This legendary temple marking the place where lord Shiva had married goddess Sati is located in the district of Rudraprayag in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. The temple is settled amidst beautiful scenic surroundings which combines with the authentic spiritual vibe here and creates and aura of sheer tranquillity and serenity. The word in itself is formed by combining 3 different words of tri meaning three; Yugi meaning time and Narayana meaning Vishnu. The presence of Akhand Jyoti flame which is said to have been burning here ever since the marriage of the god and goddess had taken place also gives it the name of Akhand Dhuni Temple.
The temple structure in itself is a very simple and humble place of worship where the courtyard consists of a constantly burning fire pit or also known as Akhand Jyoti. People who come here for Darshan make sure to carry home the ashes from these 4 cornered holy places which is guaranteed to promote lifelong conjugal bliss. Apart from this temple is also situated amidst the pristine natural beauty that guarantees a spiritual experience to everyone. Worshipping to the lord here ensures that your infertility problems are also dealt with. The Kunds or small natural ponds are present around the temple boundary which is believed to have been where the lords must have taken a holy bath before commencing the wedding ceremony. The great sage Adi Shankaracharya is to be credited with the creation and reestablishment of this temple as a pilgrimage destination who is also responsible for creating a number of other temples and matths.
Location : 8 km from Sonprayag Dedicated to : Lord Shiva and Parvati
Altitude : 1,980 metres above Sea level Built in : 8th century AD
Opened on : 9th May 2023 Closing on : Holy Occasion of Kartik Purnima
As per legend when Sati was reborn as Parvati she wished to win the heart of Shiva through her alluring looks, which was in vain. So, she started performing rigorous penance in Gaurikund which is situated at a distance of just 5 km from Triyuginarayan temple. As per the mythological sources and references it was in Guptkashi that Shiva had asked the goddess’s hand in marriage at Guptkashi and later on got married in Triyuginarayan temple in Rudraprayag during the Satyug. The ceremony took place in the eternal presence of lord Vishnu, Brahma and all the affluent sages, priests and philosophers who also bore witness to it. This place once used to serve as the capital for Himavat during the bygone ages. the priest’s role was done by lord brahma whereas lord Vishnu played Parvati’s brother and formalized the wedding. This place has also found its mention in Sthala Purana making it all the more relevant in the lives of avid Hindus.
By Flight – The nearest airport to the temple is situated in Dehradun which is the jolly grant airport and it also caters to a number of flights from different parts of India. Outside the airport you will be able to hire a cab or book a taxi service to cover the road journey distance of around 226 km and takes 8 hours to cover. This may prove to be an expensive option.
By Train – Rishikesh railway station which is situated at a distance of 212 kms from Triyuginarayan temple is the nearest station. From outside the station you can feel free to hire a cab service or a local bus transportation heading for Sonprayag. The trains catered by the station connects to a network of railway lines from different parts of the nation making it one of the most viable options for travelling to Triyuginarayan.
By Road – The temple road head is well connected to a network of roads from various major and minor cities and towns of Uttarakhand. You can commence the road journey from Haridwar or Rishikesh and till Sonprayag. There are state run buses and vehicles for rent available which ply on a regular basis from here. several travel agents here offer these services at the best available prices. It can best be visited as a part of your yatra to Kedarnath since Sonprayag falls en route.
No matter which way you choose to go a road journey is the best, convenient and the most cost-effective way of travelling to the temple.
Summer (April to June) – The summer times are moderate during this time of the year and the days are pleasant and cool with the temperature ranging between 20 to 36-degree Celsius. the evenings are cool and the afternoon is sunny and comfortable, making it perfect for a visit to the holy temple. It is also a peak time for tourism here and sightseeing visits are also done smoothly.
Monsoon (July to September) – The rainy season is not advised to travel sine the region experiences extremely heavy rain showers and thunder storms. The routes leading up to the temple remains susceptible to unexpected landslides and flooding. Going to the hills during this time around requires you to be extremely good with planning and most of all if possible, postpone your plans to post monsoon.
Winter (October – March) - Winter time in Rudraprayag (where Triyuginarayan is located) is very cold and chilly with the temperature dropping to below 0. During extreme cold you may even get to witness heavy snowfall and everything gets covered in a thick blanket of snow. it sure is a beautiful site.