Urgam Valley Uttarakhand, India: The Best traveler Guide 2025
Urgam Village, situated in Urgam Valley Uttarakhand near Joshimath in Uttarakhand, is surrounded by the snow-covered peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas. Urgam Village is located at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level in a beautiful, scenic garden spread across dense forests, fields, and apple orchards.
Urgam Uttarakhand
Urgam Village is situated in Urgam Valley, which is very far from modern lifestyle and takes you into the natural world. Urgam Village is famous for the Kalpeshwar Temple, which is one of the ancient Shiva temples, and the famous
Kalpeshwar Dham, one of the Panch Kedar, is located only 2 km away from Urgam Village. Urgam Valley is also known for its natural and spiritual beauty. This valley is situated between V-shaped mountains. Urgam Valley is also known for its local.
Urgam Valley Uttarakhand
Even in winter, have the darshan of Badri-Kedar at Dhyan Badri and Kalpeshwar Dham situated on the bank of Kalp Ganga. By darshan in both these dhams, the virtue of darshan of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham is obtained. Because of no crowd, there is also no difficulty of food and stay. So come! In winter, have darshan of Lord Badri-Kedar at one place.
Even after the doors are closed for winter, you can have darshan of Lord Narayan and Baba Kedar in their original dhams. Not as First Badri and First Kedar, but as Sixth Badri and Fifth Kedar. That too in one place, at a distance of only two–two and a half kilometers.
Dhyan Badri and Kalpeshwar Dham
Yes indeed! It is about Dhyan Badri and Kalpeshwar Dham situated on the bank of Kalp Ganga (Hiranyavati) river in Urgam Valley of Chamoli district at a height of 7,003 feet above sea level. It is mentioned in Skanda Purana that by darshan in both these dhams, the virtue of darshan of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham is obtained. The doors of both the dhams remain open throughout the year. But, in winter the joy of coming here is something else.
Because of no crowd, there is also no difficulty of food and stay. …So come! In winter, have darshan of Lord Badri-Kedar at one place.
Dhyan Badri Temple
In this temple situated in Barginnda village, the four-armed idol of Lord Vishnu made of Shaligram stone is seated in meditation posture.
It is said that Dhyan Badri Temple was constructed in the 12th century under the guidance of Adi Shankaracharya.
The tale is that Indra, deprived of wealth due to the curse of Maharishi Durvasa, performed Kalpavas here to please Lord Vishnu.
In Kalpavas, the seeker remains absorbed in meditation, therefore the deity’s idol here is also in a self-absorbed state. For this reason, the idol was established by the name Dhyan Badri.
The legend of Dhyan Badri is also connected with Urvar Rishi, son of King Puranjay of Pandava lineage.
The inner walls of the sanctum of the temple are decorated with human masks, which are used in mask dance during fairs.
Kalpeshwar Dham
In this temple, the matted hair of Shiva in bull form is seen. One tale is that for liberation from the sin of killing relatives, when Pandavas pursued Mahadev from Kashi to have his darshan, he disappeared even from Guptkashi.
Going a little further, he took the form of a bull and mingled among other animals. In this form also the Pandavas recognized him and then Bhima, taking a huge form, stretched his legs over two mountains, under which other animals passed through, but Shiva in bull form remained fixed.
The same part present in form of a lump is worshipped in Kedarpuri. It is said that the upper part of the bull’s torso appeared in Kathmandu (Nepal), arms in Tungnath, navel in Madhyameshwar, face in Rudranath, and matted hair in Kalpeshwar Dham. The path to the sanctum of Kalpeshwar temple goes through a cave.
Have darshan here too, see the “Hidden Treasure”
All around snow-clad high mountains, dense forests, meadows, and lakes-waterfalls add four moons to the beauty of Urgam Valley. Therefore, it is also called the “Hidden Treasure” of Uttarakhand.
The famous Bansi Narayan and Phyula Narayan treks are also in this valley. Between Joshimath–Helang at Animath, you can have winter darshan of Lord Narayan in the temple of Lord Vriddha Badri, and at Narsingh temple in Joshimath, along with a visit to the world-famous skiing site Auli. 15 km ahead from Joshimath near Tapovan is also Ardha Badri Dham.
Keep this in mind
During winter, it remains very cold in Urgam Valley and often snowfall also happens. Therefore travel with sufficient warm clothes and use only lukewarm water for drinking. For heart patients and elderly people, coming in January–February will not be suitable.
How to reach by Trek
To reach Urgam Valley, one has to cover 243 km distance on Badrinath Highway from Rishikesh to Helang Chatti.
Here for going to Kalpeshwar Dham there is 12.7 km road up to Devgram and for going to Dhyan Badri Dham there is 10 km road up to Barginda.
In Urgam Valley there are sufficient facilities for food and stay. Because of no crowd in winter, hotels, lodges, and homestays are easily available in the entire valley, where you can get food prepared of your choice.
Urgam Valley Temple: Kalpeshwar Temple
- Urgam Valley Temple lies in the serene Garhwal Himalayas and offers peace and spirituality.
- Kalpeshwar Temple in Urgam Valley forms an important part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage.
- Devotees witness the divine jata (locks) of Lord Shiva at Kalpeshwar Temple.
- Urgam Valley Kalpeshwar Temple remains open throughout the year for pilgrims.
