Kartikswami - Temple Above Clouds
The Kartik Swami trek- A swift accent to the divine temple that disappears in the clouds
Spreading its empyrean aura to the entire Garhwal region, the Kartik Swami temple is known for its sacredness and for its invigorating trek that takes you through the ethereal natural beauty of the hills. The travelers have to pave their way through the dense forests to the ridge from where one can have a stunning view of the sunrise and sunset.
Sri Kartik Swami temple at Kraunch Parvat, mentioned in Skanda Purana is believed to be the place where Lord Kartik meditated.
About Kartik Swami Trek
The Kartik Swami trek offers splendid views of the snowy peaks starting from the Banderpunch in the west, Kedarnath Dome, Chaukhambha Peak. Neelkanth Parvat, Dronagiri, Nanda Ghunti, Trishul, the Nanda Devi group of peaks and Meru & Sumeru Parvat.
One can hear and the sweet-sounding tunes of the playful birds that have found their safe haven here. During March and April, you will the trails besieged by the rosy rhododendrons, during Aug and September the region exhibits luscious greenery and during November-January you will see the unobstructed views of the snow-covered Himalayan ranges.
Kartikswami Trek Entry Fees
Tourists visiting Kartik Swami temple will now have to pay a fee starting from June 2024. The Forest Department has fixed the fee rates, in which tourists coming from Rudraprayag district and Pokhari block will have to pay Rs 10 and Villagers of Panchkoti village Barav, Tadag, Pogtha, Swari-Ghimtoli and Godi-Ginwala, who are right-holders of Kartik Swami temple, have been kept out of the fee system.
| Kartikswami Entry Fees and Other Charges |
| General Visitors (Indian Nationals) | Rs 50 |
| Foriegn Tourists | Rs 100 |
| | |
| Camera | Rs 200 |
| Drone Camera | Rs 500 |
*Note: the above charges are subject to change without prior notice.
Places to See in Kartik Swami
Activities in Kartik Swami
Trekking: Kartikswami can be reached by an easy 3 km trek to the top. Apart from that, there are numerous trails in the vicinity of Kartikswami which one could explore with friends. There is a less explored trek to Chopta as well from Kartikswami.
Bird Watching: Kartikswami is a birdwatcher’s paradise as there are more than 150 species of birds including the golden eagle, the steppe eagle and the black eagle, the bearded vulture, the Himalayan snowcock and the Himalayan monal pheasant to name a few.
Camping: Kartikswami offers excellent conditions for camping with friends and family to spend some quality time in the lap of nature. Breathtaking views of magnificent Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba Peak, Dronagiri and Neelkanth can be seen from the vantage of Kartikswami.
Village Tourism: Kanakchauri Village which is the base camp of Kartikswami Trek offers a visit
Kartik Swami Travel Tips
- Best time to visit Kartikswami is from October till June. One gets clear 360 degree views of the snow clad Himalayan peaks during October-November.
- Kartikswami doesn’t have much accommodation options, you can stay at Kanakchauri Village at Mayadeep Holiday Home or stay at any hotel in Rudraprayag.
- If possible do not miss the mesmerizing sunset from Kartikswami
Staying in Kartik Swami
There is one newly built eco-lodge named Mayadeep Holiday Home in Kanak Chauri Village. It offers bamboo huts with all the modern facilities. It offers closer look of Garhwal village life and culture. One can stay there to have a nice experience of serenity of KartikSwami trek and around.
Also you can stay at the Ashram near temple managed by local priests, but you have to carry flour, rice, tea and some other grocery along. You can also stay at Rudraprayag hotels and drive to Kanakchauri/ Kartikswami and then back to Rudraprayag.
Mythology about Kartik Swami
The legend states that once Lord Shiva told their sons Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesha that one of them will get the privilege to worship first whoever comes first after taking a complete round of the universe. Kartik started his journey but lord Ganesha shows his intelligence and circles around Lord Shiva by saying that the whole universe is in him.
Lord Shiva impressed by his intelligence gave the privilege to be worshipped first to Ganesha. Lord Kartik got angry with this and gave his flesh to mother Parvati and bones to his father Lord Shiva. In this temple, the bones of Lord Kartikeya are shown in the idol.
About Lord Kartikeya (Murugan Swamy)
Kartik Swami, the God of War and Victory, is known as Murgan (Murugan) Swami (in Tamil Nadu) and Subramanya in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Kartikeya in Bengal.
Lord Kartik is also known as Lord Murugan, Skanda, Kumara, Subrahmanya, Karthikeyan, Karthik, Kartik and Karthika in various parts of India and World. Lord Murugan is an important deity around South Asia since ancient times, Kartikeya is particularly popular and predominantly worshipped in South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia as Murugan.
About Kartik Swami Temple
The temple has a naturally carved idol of Kartik Swami on a marble type rock. Kartik Swami Temple is located at the end of a narrow ridge with deep valley all around, at an altitude of 3050 mts above sea level, offering a splendid 360-degree view of Himalayas (both snow peaks and lower Himalayas).
Festivals in Kartikswamy
Kartik Poornima during November and 11 days Kalash Yatra during June.
Kartikswami Mahayagya and Kalash Yatra Dates 2024
The dates for 2024 Kalash Yatra in Kartik Swami Mandir will be updated soon.
Kartik Swami Photo Gallery
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Kartik Swami Weather
Check out the Kartik Swami weather report for December
Kartik Swami Weather in December
The minimun and maximum temperature in December in Kartik Swami is 2°C and 14°C respectively. The weather is generally pleasant and clear in December and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Kartik Swami in December.
What is Kartik Swami famous for?
Kartik Swami is famous among tourist as Temple, Trekking, Sunset, Sunrise, Natural Beauty, Bird Watching, Himalayan Views.
Kartik Swami is recommended destination for Corporates, Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Kartik Swami is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Adventure, Emerging Destinations, Hiking, OffBeat, Pilgrimage, Temples, Trekking, Weekend Getaway, Winter Treks.
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