Panch Kedar
Among the many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the five shrines known as Panch Kedar are the most revered. According to the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas were searching for Lord Shiva, he transformed himself into a bull to avoid being found. However, when Bheema tried to capture the bull, it vanished and later reappeared in different body parts at five locations, which are now known as Panch Kedar.
Rudranath
Rudranath Temple is a temple of Lord Shiva situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state of India,which is one of the Panchkedars .Located at an altitude of 2290 meters above sea level, the Rudranath temple is full of grand natural shade. In the Rudranath temple, Lord Shankar’s Ekanan means that the face is worshiped, while the whole body is worshiped in the Pashupatinath of Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. The Nanda Devi and the snow-covered peaks of Trishul are visible from the front of the Rudranath temple.
Tungnath
Tungnath Temple, one of the revered Panch Kedar shrines, is located in the Tungnath mountain range in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Standing at an altitude of 3,680 meters above sea level, it is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Tungnath is ranked as the Tritiya (third) Kedar among the Panch Kedar temples and is deeply connected to the legend of the Pandavas.
Nestled in the breathtaking Garhwal Himalayas, Tungnath Temple is part of the scenic Chopta Tungnath Trek, renowned for its panoramic views and serene surroundings. The temple is not only a place of worship but also a popular destination for hikers and adventure enthusiasts.
Kedarnath
There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own Kith and Kin and sought blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kedarnath temple has exquisite architecture Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were moved and handled in the earlier centuries. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.
Madhmaheshwar
Located at an altitude of approximately 3,289 meters, Madhyamaheshwar is believed to be the place where the middle or navel part of Lord Shiva emerged. Nestled in a picturesque green valley in the Mansoona village of the Garhwal Himalayas, the temple is surrounded by the stunning snow-covered peaks of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, and Neelkantha.
The trek to Madhyamaheshwar begins from Uniana, about 18 kilometers from Ukhimath. Along the 19-kilometer trek, there are accommodation options at Ransi village, 3 kilometers in, and at Gaundhar village, 6 kilometers further. The journey offers a blend of spiritual significance and natural beauty.
Kalpeshwar
Kalpeshwar, the fifth and final temple in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, is the only one among the sacred Panch Kedar temples that remains open year-round. Inside this temple, devotees worship the matted hair of Lord Shiva. The Panch Kedar trail concludes at Kalpeshwar, also known as Kalpnath.
To reach the temple, motorable roads connect Sagar village to Helang, which is about 58 kilometers away. From Helang, jeeps can take you to Urgam, from where a short trek of a couple of kilometers leads to the temple.
