ep7 Hidden Shiva Temple trek in Mt.Abu. Japkeswar Mahadev 3 day trek Shergaon

Welcome to the final episode of the Mahadev Marathon, where I take you on an unforgettable journey to Japkeshwar Mahadev. This was a lvoely trek that took four of us three days to complete, but it was worth every step. We explored caves where Shri Rana Prathap Ji lived in exile, visited villages with natural wells, and experienced the kindness of locals.

Our journey started at Guru Shikhar, and we trekked down to Uttaraj village before ascending to Ishan Bheru Cave Temple in Shergaon, where we spent the night. The Babaji was generous enough to host us and offer us flour to make rotis. The next morning, we hiked through Shergaon village, a beautiful forested village with a population of fewer than 300 people, and finally reached Japkeshwar Mahadev.

Japkeshwar Mahadev is an ancient temple that remains a mystery, nestled in the northern part of Mount Abu amidst a forest full of leopards and sloth bears. The temple has a freshwater well that has never dried up, and inside you'll see a Shivling protruding from the ground, which is different from the ones you typically see in southern temples. The temple is spiritually charged, and many sadhus have meditated here.

As I rested in the temple, I felt incredibly happy and satisfied. However, it was tough to leave, and I promised myself that I would return someday. During our journey, we also visited the main hideout of Rana Prathap Ji, where he took a vow to lead an ascetic life until he reclaimed Mewar. It was incredible to visualize his life 500 years later in a landscape that hasn't changed much.

On our way back to Uttaraj, I spent the night inside a cave near a temple with Panditji, who prepared dal dhokli and paygee for breakfast the next day. Paygee is an amazing mix of buffalo ghee, hot water, roasted with sugar or jaggery. One bowl for breakfast will fix you till lunch.

It's hard to say goodbye to Mount Abu and the new friends for life I've made. Despite my weak Hindi, I felt at home, and the people were kind and accommodating. Most of them were happy that i explored deeply and respected the place. But all good things must come to an end, and so did my Mahadev Marathon. I drove back to Nashik via Gujarat, stopped at Shoolpaneshwar Mahadev opp Narmada river before finally handing over the car at nashik and catching a train back home.

As we say goodbye to the Mahadev Marathon, I feel grateful for the experiences I've had and the memories I've made. It's been an incredible journey, and I hope that through watching this video, you've been able to share in a small part of it. Remember to take time to explore the world around you and find your own adventures. Thank you for watching, and until next time, take care and stay curious. har har mahadev!

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