- Travelers enjoy scenic treks, apple orchards, and lush forests around Urgam Valley Temple.
Delhi to Urgam Valley distance
The distance from Delhi to Urgam Valley is about 500 km by road, depending on the chosen route.
- By road, the journey takes around 12–14 hours, passing through Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Helang, and then a 12 km drive into Urgam Valley.
- By train, you can travel from Delhi to Haridwar (approx. 230 km) and then continue by road (about 276 km) to Urgam Valley.
- By air, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (about 272 km from Urgam), from where taxis are available.
Haridwar to Urgam valley distance
- Haridwar to Urgam Valley distance is approx. 276 km by road via Rishikesh, Devprayag . Rudraprayag and Chamoli
Rishikesh to Urgam valley distance
- Rishikesh to Urgam Valley distance is approx. 251 km by road via Devprayag . Rudraprayag and Chamoli
Urgam Valley Temperature
The temperature in Urgam Valley, Uttarakhand, changes with the seasons:
- Summer (April – June): Pleasant and cool, around 12°C to 20°C.
- Monsoon (July – September): Moderate to heavy rainfall, temperature stays 10°C to 18°C.
- Autumn/Winter (October – February): Very cold, ranging from 0°C to 5°C, with snowfall in peak winter.
- Spring (March): Mild and refreshing, around 8°C to 15°C.
Location of Urgam Valley Uttarakhand
- State – Uttarakhand
- District – Chamoli
- Altitude – 2100 meters above sea level
- Latitude and Longitude – 30.5648° North and 79.3916° East
- Nearest Railway Station – Haridwar
- Nearest Airport – Jolly Grant Airport
- Weather – Winter, Summer, Cloudy, Rainy
- Nearest Tourist Places – Joshimath, Chamoli, Gopeshwar, Karnaprayag, Kalpeshwar
- Main Food – All Garhwali dishes
- Pin Code – 246472
Urgam Valley Weather
Urgam Valley in Summer
The summer season in Urgam Village/Valley lasts from April to June, and the temperature here remains around 15°C during summer. The month of June is a little warmer compared to April, and in summer, the rising sun from behind the mountains in the morning looks very beautiful and attracts tourists.
Urgam Valley in Winter
Urgam Village/Valley is situated among the mountains, so its climate remains cold, and winter starts from October to February. The maximum temperature here is around 5°C, and the minimum temperature is 0°C, and due to being surrounded by fog all around, it looks even more beautiful.
Urgam Valley in Monsoon
In Urgam Village/Valley, the monsoon season starts between July to September. The month of August is more rainy compared to other months. In the rainy season, the waterfalls falling from the mountains present a very enchanting view and attract tourists.
Urgam Valley Homestay
Mystic Himalayan Homestay
- A charming, traditional mud house nestled along the popular Rudranath trek route between Barghinda and Bassa Village, about a kilometer’s walk from the trailhead.
- Offers 6 cozy rooms (including a 4-bed dormitory), with basic amenities and 2 shared bathrooms (Western and Indian styles).
- Features include organic vegetarian meals, hot water, internet, bonfire facilities, and morning-and-evening yoga & meditation sessions with the host, who is a certified yoga teacher and trekking guide.
- Rooms available:
- Classic Room: ₹3,800/night
- Dormitory Bed: ₹1,500/night (extra person ₹1,400)
- Breakfast, dinner, and morning Ayurvedic tea are included.
YogMatra Eco Homestay
- A sustainable Himalayan-style mud home in Danikhet Village, Urgam Valley—built from stone and wood in traditional fashion. It’s located on the famed Rudranath Trek.
- Delivers an authentic experience with organic local meals, yoga/pranayama & meditation sessions, and views of the lush valley including Brahma Kamal and Dronagiri peaks.
Highlights:
- Connected by mobile networks (Airtel, Jio) and offers Wi-Fi & workspace—rare amenities in this remote area.
- Accommodation options include shared 4-bed rooms and private rooms. Meals and spring water included; multi-day stay discounts are available.
Kalp Palace Homestay
- A budget-friendly option located inside Urgam Valley on the way to Kalpeshwar Temple.
- It has 6 clean and neat rooms with hygienic washrooms.
Pricing:
- Double Bed Room: ₹1,500/night
- Triple Bed Room: ₹2,000/night
- Four-Bedded Room: ₹2,500/night
(These are room-only rates.)
The host, Nagendra Negi, is helpful and knowledgeable; he can also organize treks like Panch Kedar, Bansi Narayan, Fulanarayan, Rudranath, and more.
Other Homestays & Budget Options
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Rudranath Homestay, Avatar Singh Home Stay, Kacchora Homestay, and GMVN Tourist Rest House.
How to Reach Urgam Valley Uttarakhand
By Air
If you want to go to Urgam by airplane, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, at a distance of 133 km from Urgam Village. From there, you can easily take a vehicle for Urgam Village/Valley trek.
By Train
If you are fond of traveling by train, then Haridwar, at a distance of 136 km from Urgam Village/Valley trek, is the nearest railway station.
By Road
Urgam Village/Valley is well connected by road, so you can take a bus and easily get any vehicle from Joshimath, Chamoli, and Karnaprayag bus stations, and also enjoy the mountain roads.
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