Godly view of Madhyamaheshwar
Mountains, the place where our mind and soul reconnect. So as a traveller, I'm taking you on a trip in the Himalayas of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, also known as the Dev Bhoomi. And when it's Dev Bhoomi, we are going to the lord Mahadev, one of the pilgrims of Panch Kedar, which is Madhyamaheshwar.
Before taking you on the trip, let me give you a short summary about the Panch Kedar It is said that this Panch Kedar story is connected with the Mahabharata times, when, after the Kurukshetra War, the Pandavas (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva) were devastated by the massive loss of life—including their own kin and revered elders like Bhishma and Drona. They sought to atone for their sins of killing their own relatives and Brahmahatya (killing Brahmins). To seek forgiveness, they were advised by the sage Vyasa to worship Lord Shiva, who alone could absolve them of their sins. However, Shiva was deeply displeased with the Pandavas for their role in the war. So when they set out to find Him, He disguised Himself as a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal Himalayas to avoid them. While searching, Bhima, the strongest of the Pandavas, spotted a bull grazing near Guptakashi. Sensing that it was no ordinary bull, Bhima tried to catch it by the tail and hind legs, but the bull vanished into the earth. However, the body parts of Shiva reappeared in five different places across the Garhwal region. Each place where a part manifested became a revered shrine — together known as the Panch Kedar.
After Shiva reappeared in these five forms and blessed the Pandavas, they were finally freed from their sins. The Pandavas then built temples at each of these sites to honour Lord Shiva and later journeyed toward the Himalayas through Swargarohini, seeking heaven. Madhyamaheshwar is believed to be the place where the navel (madhya) and stomach of Lord Shiva appeared. It represents the centre of Lord Shiva’s divine energy, symbolising balance, nourishment, and the life-sustaining power of the universe. This trip includes flights, roads and a very beautiful and breathtaking view of the Garhwal Himalayas, where our lord Mahadev had shown his presence. To reach there from Delhi, we have taken a mid-evening flight to the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. After landing, it's already night, and in the mountains, it's not very safe to travel at night, so we are going to check in at the hotels in Dehradun. I would suggest you take your hotel near the ISBT Dehradun; it's a personal tip that you will love the street food there. Have a good sleep because you have to travel a lot via the scenic Garhwal route via Rishikesh. Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, with the Ganges by its side and a different calmness in the air, is a complete bliss in itself. And if you have the adrenaline rush here, you can go for the adventure sports, as this city is called the adventure capital of the country. with bungee, rafting, zipline and many more activities to do.From Rishikesh you will enter Devprayag, one of the Panch Prayag, where you can see the sangam of the Alaknanda River and the Bhagirathi River to form the divine holy Ganges (Ganga Maiya). Devprayag is also a symbol of fierceness and calmness. It's said
At Devprayag, two souls of the Himalayas embracethe fierce Bhagirathi, roaring with untamed energy,and the gentle Alaknanda, flowing with quiet devotion.Their union births the Ganga — where power and peace become one.
Now after Devprayag, we have Rudrapryag. Surrounded by lush green mountains and flowing rivers, Rudraprayag is a blend of serenity and strength. You can literally hear the sound of the rivers echoing off the cliffs. Where Mandakini dances in devotion and Alaknanda hums in grace, Rudra’s presence turns their meeting into a melody of liberation. Now down to Ukhimath, where Ukhimath becomes the heart of devotion when the Himalayas sleep under snow. When the Kedarnath Temple closes for winter (usually around October–November), the idol of Lord Shiva from Kedarnath is brought down to Ukhimath, and all rituals continue here until May. Similarly, the idol from Madhyamaheshwar is also kept and worshipped here in winter. Now here we have to reach Ransi. Ransi is the base camp of the trek to Madhyameshwar, and here you stay, have a rest and get yourself ready for the scenic Himalayas of Garhwal to Lord Shiva. Set yourself up with the gear, proper hydration and lots of devotion in your heart. Early morning set off from Ransi toward the shrine of Madhyamaheshwar. From Ransi to the temple is ~16 km, a 5-6 hour trek. The trek route passes through forest, alpine meadows, and scenic views of Himalayan peaks. Prepare for varying terrain, possibly steep parts. Arrive at the temple (Madhyamaheshwar Temple) in the afternoon; spend time there and attend evening aarti if available. At first, it feels easy — the trail winds through pine forests, tiny wooden houses, and streams that sing louder than your thoughts. You meet smiling villagers who say “Jai Kedarnath!” as if it’s the most natural greeting in the world. You smile back. You breathe deeper. And you start realising this trek is not just about reaching a temple — it’s about peeling away layers of your own restlessness. I’m not a mountaineer. I don’t have trekking poles, oxygen meters, or fancy boots. Just an average person with a backpack, a beating heart, and a quiet wish — to meet Shiva in the mountains. For any travel related query you can comment down below. And for airline related contact click on the following link: https://intelligencestudies.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/ninja-forms/3/bangor-content-airlines-17.pdf