Madmaheshwar: One of the Five Kedar Temple

Madhyamaheshwar is the little quaint hamlet named after the Madhyamaheshwar temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This North Indian style architecture temple is situated in the Mansoona Village of Uttarakhand and is nestled at an elevation of around 3,497 meters above the sea level. One needs a great determination to reach this place as it is only accessible through a difficult trek. It is easy to trek till Bantoli but then from there, it requires great training to move further as there is a steep ascent. Madhyamaheshwar Temple is the fourth shrine among the temples visited in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. Madhyamaheshwar is paranormally covered with the snow-capped Himalayas at the right side, dense alpine trees on the left and the dense forests at its backdrop. One can spot numerous Shepherd huts, village houses, lush green meadows of alpine and the Madhyamaheshwar Temple which when combined completes this pious village. Madhyamaheshwar is renowned as the place where the stomach part or navel of Lord Shiva is being worshipped. There are 2 chambers inside the temple- the inner sanctum and the outer one. The significance of the place has been mentioned in the Vedas and Mahabharata epic. The temple gets crowded by numerous devotees during the elaborated evening Aarti of Lord Shiva.

About Madmaheshwar Temple

Legends

There are various legends and myths related to Madhyamaheshwar Temple among which one of the legends of Madhyamaheshwar tells us about the penance performed by Pandavas for getting free from the sins of Fratricide. They had killed their cousins the Kauravas during the war of epic Mahabharata. Lord Krishna who was their most trusted benefactor suggested them to seek pardon from Lord Shiva and to bless them with salvation but Lord Shiva left Kashi and moved to the Himalayas. Then Pandavas started following him so Lord Siva transformed himself into a bull. Bhima recognized Lord Shiva and persuaded him so he entered the earth to escape himself. It is believed that the bull manifested itself in the Panch Kedar and Madhyamaheshwar is also one of them where Lord Shiva is being worshipped as a navel of the bull. Madhyamaheshwar can be reached from Ransi Village by covering a trekking distance of 16 km from there.

Nearby Places to Visit

Being a religious destination Madhyamaheshwar is not known for many sightseeing places. However, some of the places of Madmaheshwar hold mythological connotations, especially from the holy epic Mahabharata. However, there are 3 astonishing places in Madmaheshwar where tourists can spend their leisure time. You can explore some of the most happening places in Madmaheshwar, picnic spots and things to do, with the help of this article.

Kanchani Tal

This sapphire-hued lake ideally enhances the beauty of the majestic landscapes comprised of colorful flower gardens, grass-covered mountains, and snow-clad mountains. Kanchani Tal is a glacial lake that can only be reached by covering the 16 km trekking distance. This crystal clear lake is situated at an elevation of 4200 meters above sea level. The trek to Kanchani Tal is quite arduous and so it needs proper training to cover that trekking distance. Mountain peaks and several other enchanting sceneries encircle this pristine lake. You can get the splendid view of the snow-capped mountains from the lakeside. The floral ambiance of this lake makes it a suitable bay for camping.

Budha Madmaheshwar

This astounding shrine is nestled at an elevation of around 14,000 feet above the sea level and is located at a 2 km trekking distance from Madmaheshwar Temple and it offers the best view of the imposing Chaukhamba-Mandani Peaks. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and offers the unprecedented views of the imposing Himalayas. The uniqueness of the Prasad offered at the shrine is quite surprising. Devotees offer biscuits and chocolates to the lord. The mirror image of the mountain ranges reflecting in the beautiful water pools is quite appealing to the tourists.

Nandi Kund Lake

This pristine lake of Uttarakhand is settled amidst the lofty Himalayan Ranges of Garhwal. It is settled at an elevation of approx 3497 meters to 4800 meters above sea level in Madhyamaheshwar-Kalpeshwar Trail. This beautiful lake has been spread over an area of around one and a half kilometers and this lake is the only source of Madhyamaheshwar Ganga River. Nandi Kund is surrounded by the imposing Chaukhamba group of peaks which is like a treasure for the trekkers. The bone-chilling wind blowing in the environment and the stupendous view of the crystal clear lake takes away all your sorrows and worries. Spirituality lingers in the atmosphere where devotees pay their homage not only at the shrine but also to the old woods which are associated with Pandavas.

How to Reach

It is well connected with most of the towns and cities of Uttarakhand. This article gives you detailed information about the routes connected with Madmaheshwar which are accessible by Rail, Air, and Road.

By Air – The closest airport to Madmaheshwar is Jolly Grant Airport which is located at a distance of 235 km from Madmaheshwar. This sacred place is well connected with various other cities from where you can get the frequent flights. From the Airport, you can easily get the taxis to Ukhimath and from Ukhimath you can get the direct taxi to Ransi Village.

By Train – Haridwar Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Madmaheshwar and is located at a distance of 202 km from Ukhimath. Haridwar is a well-connected Railway station from other railway stations of the country.  From Rishikesh, you can hire a taxi or you can even get a bus to reach Ukhimath.

By Road – This is the most convenient way to reach Madmaheshwar as you get the direct bus to Ukhimath from Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. However, several buses ply from Haridwar and Rishikesh and you can get frequent buses from there which you might not get from Delhi and Dehradun. Several inter-state and intra-state buses ply in Uttarakhand through the well-connected motorable roads. Taxis to Ukhimath are easily available from many of the major destinations of Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Gaurikund, Gopeshwar. Ukhimath lies on the road connecting Guptkashi with Gopeshwar.

Best Time to Visit

The temple is being closed during winter and Ukhimath becomes the winter home of Madhyamaheshwar temple. Ukhimath is the winter abode of Baba Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar.

Madhyamaheshwar in Summer – This is the most ideal time to go for Madhyamaheshwar Darshan as the climatic condition is much favorable than any other seasons. The weather is quite pleasant, moderate, and very comfortable for the visit. The temperature ranges around 15 degree Celsius which is quite helpful to go on the sightseeing of the nearby places.

Madhyamaheshwar in Monsoon – This region receives mild or scanty rainfall during monsoon and makes it a perfect season to get out of the hectic life of the city and get maddened in the beauty of snow-clad mountains, trekking trails, spiritualism and many more.

Madhyamaheshwar in Winter – If you are at Madhyamaheshwar for spiritualism and want to pay your offering at Madhyamaheshwar Temple then winter is not a good idea. The temple is closed during winter and the idol is taken to Ukhimath. With an average temperature of 4 degree Celsius the place sometimes witnesses sub-zero levels. You can get the panoramic views of snowfall occurrence at Madhyamaheshwar resulting into brass monkey weather.

Accommodation

You do not have many options available for the accommodation at Madmaheshwar as the only place of accommodation is homestay. The residents are quite kind-hearted, helpful, and give a warm welcome to their guests. Although you will not get luxurious facilities in Madmaheshwar you will feel like home and will get the home-like facility at the home stays. Do not worry about the hygiene and the freshness of the place and the food. So, homestay facility in Madmaheshwar experiences like comfort beyond the expectation.