Triyuginarayan Temple – A Witness to the Celestial Wedding
Where is Triyuginarayan Temple Located?
Triyuginarayan is a Hindu temple in the Triyuginarayan village, Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, North India. This beautiful village is 1,980 meters above sea level and offers stunning views of the snow-covered mountains in the Garhwal region.
The way this temple is built is similar to Kedarnath. Interestingly, the temple is known as the place where Shiva married Parvati, with lord Vishnu being a witness to the ceremony. The temple is home to Lord Vishnu as its primary deity.
A notable thing about this temple is the perpetual fire that constantly burns in front of it. It is believed that the fire has been going on for three yugas following the divine wedding.
Since the three Yugas, devotes offer wood to the fire and carry the holy ash as blessings. This is why the place is called “Triyugi Narayan”. For the same reason, the temple is known as Akhand Dhuni (अखंड धुनी) temple, meaning the temple with eternal fire.
History of the Triyuginarayan Temple
As far as Hindu mythology goes, Goddess Parvati, the daughter of Himavat or Himavan (who represented the Himalayas), was the reincarnation of Sati, Shiva’s first wife, who gave up her life when her father disrespected Shiva.
Goddess Parvati won over Shiva, following rigorous austerities at Gauri Kund, 13 KM away from Triyuginaryan and 16 KM away from Kedarnath Jyotirlinga.
Following that, Shiva and Parvati were married at Triyuginarayan, where Shri Hari Narayan played the role of Parvati’s brother, and Lord Brahma was the priest. In front of the temple, the ‘Brahma Shila’ marks the precise location of the ceremony. The ceremonial fire has been ongoing since the three yugas, hence the name.
How to Reach the Triyuginarayan Temple?
The Trijuginarayan temple is in the village of Triyuginarayan, which is about 12 kilometers from Sonprayag, en route to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.
By Air
The nearest airport to the Triyuginarayan temple is the Jolly Grant airport on the Dehradun-Rishikesh route. The temple is at a distance of 229 KM from here. Buses and taxis are readily available from Rishikesh and Dehradun.
By rail
Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to the temple, at 212.4 KM. Dehradun (251.7 KM) and Haridwar (236 KM) railway stations are good alternatives.
By Road
The village of Triyuginarayan is accessible by road, which at about 12 KMS from Sonprayag, a prominent stoppage for pilgrims on the Kedarnath/ Char Dham Yatra.
Major Cities / Towns Near Triyuginarayan Temple
| City/Town | Distance |
| Delhi | 477.2 KM |
| Chandigarh | 451.2 KM |
| Dehradun | 252.2 KM |
| Haridwar | 238.3 KM |
| Rishikesh | 215.5 KM |
| Karnprayag | 109.9 KM |
| Rudraprayag | 79.5 KM |
| Ukhimath | 51.5 KM |
Places to Visit near Trijugi Narayan Temple
| Location | Distance from Triyuginarayan |
| Kedarnath Temple | 30 KM (16 KM Trek) |
| Kalimath Temple | 47 KM |
| Guptkashi | 37.6 KM |
| Omkareshwar Mahadev | 49.5 KM |
| Deoria Tal | 64.3 KM |
| Sonprayag | 7.3 KM |
Triyuginarayan Temple: Things You Should Know
The Triyuginarayan temple’s main sanctum houses 2 feet high solver idol of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Badrinarayan, Goddess Sita, Lord Ramachandra, and Lord Kubera.
The sacred pools of Rudra Kund, Vishnu Kund, and Brahma Kund are all located within the temple grounds. The water in these ponds, revered for its healing abilities, comes from the Saraswati Kund. Saraswati Kund is believed to source its water from Lord Vishnu’s navel.
Triyuginarayan Temple also has a shrine devoted to the Panchanama devatas just outside.
Also, goddess Gauri is worshipped in a cave located 2 kilometers from the temple.
During August and September, the temple hosts an annual fair.
The temple is open for darshan from 7 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm every day.
Best Time to Visit Triyuginarayan Temple
The Triyuginarayan temple is open all year; however, at 1980 meters, the winter season can be chilly and snowy, and roads are quite difficult to traverse. Therefore, the best time to visit the temple is March to June and September to November.
Triyuginarayan Temple as a wedding destination
The Triyuginarayan temple is a popular place to get married. This hallowed spot allows you to tie the knot with Hindu rituals and traditions. Because of the couples’ circumambulation around the sacred fire, this ceremony is considerably more holy and devout than usual.
A wedding at this temple is one of the most exciting experiences because of the unusual and surreal setting, which features lush foliage and snow-capped mountain peaks, and the history behind the temple.
