What are the five temples in Panch Kedar?

The five temples are: Kedarnath (hump of Shiva), Tungnath (arms), Rudranath (face), Madhyamaheshwar (navel), and Kalpeshwar (hair/jata). Each temple marks where a part of Lord Shiva appeared when he took the form of a bull.

How many days are needed for Panch Kedar Yatra?

A complete Panch Kedar Yatra typically requires 12-14 days, as it involves extensive trekking through remote Himalayan regions. The circuit covers approximately 170 km of trekking.

What is the difficulty level of Panch Kedar trek?

The Panch Kedar trek is considered moderate to difficult. It requires good physical fitness as it involves high-altitude trekking (up to 3,680m at Tungnath) and covering 20-25 km per day in some sections.

Panch Kedar Yatra 2026 | Five Sacred Shiva Temples

The Sacred Panch Kedar Pilgrimage

Panch Kedar refers to the five sacred temples of Lord Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. According to legend, these temples mark the five parts of Lord Shiva's body when he appeared as a bull to avoid the Pandavas after the Mahabharata war.

This transformative 12-14 day trek takes you through some of the most pristine and remote regions of Uttarakhand, offering both profound spiritual experiences and breathtaking Himalayan landscapes.

The Five Sacred Kedar Temples

Discover each temple where Lord Shiva manifested different parts of his divine form

Kedarnath Temple

The Hump of Lord Shiva | Jyotirlinga

Perched at 3,580 meters in the majestic Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath Temple stands as one of India's 12 sacred Jyotirlingas and a cornerstone of the revered Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. According to legend, the Pandavas built this ancient shrine to seek Lord Shiva's forgiveness after the Kurukshetra war, with the current magnificent structure re-established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.

Altitude: 3,580 m Trek: 16 km

Tungnath Temple

The Arms of Lord Shiva | World's Highest Shiva Temple

Rising to 3,680 meters, Tungnath holds the distinction of being the world's highest Shiva temple and the third of the sacred Panch Kedar temples. Believed to be over 1,000 years old, this ancient shrine was established by the Pandavas to appease Lord Shiva after the Mahabharata war, marking the sacred spot where Shiva's arms (bahu) appeared.

Altitude: 3,680 m Trek: 3.5 km from Chopta

Madmaheshwar Temple

The Navel of Lord Shiva

Nestled at 3,497 meters in the serene Garhwal Himalayas, Madmaheshwar Temple is the fourth temple of the sacred Panch Kedar circuit. This divine site marks where Lord Shiva's navel and stomach manifested, and is believed to have been established by the Pandava brothers to seek redemption for sins committed during the great Kurukshetra war.

Altitude: 3,497 m Trek: 24 km from Ransi

Rudranath Temple

The Face of Lord Shiva | Nilkanth Mahadev

Perched amidst alpine meadows in Chamoli district, Rudranath is an ancient 8th-century rock temple dedicated to Lord Shiva's face, worshipped here as "Nilkanth Mahadev." This sacred site is the third of the Panch Kedar temples, believed to have been established by the Pandavas as penance after the Mahabharata, where Shiva appeared in his bull form.

Altitude: 3,600 m Trek: 20 km from Sagar

Kalpeshwar Temple

The Matted Hair of Lord Shiva | Jatadhar

Uniquely accessible year-round, Kalpeshwar Temple in the scenic Urgam Valley is where Lord Shiva manifested his matted locks (jata) to grant the Pandavas absolution. This ancient shrine, also known as Jateshwar, features a mystical subterranean cave tunnel leading to the sanctum, making it the only perpetually accessible temple among the Panch Kedar.

Altitude: 2,200 m Trek: 2 km from Urgam

Panch Kedar Yatra 2026