Amid serene surroundings of Himalayas lies the beautiful Kartik Swami Shrine. It is perched at an elevation of 3050m above the sea level on the Rudraprayag- Nagnath Pokhri Route in the state of Uttarakhand. The temple is devoted to Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Paravati. Kartikeya is worshipped by the name of Lord Murugan in places with Tamil influences – Srilanka, Singapore, South India and Malayasia. This is only shrine devoted to Kartikeya in the charming state of Uttarakhand. One can also pay a visit to Bhairom shrine, just 100m before the famous Kartik Swami temple.
A place one of its kind in whole Northern India, The view of snow covered Himalayas one gets to have from such height is indescribable. This sort of sight is very rare to come across anywhere in the world. Moreover, a glimpse of sunup and sundown from here would provide a fascinating experience to treasure forever. The sounds of bells hung in the shrine can be heard 2-3 miles away. Evening prayer, chanting of mantras and delightful feast are the main highlights of the temple.
History-“Hindu chronicles in the midst of natural panorama”
There is an appealing history of Lord Murugan to reveal to the devotees. Once Lord Shiva enlightened their lads that whosoever takes the seven rounds of earth will get an opportunity to pay respect to their parents first. While Kartikeya headed off to take the round of universe, Lord Ganesha showed his astuteness and started taking the round of Lord Shiva and Parvati stating that he sees the whole universe in both of them. Lord Shiva got amazed by his acumen and offered him the privilege to worship first. Annoyed by this decision, Kartikeya gave his flesh to Maa Parvati and bones to Lord Shiva.
Accommodation
There are not many options for selecting luxury or deluxe accommodation here. The small guest houses that are available are run by the local villagers and offer only basic facilities. Those looking for a deluxe accommodation, or for that matter an accommodation of choice, should therefore book their stay at Rudraprayag as it has better options when it comes to budget and luxury hotels.
Getting there
The temple is accessible from Kanak Chauri Village which is a 3km beautiful trek and goes through emerald beauty. One can also take bus or taxi from Haridwar to make it to Rudraprayag. Shared jeeps are also available from Rudrprayag to Kanakchauri.
Distance from main destinations to Kanakchauri is mentioned below:
- Haridwar: 205Kms
- Devprayag: 105Kms
- Rudraprayag- 38 Kms
- Chamoli: 110kms
- Auli: 180kms
- Ukhimath: 62kms
It remains open throughout the year and is easily reachable. The place has natural tranquility which will provide one a piece of mind. Devotees or tourists can also visit the shrine in the month of June when a grand festival (Skanda Purana & Shiv Mahapuran) is celebrated for 11 days with great devotion and enthusiasm.
15 Nights / 16 Days 
13 Nights / 14 Days 
11 Nights / 12 Days 
23 Nights / 24 Days 
