Tunganath : One of Most height Temple of Lord Shiva.
Tunganath is a Hindu temple located in the Rudraprayag district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is one of the five Kedar temples, which are among the most important pilgrim centers for Hindus in the region.
Tunganath is located at an altitude of 3,680 meters (12,073 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest-elevation temples in India.
It is dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva and is considered to be one of the Panch Kedar, or five kedar s, which are a group of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Himalayan region of India.
Pilgrims visit Tunganath to offer their prayers and seek blessings from the deity.
The temple is also a popular destination for trekkers and nature enthusiasts, who come to enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding Himalayan mountains
Mythology Cal history of this temple
According to Hindu mythology, Tunganath Temple was built by the Pandavas during their exile in the Mahabharata.
The Pandavas were sent into exile for 12 years and were asked to spend one year in hiding, during which they were not allowed to be seen by anyone.
The Pandavas chose to hide in the Himalayan mountain range and built the Tunganath Temple as a place of worship and contemplation.
The temple is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva had rested after he had carried the corpse of his wife, Sati, on his shoulders
. Sati had sacrificed herself in a yajna (sacrificial fire) performed by her father, Daksha. In anger, Shiva carried Sati’s corpse and wandered across the universe. When he reached the Himalayas, he decided to rest at the place where the Tunganath Temple stands today.
The temple is also believed to be the place where the Pandavas obtained the divine weapon, the Pashupatastra, from Lord Shiva.
The Pashupatastra is a powerful weapon that can only be wielded by a person who has attained the highest level of spiritual enlightenment.
The Pandavas received this weapon as a gift from Lord Shiva and used it to defeat their enemies in the Kurukshetra war.
Today, the Tunganath Temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus and is visited by thousands of devotees every year.
Tunganath: One of Most height temples of Lord Shiva.
The temple is open to visitors throughout the year and is particularly busy during the festival of Mahashivaratri when large numbers of devotees come to pay their respects to Lord Shiva.
How to reach tungahnath from Delhi
Tungnath is a high-altitude Himalayan temple located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India.
If you are starting from Delhi, you can follow the below steps to reach Tungnath:
- Take a train or bus from Delhi to reach Rishikesh, which is the nearest major town to Tungnath.
- From Rishikesh, you can take a shared taxi or hire a private taxi to reach Chopta, which is the base village for the Tungnath trek. Chopta is approximately 200 kilometers from Rishikesh and the journey takes around 8-9 hours by road.
- From Chopta, you can start the trek to Tungnath, which is a 5-6 hour hike through the picturesque forests and meadows. You can also hire a pony or a local guide to assist you on the trek.
- After reaching Tungnath, you can visit the temple and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks from there.
It is recommended to plan your trip and make necessary arrangements for accommodation, transportation, and other amenities. It is also advisable to be well-equipped and acclimatized adequately for the high-altitude trek to Tungnath.