Lord Shiva turned Kamadeva into ashes, his wife Rati did penance at Gopeshwar. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva assured her that her husband would come back to life.

According to a popular local lore, there once lived a cow here who would offer milk to a Shivalinga (a representation of Lord Shiva) everyday. Seeing this, the king decided to erect a shrine for the lord at the spot and that was how the Gopinath temple came to be.

Weather at Gopeshwar; Best time to Visit Gopinath Temple

Gopeshwar is known for its pleasant weather. However, summer and winter are considered the ideal seasons to visit the place with pilgrims mostly thronging in the summer and monsoon months.

Summer
The weather during the season of summer remains pleasant. April to June are the months of summer in Gopeshwar and the temperature during this time of the year ranges from 15°C to 30°C. This is the peak season for tourists and pilgrims to visit the place.

Monsoon
Monsoon in Gopeshwar begins in the month of July and ends in September. The temperature during these months varies between 15°C and 25°C and the place receives heavy rainfall. This is why it is advised to check the weather forecast before planning a trip here in monsoon.

Winter
Temperature of Gopeshwar during the winter season might drop down to 2°C while the maximum temperature during this time of the year is 13°C. Moreover, the winters in Gopeshwar start in the month of October and last until March. This is another season which is considered ideal for tourists.

How to Reach Gopinath Temple in Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand

To reach Gopeshwar the nearest Railway station is Rishikesh while the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. Gopeshwar is also well connected to Almora , Rishikesh, and Dehradun by road.

By Flight
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest to Gopeshwar and is situated at a distance of about 225 km. Jolly Grant Airport is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. Gopeshwar is well connected by motorable roads with Jolly Grant Airport.

By Train
The nearest railway station to Gopeshwar is Rishikesh (about 205 km away). Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Trains to Rishikesh are frequent. Gopeshwar is well connected by motorable roads with Rishikesh. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and many other destinations to Gopeshwar.

By Road
Gopeshwar is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand. Buses to Rishikesh are available from Delhi. Buses and taxis to Gopeshwar are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Ukhimath, Srinagar, Joshimath etc. Gopeshwar is situated on the road connecting NH119 and NH58.

Tourist Attractions in and around Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar

Chandrika Devi Temple

Also known as Mahishasur Mardini, the temple is considered as one of the eight Siddh Peethas. This is the place where Chandrika Devi killed Mahishasur, hence it is known as the Mahishasur Mardini Temple.

Anusuya Devi Temple and Atri Muni Ashram

One of the important places to visit, the temple is located at a distance of 14 km from the town. Moreover, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati and is one of the famous pilgrim attractions in the district of Chamoli.

Chamola Nath Temple

Another pilgrim attraction, the Chamola Nath Temple is situated near the Block Development of Chamoli district. There is a belief that the district is named after the name of Devta Chamolanath.

Saggar Village

The village is located around 5 km from Gopeshwar and is one of the important tourist destinations because it’s the starting point of Rudranath Trek. This trek is the toughest amongst the Panch Kedar.

Interesting Places Around Gopeshwar

1. Tungnath
2. Anusuya Devi
3. Rudranath
4. Badrinath
5. Kedarnath
6. Vaitarni Kund

What is Gopinath Temple Famous for?

This temple is famous for a variety of reasons:

1. The main attraction of Gopeshwar is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Hundreds and thousands of devotees come here to seek blessings and offer prayers to the Lord.
2. This temple is therefore also important, because, at this place, the idol of Rudranath Ji is kept in the winter season. Rudranath Ji is worshipped every day in this temple in the winter. During Shivratri, devotees gather in this temple to worship Lord Shiva.
3. There is also an ancient trident ( Trishul) made of metal here.It is believed that no man can shake trident ( Trishul) with his physical strength if a true devotee touches the trident ( Trishul) with any finger, then vibrate begins to grow in it.

Tourists Can Visit This Temple During Their Char Dham Yatra

Among the countless religious sites and circuits that devotees visit in Uttarakhand, one of the most prominent is the Char Dham Yatra. This Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – nestled high up in the Himalayas. The Yamunotri temple, lodged in a narrow gorge close to the source of River Yamuna (the second-most sacred Indian river after River Ganga) in Uttarkashi district, is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The district of Uttarkashi is also home to Gangotri dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. Located in the Rudraprayag district lies Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath, home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Baba Rudranath is also worshipped in the same temple in winters. In Uttarakhand, during the pilgrimage to Chardham, Gopi Nath situated in Gopeshwar is also visited. This temple is open throughout the year, due to which devotees always visit this temple.

Gopeshwar is also visited by pilgrims on their way to Badrinath. Here, tourists can shop for local hand-made pickles, jams, craft and decorative objects, and handloom products.

All the road trip enthusiasts can opt to travel to Gopeshwar either via inter-state tourist buses or may choose to self-drive. Both the options are comfortable and economical if you are arriving from nearby cities.

1. Gangotri – 340 km via NH 7 and NH 34
2. Uttarkashi – 246 km via NH 7
3. Dehradun – 253 km via NH 7
4. Joshimath – 60 km via NH 7
5. Lansdowne – 215 km via NH 7
6. Kausani – 146 km via Karanprayag Gwaldam Bageshwar Almora Nainital Road