This guide is about the Kartik Swami Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Kartik Swami temple is a hilltop shrine to Kartikeya, the elder son of Lord Shiva, on a narrow ridge above Kanakchauri village in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. It stands at 3,050 m (10,007 ft) and is reached on foot by a path of about 3.5 km from Kanakchauri, which lies on the Rudraprayag–Pokhari road about 40 km by road from Rudraprayag. From the top you see the Garhwal snow peaks from the Kedarnath group and Chaukhamba to Trishul, best at sunrise from September to November.
Where is Kartik Swami temple in Uttarakhand?
The temple sits on the crest of a ridge that falls away steeply on both sides, above Kanakchauri in Rudraprayag district. Kanakchauri is the roadside village where the walk starts. The Wikipedia page on Rudraprayag places Kanak Chauri on the Rudraprayag–Pokhri route, 38 km from Rudraprayag, and gives a 3 km walk to the temple; our trek page measures the path at about 3.5 km and the road at about 40 km.
| Detail | Kartik Swami temple |
|---|---|
| District | Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand |
| Base village | Kanakchauri, on the Rudraprayag–Pokhari road |
| Height of the temple | 3,050 m (10,007 ft) |
| Walk from Kanakchauri | About 3.5 km one way, same path back |
| Rudraprayag to Kanakchauri | About 40 km by road |
| Rishikesh to Kanakchauri | About 175 km by road, 6–7 hrs, via Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag |
| Last reliable ATM | Rudraprayag; none at Kanakchauri or on the trail |
| Mobile signal | Jio and Airtel at Kanakchauri and on the ridge, patchy; drops in the forest |
What is the history and legend of Kartik Swami temple?
The temple is dedicated to Kartikeya, worshipped here as Kartik Swami. The hill it crowns is known as Kraunch mountain. The legend linked to the site begins with Lord Shiva testing his two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. As ETV Bharat reports it, Kartikeya, angry with his mother Parvati over the outcome of that test, did penance on this mountain, and the temple is said to stand where he did so. Local legend, as our trek page tells it, adds that Kartikeya offered his bones to his father here; devotees still climb to the ridge to worship him.
The temple also has a link to southern India: the Incredible India events page has listed a Kartik Swami 108 Valampuri Shankh Pooja at Kanakchauri, held in May, with saints from Kartik Swami temples in southern India taking part, alongside rituals, local crafts and folk performances. ETV Bharat describes priests from Tamil Nadu bathing the deity with water from 108 conch shells during this puja.
What is at the Kartik Swami mandir entrance, and what is inside?
The entrance to the walk is at Kanakchauri village, where a counter at the start of the trail sells a small entry ticket; a camera charge may also apply. From there a stone and earth path climbs through oak and rhododendron forest, past small shrines. After about 2.5 to 3 km the forest thins and the path reaches the ridge, where a few tea stalls open as pilgrims arrive in the morning.
The last stretch is the real entrance to the shrine: a narrow flight of about 80 stone steps up the crest of the ridge, lined with brass bells tied there by pilgrims. When the wind comes up the ridge the bells ring together. Shoes come off at the top. Inside, the temple holds a stone idol of Kartik Swami. Treat it as a working shrine and follow the priest's lead at the door.
What are the Kartik Swami darshan timings?
We could not confirm an official darshan or aarti timetable from the Rudraprayag district or Uttarakhand Tourism, so we do not print one. What our trek page records is that the priest opens the temple after sunrise. That is why visitors who come for the view start from Kanakchauri in the dark: our group leaves the village at about 4:30 AM by headlamp, reaches the ridge before first light, watches sunrise over the peaks, and then has darshan once the temple opens.
Kartik Swami temple opening and closing date
We could not find an official opening or closing notice for Kartik Swami, unlike the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines, so treat any fixed date you see online with caution. Snow can cover the upper trail and the temple steps from December to February, and the steps can turn icy in the early morning. Trekkaro runs the walk from September to June and not in July and August, when monsoon rain brings landslides on the roads to Rudraprayag.
How far is the walk from Kanakchauri, and how high is the temple?
