On the bank of the Tons river near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, tucked within a natural cave, stands the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, a much-loved shrine of Lord Shiva. Its name comes from the water that drips (tapak) perpetually from the cave roof upon the Shiva linga, in a natural and unceasing abhishekam.
Tradition links the cave to the age of the Mahabharata, holding it to have been the abode of the guru Dronacharya. Serene amid rock and forest and flowing water, Tapkeshwar draws great crowds of devotees, especially at Shivaratri, and is among the most beloved shrines of the Dehradun valley.
