Rudraprayag came alive with spiritual fervor on Wednesday as the revered Tungnath Temple in Uttarakhand opened its gates to pilgrims. Known as the third Kedar in the Panch Kedar circuit, the temple atop the Chandrashila peak witnessed an overwhelming rush from dawn, with devotees trekking eagerly from Chopta base.
The processional idol’s yatra commenced April 20 from Makkumath, its winter seat. Traditional rituals marked the departure, including a village fair where new harvest offerings were presented to the deity. The palanquin paused overnight at Bhutnath before proceeding to Chopta, culminating in the temple opening at 11 AM after elaborate morning pujas starting at 8:30.
Priest Prakash Purohit described the seamless traditional proceedings and extended a warm invitation to national and international devotees to partake in this sacred journey through 2026. The atmosphere was electric, blending ancient customs with contemporary enthusiasm.
Adding a political note, ex-MLA Manoj Rawat visited for darshan and voiced concerns over inadequate facilities. He pointed out the paradox of booming tourism in Chopta—thousands daily—yet no public restrooms or basic infrastructure. With government pushing the area as a prime destination, Rawat called for collaborative efforts from administration and forest department to rectify this, stressing equitable development alongside revenue generation.
This opening not only revives the yatra spirit but spotlights the urgent call for sustainable tourism infrastructure at high-altitude Himalayan shrines.
