Gopeshwar Travel Guide

Housing an ancient Lord Shiva temple, Gopeshwar has secured itself an important seat in the state of Uttarakhand. Not only this, the town is a proud headquarters of the gorgeous district of Chamoli, which construes that Gopeshwar is a tourist destination that cannot be missed at any cost while travelling in the Garhwal Himalayas for peace of mind or seeking the blessings of the Almighty. The town also boasts an infringement of dense Oak forest and the lofty Himalayan Peaks that indeed enhance its charm and allurement for the nature lovers. Gopeshwar's major attraction remains its Lord Shiva Temple of Gopinath which is said to have been built in 9th and 11th century by the Katyuri Kings. The must see thing in Gopinath Temple is a Trident, which according to the legends belong to Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that Lord Shiva hurled the trident at Kamadeva who had disrupted his meditation. The trident is reckoned to have got fixed at a particular place ever since, and this spot is the Gopinath Temple in Gopeshwar.

For Hindu pilgrims, this temple has same reverence as that of Panch Kedars and it is said that a light touch of an ardent devotee can move the trident which otherwise remains unmovable. Apart from this, Gopeshwar also neighbours popular Hindu pilgrimage sites like Tungnath, Anusuya Devi, Rudranath, and Badrinath; and houses two more sacred temples of Chamolanath and Chandika Devi. Thus, one can very well imagine the aura of this top destination in Uttarakhand and how missing out on it can prove to be a major loss. This headquarters of the beautiful and diverse Chamoli district in Uttarakhand also houses varied Government offices, which leaves the place bustling all year round. On the other hand, Gopeshwar also shelters the University of Garhwal, and thus, enjoys being an important educational hub in the state. So, apart from being a vital pilgrimage site, this tourism place in Uttarakhand is ideal for education and is a significant base for visiting various religious sites and naturally beautiful destinations in the state.

Best Time to Visit Gopeshwar

Gopeshwar is known for its pleasant weather. However, summer and winter are considered the ideal seasons to visit the place with pilgrims mostly thronging in the summer and monsoon months.

Summer

The weather during the season of summer remains pleasant. April to June are the months of summer in Gopeshwar and the temperature during this time of the year ranges from 15°C to 30°C. This is the peak season for tourists and pilgrims to visit the place.
Monsoon

Monsoon in Gopeshwar begins in the month of July and ends in September. The temperature during these months varies in between 15°C and 25°C and place receives heavy rainfall. This is why it is advised to check the weather forecast before planning a trip here in monsoon.
Winter

Temperature of Gopeshwar during winter season might drop down to 2°C while the maximum temperature during this time of the year is 13°C. Moreover, the winters in Gopeshwar starts in the month of October and lasts until March. This is another season which is considered as ideal for tourists.

Top Tourist Attractions around Gopeshwar

The place is majorly famous for its Shiva temple. Thousands of devotees come here throughout the year to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Moreover, the town also offers some mesmerizing nature sightseeing tour.

Gopinath Temple

The temple is said to be the abode of Rudranath or Lord Shiva and is amongst the ancient Hindu shrine. This is the only temple of Lord Shiva where water and milk are not offered to the Shivling.
Chandrika Devi Temple

Also known as Mahishasur Mardini, the temple is considered as one of the eight Siddh Peethas. This is the place where Chandrika Devi killed Mahishasur, hence it is known as the Mahishasur Mardini Temple.
Anusuya Devi Temple and Atri Muni Ashram

One of the important places to visit, the temple is located at a distance of 14 km from the town. Moreover, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati and is one of the famous pilgrim attractions in the district of Chamoli.
Chamola Nath Temple

Another pilgrim attraction, the Chamola Nath Temple is situated near the Block Development of Chamoli district. There is a belief that the district is named after the name of Devta Chamolanath.
Saggar Village

The village is located around 5 km from Gopeshwar and is one of the important tourist destinations because it's the starting point of Rudranath Trek. This trek is the toughest amongst the Panch Kedar.

Where to Stay in Gopeshwar?

The town of Gopeshwar offers budget accommodation and few semi-deluxe hotels. The place also has a GMVN Guesthouse that offers all basic amenities for the guests. Apart from this, decent stay options can be found in Karnaprayag and Nandprayag that are at a short distance from Gopeshwar.

How to Reach Gopeshwar?

Reaching Gopeshwar is quite complicated but not difficult. There is no direct route to reach the town. Jolly Grant is the nearest airport and Rishikesh and Haridwar have the nearest railway stations. The town is although connected by road with destinations like Rudraprayag, which has better connectivity with other major towns and cities of Uttarakhand.

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport, for those who want to reach here through airways. The airport is situated around 227 km from the town. One has to board a taxi or bus from Dehradun to reach Gopeshwar. However, the route through the air is not helpful to reach the place.
By Rail

Haridwar and Rishikesh railway stations are nearest from the town. After reaching the station, there are taxi and buses available to reach Gopeshwar.
By Road

Gopeshwar is also connected by motorable roads. Joshimath is the nearest bus stand from the town. Other nearby bus stands are Ukhimath, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, and Pauri. State-run buses are available for the above mentioned places. After reaching there, a number of local buses/cabs are available to Gopeshwar.