Char Dham Yatra

Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh is a Hindu temple in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. It is one of the main holy shrines of Rishikesh. The temple is present near the famous Lakshman Jhula of Rishikesh. The temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is also a part of the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand.

The temple is a 13-storeyed high building. Hence, it is also popularly called as ‘Terah Manzil Temple‘. The temple is having various idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. However, the shrine is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. The name ‘Trayambakeshwar’ meaning ‘the House of the three-eyed‘ suggesting it as the abode of Lord Shiva.

Trayambakeshwar Temple – All you need to know

Temple Timings	6 AM to 12 PM (Morning) 2 PM to 7 PM (Evening)
Opening and Closing Dates	Open 365 days of the year
Time Required for Darshan	30 Minutes
Entry Fee	Free
Festivals 2019	Maha Shivratri
Best Time to Visit	September to April
Also called as	Terah Manzil Temple
Nearest Airport	Dehradun
Location	Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh

What are the timings of Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh?

Timings	From	To
Morning	6 AM	12 PM
Evening	2 PM	7 PM

What is the history of Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh?

Trayambakeshwar temple of Rishikesh is one of the ancient temples. It is considered to be more than 800 years old. Shri Adi Shankaracharya established it in the 12th century AD.

Some devotees also believe that it is one of the Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva which is self-manifested. The statue is Swayambhu in nature. There are many sections in the temple which comprise of Vedic and religious texts. One can also see the intricate designs and architectural excellence on the walls and idols.

What is the significance of Trayambakeshwar Temple?

The significance of Trayambakeshwar temple is that it is the biggest temple in Rishikesh. The main attraction is the height of the temple with 13 floors. It is famous for the beautiful idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses as well as scriptures.

Trayambakeshwar temple is the place where one can worship all the deities at a single place. The temple is having various idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Unlike the other temples which are dedicated to one single God. It is located at a religiously important place near Laksham Jhula at the banks of Ganga river. A number of devotees visit this temple who come to visit Laxman Jhula- the hanging bridge.

What is inside the Trayambakeshwar Temple?

Trayambakeshwar Temple is shaped like a pyramid. Trayambakeshwar (Lord Shiva) is housed at 13th floor (top most floor) of the building. There are dozens of small temples and some shops on the other 12 floors. The priests of those temples offer certain religious services for health & prosperity in return of a fee. You can skip all of these and can go straight to the top main temple of Trayambakeshwar.

The temple is designed in such a way that you have to cross the blessings of all small temples for darshan of one main temple. A staircase leads all the way to 13 floors of the temple.

What are the major festivals of 2019?

Maha Shivaratri – This festival usually occurs in the month of February/April. It marks the day of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Maha Shivaratri means “the Great Night of Shiva“. Devotees celebrate it by remembering Shiva, chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating. Devotees keep awake all night. Some people visit Shiva temples. Some also go on pilgrimage to Maharashtra Pancha Jyotirlingas.

What is the main attraction of Trayambakeshwar Temple?

Trayambakeshwar is not only visited to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. But, people also come here to enjoy the scenic surrounding and Himalayan ranges. From the top floor of the temple, one can see a beautiful view of the Ganga river. The view is so calming and relaxing when watched from a height.

This temple looks really beautiful in the evening. The whole temple is brightened with golden light rays of the sun. Also, in the evening a “Ganga Aarti” is performed in the premises of the temple. This adds extra beauty and significance to the temple.

How to reach Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh?

Here’s how to reach Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh:

• Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest (23 km away from the temple).
• Train: The nearest railway station is in Rishikesh (6 km away from the temple).
• Road: Many buses are available for Rishikesh from ISBT Kashmere Gate in Delhi. By car, it will be a 6-hour drive from Delhi.

The temple can be reached after crossing the Laxman Jhula. People can cross Laxman Jhula on foot. Another way to go to the temple is to catch an auto rickshaw.

Where to stay near Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh?

Some of the places where one can stay near Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

• Ganga Kinare:  The rooms are spacious and airy giving comfort for guests. Room amenities include WiFi, TV, AC, coffee maker, and hairdryer. The Ayur Ganga Spa at the hotel offers a diverse range to rejuvenate the body and soul.
• The V Resort:  The resort offers a 24-hour front desk, travel desk, and doctor-on-call. Conference facilities are also there for corporate travelers. Guests can enjoy the swimming pool or can have a relaxing massage in the spa. The hotel also provides car rentals, luggage assistance, and daily housekeeping.
• Green Hills Cottage: This cottage has the most beautiful architecture and luxurious interiors. It provides various modern facilities like parking, laundry, currency exchange, and front desk. The staff also ensures the timely fulfillment of all needs of the guests.

What are some temples near Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh?

