TADKESHWAR MAHADEV TEMPLE

TADKESHWAR  temple is dedicated to LORD SHIVA ,is situated in a cup shaped valley surrounded by Deodar trees .Located at the height of 1800m is a place of salvation.It is about 12 kms distant from lansdowne . It is about 600 years old sacred shrine refered as Shiva shidh peeth .It is surrounded with beautiful forest of blue pine deodar and oak .One of the ancient Shiva temple is perfect place for trekking ,bird watching and ideal location for nature lover ..Though the road to temple is barely fit for driving . The road is quite narrow and breathtaking and having landslides being constantly repaired still have to be very mentally alert to avert mishappenings. The road to Tadkeshwar is more or less deserted as there is no habitation along the way and neither can we find tea shops .

The environment is serene ,quite filled with vibrant energy. around one km walk to the shrine has narrow paved path . Before we arrive at the shrine ,its really hard to describe the adventure through deodar trees with absolute silence ,only with natural sounds filling  with sense of adventure and bit scary for wild animals .Once we reach the place there is single shop of  offerings like flower ,and pastile and sugar candy's and small  hospice . .Then way to the shrine has big and small bells adding charm and unique identity to the area .Another spectacular feature of this area is that the whole area is surrounded by Deodar trees but amazingly outskirts and whole lansdowne is deprived of them ,not having a single of them anywhere else amongst the pine trees.

The Tadkeshwar shrine is having its popularity for saint Swami Rama who is said to have attained enlightenment here . It is believed Swamiji and his diciples would come for worship and meditation .from the book source 'living with Himalayan masters " by Swami Rama Society ,various legends can be known .Large number of people visit the tiny  hamlet during Mahashivratri .Amazingly the wild animals are quite indifferent to human presence.

Tarkeshwar is famous for three marvellous things that makes our pilgrimage an immemorable one .Firstly amongst huge 1000 Deodars , only one in the shrine compound has Trishul formation .It is said that if we sit /stand under this tree chanting Mahadeva name and a branch falls on you as soon you stand under it ,your family is blessed..Second are the rows of bells starting from entrance give melodious rythm with the cool breeze .becomes a heavenly treat for the  tourist. Thirdly the underground capillaries from Tadkeshwar to jhalsain  about 25kms away where offered milk to Mahadeva by people reaches with same purity and taken home by as sacrament for those who are struck by evil spirits.

Various sagas are associated with the shrine .One goes with Swami Rama , who is still believed to be meditating as the Trishul deodar being himself and rest 999 deodars beings his diciples are still in deep meditation and shall continue .It is stated by the temple priest that the day when Trishul deodar shall shed its trishul shall be the moksha day for all sages and all the deodars will lose their divinity..after this all sorts of other vegetations shall upsurge the area .Second one is associated with Aswal family who are debarried from the temple ,after a curse . Aswals , mustard oil and kaudar or Sal leaves are considered bad omen for the temple as well for the family who has to bear incurable diseases pertaining to sudden death .Third one is that every night whosoever decides to stay in the temple shrine at around 12pm midnight to 3 a.m  the Gandharvaas  visit the shrine  and whole shrine is filled with orangic aroma with majestic affect ., with non stop zingling of bells . but the foriegners who are visiting the site as for their research and love to spend their nights narrate their experience that at this time wind blows very hard and all the bells of the shrine create very scarry  sounds as if they all are reciting some mantras together and the strange scent that envelops the whole area is just rejuvenating and immemorable One gets dumbstuck with vibrant energy that flows in your blood and soul. Fourthly , though  we are safe from wild animals but spending time around the shrine , one must try to avoid sitting on grass or stones as this is the home of leeches who are fond of blood and shall get stuck into your flesh ,which is very hard to be removed.

There is small inn where you can enjoy meditation and tranquility midst the zingling of small and big bells .On Shivratri huge fair is organised by army in lansdowne. Government must spend to develop the area with rest houses for tourist to enhance Pilgrimage sector .As per the local people  ,here people visit for adventure or research and only maintained by army and neighbouring villages. On the whole it is really an adventurous journey with its mystic affect that shall haunt you years together.