admin Updated on: December 11, 2018

All You Need to Know about Kalimath Temple

Dotted with countless shrines and pilgrimage sites, Uttarakhand is often known as the abode of Gods and Goddesses. And of those numerous sacred sites in Uttarakhand, one extremely popular one is Kalimath Temple. Engirdled by Kedarnath mountains, Kalimath Temple lies near the banks of River Saraswati, some 13 km north of Guptkashi, in Rudraprayag district. Devoted to Goddess Kali, the temple is perched at a height of around 1463 m above the sea level and is counted amongst the top religious tourism places in Rudraprayag. As per the Srimad Devi Bhagwat Mahapuran, Kalimath Temple is reckoned to be one of the 108 Shakti Peethas. Not just this, this ancient temple in Uttarakhand also has its mentioned in chapter 62 of Skanda Purana. An interesting fact about Kalimath Temple is that only the lower portion of Goddess Kali is worshipped here, while, the upper half is worshipped at Dhara Devi Temple located between Rudraprayag and Srinagar.

Besides Kali, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati are also worshipped here at Kalimath Temple. However, another unique thing about this Kali Mata temple is that a Shakti Yantra is being worshipped here instead of idols and images. Amongst those numerous Hindu festivals, Navratri is one significant event which the temple celebrates with great ardour and devotion. Moreover, some 8 km above the temple, there is located the Kalishila Temple where lies the marks of the footprints of Goddess. As per the beliefs, Kalishila Temple is said to be the place where the goddess thwarted and killed two demons – Nishumbha and Raktabija. Besides, this place is also believed to have 64 Yantras of Gods and Goddess. Kalimath is one of the famous temples of Goddess Kali in India which is thronged with oodles of tourists throughout the year.

An Insight into the Mythology Associated with the Temple

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Ancient legends highlight the significance of the Kalimath temple along with the importance of the temple’s deity. According to one of those folklores, Kalimath is the place where Goddess Kali took the form of a 12-year-old girl to defeat the demons – Nishumbha and Raktabija. After conquering the demons, and thus, saving the universe, Goddess Kali went underground here. That spot turns into a ditch and is considered to be sacred. Moreover, the spot is always kept covered by a silver plate and is only get uncovered on the occasion of the annual Navratri festival. This silver plate is treated as sacred, and hence, is worshipped as a holy symbol of Goddess Kali.

Another legend associated with Kalimath Temple states that once Daksha Prajapati – the father of Dakshayani Devi, insulted Lord Shiva, who was his son-in-law during the sacrifice performed by him. As a result of this, Goddess Sati – the wife of Lord Shiva sacrificed her body in reverence of Daksha Prajapati. This made Lord Shiva so angry that he began tandav (the dance of destruction) holding Sati’s burnt body; the portions of Goddess Sati’s body started falling at different places. The spots where Sati’s body parts fell became hallowed and are referred to, as Siddha Peeths. Kalimath is one of those sacred places.

The Significance of the Temple

Despite being situated on a hill, the temple of Kalimath remains accessible throughout the year for pilgrims. However, the best time to visit Kalimath Temple is the period of the nine-day festival – Navratri. The festival is regarded as highly auspicious and during these nine days, the temple marks a heavy gathering of pilgrims from far and wide. In order to show their reverence to Goddess, women keep fasts from morning till evening for the entire period of this festival. However, the eighth day of the festival is assumed to be highly significant for the temple as the day is devoted to Goddess Kal-Rathri – a holy form of Kali. This is the only day when that sacred ditch is opened by uncovering the silver plate. It is believed that on this day whosoever worship the Goddess will receive her blessings and all of his/her wishes will eventually come true. At the temple, there is also a tradition where the new vehicles purchased by people in the Kedarnath Valley bring first to Kalimath Temple to worship. Since the Kalimath Temple is located in the near proximity to Kedarnath, for pilgrims, it becomes one of the best places to visit during Kedarnath Yatra.

How to Get There?

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Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airhead from Kalimath which is located at a distance of around 204 km. Taxi services are available from the airport that will take you to Kalmath. Moreover, buses between Dehradun and Rudraprayag also ply on a regular interval. After reaching the airport, you can hire a taxi to Kalimath.

Those who prefer railway as their prime mean of travelling, the nearest railway stations to Kalimath are Rishikesh and Haridwar that are located at a distance of 186 km and 210 km, respectively. Amongst both the stations, Haridwar boasts a great connectivity to the temple. From the station, you can hire a cab to reach the destination.

However, the easiest way to reach Kalimath is roadways. Numerous taxis and buses run to and fro between the different parts of the Uttarakhand and Rudraprayag. From Rudraprayag, you can hire a cab to reach the temple.

Best Time to Visit

Since the revered temple of Kalimath is located amidst the Garhwal Himalayas, the weather of the region remains cold and chilly throughout the seasons. The months of Summer, i.e. from April to June, are the ideal time to visit Kalimath Temple. During these months, the temperature in the region remains between 20°C to 36°C. Whereas, the monsoon season is subjected to heavy rainfall and the chance of floods and landslides. Similarly, the winter season (December to February) receives freezing cold weather and the temperature during this even drops down to 0°C.

Where to Stay?

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For accommodation, one can search for some good staying options in Rudraprayag and Ukhimath that are located at distance of just 48 km and 21 km, respectively. As compared to Ukhimath, Rudraprayag boasts some good range of hotels for travellers of every kind. From budget hotels, resorts and guesthouses to luxury hotels, tents and lodges, there available a wide of accommodation options in Rudraprayag.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

Certainly, it wouldn’t be right to restrict your trip to Kalimath Temple on your visit to Uttarakhand. There are many other beautiful and equally enthralling tourist places around Kalimath temple where you surely can enjoy the best of your time on your holiday in the Himalayas.

Gaurikund: An important pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, Gaurikund is known for its vivid greenery and beautiful landscapes that make it one of the top tourist places in Uttarakhand. This quaint hill station is also the base point of Kedarnath Trek, and hence.

Kedarnath Temple: Kedarnath Temple also esteemed as Kedarnath Dham, is one of the four major pilgrimages of Uttarakhand that witnesses lakhs of pilgrims, from far and wide, during the months from April/May to October, i.e., the time when Char Dham Yatra is observed. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is touted amongst the highly revered religious sites in India.

Chopta: One of the most sublime places in Uttarakhand, Chopta is the land of eternal beauty that makes it one of the best places for nature sightseeing in the region. Home to the famous Tungnath Temple, Chopta is known dense verdant valleys, gorgeous meadows, rolling mountains, and serene ambiance that make one’s vacation in Uttarakhand indelible. Trekking and camping are two significant activities in Chopta that are performed by numerous travellers.

Ukhimath: Adorned with natural abundance and soaked in spirituality, Ukhimath is indeed one of the best nearby places to visit from Kalimath. Ukhimath is also known as the winter abode of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar as the idols of both the deities shifted to Ukhimath from their respective temples. Apart from the spellbinding nature, the major attraction of this place is Omkareshwar Temple, which is counted amongst the oldest temple in the country.

Rudraprayag: One of the Panch Prayags of Alaknanda River, Rudraprayag is a town and a district in the state of Uttarakhand. The entire region of Rudraprayag is known for enduring beauty, sacred sites, beautiful lakes and the glaciers. Jagdamba Temple and Shiva Temples are two popular temples in Rudraprayag that attract lots of devotees round the year.

We hope this blog cum Kalimath travel guide must have helped you in giving a whole overview of the place. You can reach out to us to plan your Kalimath vacation.

Published: 12 Nov, 2018