Famous ‘Panch Kedar’ Temples of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand known for its spirituality and peaceful environment we get in top of the Hills. In Uttarakhand’s Shiva temples are so famous that legendary narratives about them may be found in Hindu Puranas & Vedas.  In the Garhwal region there are five such revered shrines where Lord Shiva is worshipped. known as Panch Kedar (panch means five), these temples are Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tung Nath, Rudra Nath, Kalpnath.

Most of us have a depth faith in Devo k Dev ‘Mahadev’ . Around the world wide devotees came here to worship of lord Shiva. So, If you are tired with your daily tiredness routine you must have to visit Panch Kedar Temples of Lord Shiva where you not only get your inner peace infact you can get find Peaceful Environment.

Panch Kedar Temples in Uttarakhand

As per the holy scriptures and legends it is believed that after getting disappeared from Kedarnath, lord shiva’s bull incarnation appeared at five different locations in the form of five body parts.

According to mythology, there is belief that the Pandavas were advised to worship Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand as penance for the bloodshed caused in the war of Mahabharata. The legend goes that Lord Shiva was hiding from the Pandavas by taking the form of a buffalo but was identified by Bhima.

On being recognized, the deity disappeared and manifested himself in five different locations in the Himalayas. It is said the each of these sites is dedicated to a part of the Lord – Kedarnath (the hump of Lord Shiva), Madhmaheshwar (His belly button), Tung Nath (His arms), Rudra Nath (His face), Kalpeshwar (His jata or hair).

KEDARNATH TEMPLE

Kedarnath temple is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is located in the Himalayas astonishing height of 3584 meters above sea level near the head of Mandakini River. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” form. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. 

Best time to Visit:	From May to October
Nearest Airport:	Jolly Grant, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station:	Rishikesh
Trekking Distance:	The trekking route starts from Gaurikund and is about 16 km

During winter months, the town remains closed due to heavy snowfall. During that period when the temples are closed due to snowfall, the sanctified symbolic Shiva idol of Kedarnath is worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple at Ukimath. 

MADHMAHESHWAR TEMPLE

The Second Kedar is known as Madhmaheshwar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva, located in the Mansoona village of Garhwal Himalayas.

The Second brother of Pandava Bhima is believed to have built this temple and worshiped Shiva here.  The middle (Madhya) or navel of the bull, considered a divine form of Shiva, is worshiped at this temple.

It is Also Famous for Trekking and the Meadows and village walks.

Best time to Visit:	From May to November
Nearest Airport:	Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station:	Haridwar Railway Station
Trekking Distance:	Madhmaheshwar can be reached by trekking 16 Km from Ransi Village.

TUNGNATH TEMPLE

Tungnath temple is Tritiya (Third) Kedar of Panch Kedar temples. It is also the highest Shiva temple in the world. Located in Rudraprayag district height of 3,680 m and the Tungnath mountains form Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys.

According to the Hindu beliefs or mythology Lord Shiva’s arms are said to have appear here. It is considered to be more than 1,000 years old. The foundation of this temple was laid down by Arjuna who was the third of the Pandava brothers.

Tungnath trek begins at Chopta, a small village located at an altitude of 2680 metres. You can reach there by hire a taxi or get a bus from Rishikesh till Rudraprayag or Ukhimath. After that you would need to hire a car or taxi to reach Chopta.

Best time to Visit:	From April to November
Nearest Airport:	Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Trekking Distance:	4 km long and takes 3-4 hours to complete from Chopta

RUDRANATH TEMPLE

Rudranath temple is the Fourth temple among the Panch Kedar Temples. Temple is located in 11800 feet above sea level in the Chamoli district of Garhwal Uttarakhand. It is also the toughest treks among all the five Kedars.

As per the tradition of this temple, it is expected every visitor of this temple takes a bath in Narad kund situated in the vicinity of the temple before having darshan of lord Shiva. To reach Rudranath Temple, one typically has to trek through picturesque landscapes and remote areas, as it is nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas.

According to the beliefs after killing their cousins and gurus Pandavas felt sorrow for that so they started searching for lord Shiva to atone for the sin of Gotra Hatya and Brahmahatya. But Lord Shiva is Unhappy due to bloodshed, So Lord Shiva escaped From the Pandavas.

Lord Shiva went to Guptkashi to avoid Pandavas. After knowing this Pandavas again went to Guptkashi, but lord shiva escaped to Kedar. When Pandavas reached Kedar village lord shiva transformed into Nadi and got mixed in with other cattle grazing nearby. Pandavas spotted him and tried to hold him but the body part of the bull split into four different parts and appeared at five different locations.

The face (mukha) of god Shiva is worshipped as “Neelakantha Mahadeva” here. 

Best time to Visit:	May to June and from September to October when the weather is pleasant.
Nearest Airport:	Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station:	Rishikesh Railway Station then you can Take Bus Directly to Gopeshwar.
Trekking Distance:	The trek is very hard with a distance of approximately 24 km.

KALPESHWAR TEMPLE

Kalpeshwar Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. It’s part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, which includes five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Kalpeshwar apart is its unique manifestation of Lord Shiva as “Jata” or “Jateshwar,” which translates to the lord of matted hair. The deity here is worshipped in the form of hair locks (jata) rather than a traditional idol. The temple is nestled amidst lush greenery and breathtaking scenic views in the Himalayas, making it not just a place of religious significance but also a spot for natural beauty and tranquility.

Trekking routes to Rudranath are from Gopeshwar or nearby places.