Some of the temples near Trayambakeshwar Temple Rishikesh are:

1. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: The temple is 20 km away from Trayambakeshwar Temple. It is the most famous temple when compared to the other temples of Rishikesh. The main deity is ‘Neelkanth‘, a form of Shiva. He has a blue throat because of consuming poison. Visiting the temple is much more fun since it is located inside a dense forest. Several natural springs and waterfalls also surround the temple.
2. Lakshman Temple: This temple is 8 km away from Trayambakeshwar Temple. This temple is constructed as a dedication to Lord Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Ram. People can not only worship inside the temple but can also relax and practice yoga within the temple’s premises.
3. Shri Bharat Mandir: This temple is 5 km away from Trayambakeshwar Temple. It ranks 10th among the many places to visit in Rishikesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The idol present here is carved out of a single piece of Saligram. Various ancient pots, coins, and statues were also found at the base of the temple.

Frequently asked questions about Trayambakeshwar Temple:

Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag is a Hindu temple in dedication to Lord Shiva in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is present in a cave, on the banks of the holy river Alaknanda. The presiding deity, Lord Koteshwar is one of the many avatars of Lord Shiva.

Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag – Facts

Deity	Lord Shiva
Location	Koteshwar Chopda Road, India, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand 246171
Best Time to Visit	365 Days
Darshan Timings	6 AM to 12 PM 2 PM to 5 PM
Entry Fees	Free
Dress Code	Traditional Wear
Festivals	Mahashivratri, Once-In-Four-Years procession

Unlike most of the temples in the region, the idols are not brought out frequently or even annually. Devotees take them out in a procession only once in four years. This temple is also among the Char Dham Yatra within Uttarakhand.

What are the timings of Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

Here are the timings of Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag:

Timings	From	To
Morning	6 AM	12 PM
Evening	2 PM	5 PM

What is the significance of Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

The significance of the temple is that the cave of the temple contains ancient and naturally made idols as well as Shiva lingam. It is also the place where Lord Shiva was meditating when Pandavas approached him to ask for the blessing of ‘Mukti‘ after the war of Kurukshetra.

What is the history of Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

According to the history of the temple, it is present at the place where Lord Shiva meditated on his way to Kedarnath. As per a legend, demon Bhasmasur received a boon from Lord Shiva according to which anyone whose head he would touch would burn to ashes.

Then, because of his ego, he tried to burn Lord Shiva himself. As a result, Shiva had to keep hiding from place to place until he reached the cave where Koteshwar temple is now present and prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. Hence, Lord Vishnu took the Mohini Avtar and killed the demon Bhasmasur.

The construction of the temple took place in the 14th century. Then, the construction again took place in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Festivals celebrated at Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag

Some of the festivals celebrated at the temple are:

• Mahashivratri: This festival is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shiva. Devotees believe that he is the Adi guru who is the source of the Yogi tradition.  It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga, making offerings to the deity, as well as meditating.
• Once-In-Four-Years procession: The temple takes out a procession of its idols every once in four years, unlike other temples in the region that do so annually.

How to reach Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

Here’s how to reach the temple:

• Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (159 km away).
• Train: The nearest railway stations are Dehradun (183 km away) and Rishikesh (142 km away).
• Road: One can hire a taxi from Rudraprayag to Koteshwar temple which is just 3 km away.

Where to stay near Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

Some of the places where one can stay near the temple while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

• Shivalik Valley Resorts: This budget accommodation offers free internet access to its patrons. This resort in Rudraprayag accommodates room which are well-equipped with basic amenities like television, safe, room heater and an attached bathroom with a hot and cold water facility.
• Hotel Mandakini:  There are 24 rooms spread over 2 floors in this hotel in Rudraprayag. Room amenities include a tea/coffee maker, balcony, air-conditioner, television, bottled/drinking water, attached bathroom with hot and cold running water supply as well as a wardrobe.
• Hotel Snow View: The hotel has facilities like round the clock front desk, laundry services, and luggage storage space, parking area, medical services, and full power back up.

What are some temples near Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag?

Some of the temples near Koteshwar Temple Rudraprayag are:

• Tungnath Temple: It is one of the Panch Kedar temples of Lord Shiva and comes second if one follows the order. Also, it is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Tungnath is at the top of the ridge which divides the waters of rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda.
• Adi Badri: It is the second among the ‘Sapt Badri‘ temples which are a group of seven holy shrines in honor of Lord Vishnu. All the Badri temples are present in Badri-Kshetra. Whenever Badrinath temple remains closed due to extremities in weather, devotees worship Lord Vishnu in Adi Badri temple.
• Vishwanath Temple, Guptkashi: It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishwanath, which means ‘Lord of the Universe‘. Moreover, the architecture of the temple resembles the popular Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. It is present at the place where Shiva proposed to Parvati for marriage. However, the wedding ceremony took place at Triyuginarayan Temple.
• Triyuginarayan Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The word ‘tri‘ means ‘Three‘, ‘Yug‘ means ‘a period of time‘, and ‘Narayan‘ is a name for Lord Vishnu. Devotees offer wood to the fireplace of the temple since three Yugas. Moreover, the temple is 3.1 miles away from Sonprayag, which is the confluence of river Mandakini and Songanga.
• Dhari Devi Temple: The temple is for Goddess Dhari and contains the upper half of the idol of the goddess, while the lower half is present in Kalimath. In Kalimath, devotees worship her as a form of  Kali Mata. Moreover, devotees believe that Goddess Dhari protects the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and is the guardian of the region.