Panch Kedar

The Panch Kedar are sacred temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The tourist believes that visiting these temples brings spiritual peace and divine blessing. There are 5 kedars you must visit.

Table of Contents

1. Kedarnath

Kedarnath is the most famous among the five Kedars. It is nestled in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3583 meters. It is accessible mainly from Gaurikund. It is popular during Char Dham Yatra. Kedarnath Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state, India. Nestled in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, as well as one of the Char Dhams and Panch Kedars. Due to the harsh climate here, this temple is open for darshan only between April and November.

Built in stone in the Katyuri style, this temple is said to have been built by Maharaja Janmejaya, the grandson of the Pandavas. The Swayambhu Shivalinga located here is very ancient. Adi Shankaracharya renovated this temple.

2. Tungnath

Tungnath is a mountain located in the Rudraprayag district of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Located on Tungnath Mountain is the Tungnath Temple, situated at an altitude of 3640 meters and the highest of the Panch Kedars. This temple is believed to be 1,000 years old, and Lord Shiva is worshipped here as one of the Panch Kedars. It is believed that this temple was built by the Pandavas to appease Lord Shiva, who was angry with them due to the massacre at Kurukshetra. The peak of Tungnath is the source of three streams that form the Akshakamini River. The temple is located 3 kilometers from Chopta. It is said that Goddess Parvati performed penance here before her marriage to please Lord Shiva.

3. Rudranath

Rudranath Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, India, and is one of the Panch Kedar. Located at an altitude of 2290 meters above sea level, Rudranath Temple is filled with magnificent natural beauty. The face of Lord Shiva is worshipped at Rudranath Temple, while the entire body is worshipped at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The snow-capped peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul, visible from the front of Rudranath Temple, add to its charm.

4. Madhyamaheshwar

Madhyamaheshwar—Located in the serene, sacred, and snow-capped valleys of Uttarakhand, this temple is not only a pilgrimage site but also a vibrant confluence of faith, penance, and the divinity of nature. Situated in the lap of the Garhwal Himalayas , at an altitude of about 3,497 meters (11,473 feet) in Gaundhar, a small village in Rudraprayag district, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

5. Kalpeshwar

Kalpeshwar Temple is one of the major religious sites in Uttarakhand. Located in the Urgam Valley at an altitude of approximately 2134 meters above sea level, the temple worships the “jata” (hair) or matted locks of Lord Shiva, one of the three deities recognized in Hinduism. Kalpeshwar Temple is the fifth of the “Panchkedar” pilgrimages. It can be visited any time of the year. This small stone temple is accessed through a cave.