The temple is at 3,050 m (10,007 ft), and the walk from Kanakchauri is about 3.5 km one way, about 7 km up and down. With stops the round trip takes 4–5 hours; the descent alone is about 1.5 hours. There is no water point on the trail, so carry at least one litre.
How do you reach Kartik Swami temple?
Drive to Kanakchauri via Rudraprayag, then walk up. From Rishikesh it is about 175 km by road through Devprayag and Srinagar, 6–7 hrs; Trekkaro's group meets at Yog Nagari Rishikesh Railway Station at 06:30 AM and shares cabs, about ₹6,500 per 5–6 seat vehicle one way, split among the group and paid to the driver.
When is the best time to visit, and what is the weather like?
For the clearest view, go from September to November, after the monsoon has washed the air. Each window gives the ridge a different character:
| Months | What you get at the temple |
|---|---|
| September–November | Sharpest views of the year; the full arc of peaks from Kedarnath to Trishul; early September can still bring a shower |
| December–February | Snow on the ridge and temple steps; crisp, clear air; coldest sunrise wait |
| March–April | Red rhododendron in the forest; deep snow still on the high peaks |
| May–June | Pleasant days; afternoon haze builds from May, so sunrise is the view to aim for; showers late in June |
On the weather: pre-dawn temperatures are about 0°C to 8°C in autumn, -5°C to 1°C in winter and 3°C to 10°C from March to June, with wind on the open ridge making the sunrise wait feel colder.
What can you see from the top of Kartik Swami?
The valleys of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini lie far below. On a clear morning the peaks come one after another:
- Kedarnath group: Kedarnath, Kedar Dome, Meru and Sumeru
- Chaukhamba: the massif with four summits
- Beyond: Neelkanth, the peak above Badrinath, and Dronagiri
- To the east: Nanda Ghunti, Trishul and, on the clearest days, the tip of Nanda Devi
- Far to the west: Bandarpoonch
Tips for Kartik Swami temple photos
The best images come in the first half hour of light: the peaks show as grey shapes, then pink points as the sun reaches them, then white walls. The bell-lined steps make the classic foreground, so find a spot on the ridge before sunrise rather than on the steps, where pilgrims pass.
Can you visit Kartik Swami temple with Trekkaro?
Yes. Our Kartik Swami trek is a 2-day trip from Rishikesh graded easy: Day 1 is the drive to Kanakchauri and a night in a homestay or guesthouse, Day 2 is the sunrise climb, breakfast back in the village and the drive to Rishikesh by evening. The fee is ₹3,800 + 5% GST, ₹3,990 in total, covering the night's stay, pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 2 breakfast, the entry ticket, a certified trek leader and Free Trekking Gear (Decathlon shoes, -10°C jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes) against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and ₹200 washing charge. Batches take up to 20 trekkers with 1 leader or guide per 8, the minimum age is 7, and every trekker brings a doctor-signed medical certificate.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Kartik Swami temple located?
Kartik Swami temple is in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, on a ridge above Kanakchauri village. Kanakchauri lies on the road from Rudraprayag towards Pokhari, about 40 km from Rudraprayag town.
Which god is worshipped at Kartik Swami temple?
The temple is dedicated to Kartikeya, the elder son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Inside is a stone idol of Kartik Swami, and pilgrims tie brass bells along the steps leading up to it.
What is the Kartik Swami darshan time?
We could not confirm an official darshan or aarti timetable from the district or the state tourism department. The priest opens the temple after sunrise, so walkers who start in the dark see the sunrise first and have darshan afterwards.
How long is the trek to Kartik Swami temple from Kanakchauri?
It is about 3.5 km one way on a stone and earth path, roughly 7 km up and down. Most of it is a steady climb through forest, and the last part is about 80 narrow stone steps to the shrine.
Is Kartik Swami temple open in winter?
The walk does run in winter: Trekkaro takes groups up from December to February, when snow can lie on the ridge and the temple steps. We could not confirm an official winter closing, so check road and snow conditions before you go; microspikes come with the Free Trekking Gear.
