Panch Kedar Temples

Panch Kedar

Panch Kedar refers to the five sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. These temples hold immense religious significance and are part of a pilgrimage circuit that is both spiritually enriching and physically challenging. The Panch Kedar temples are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar, each associated with different parts of Lord Shiva’s divine form.

The pilgrimage to Panch Kedar is arduous, involving trekking through rugged terrains and high altitudes. Despite the physical challenges, the spiritual rewards and the serene, natural beauty of the Himalayas make it a profoundly fulfilling experience for devotees. Each temple’s unique legend and setting contribute to the overall sanctity and allure of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage.

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kedarnath temple images

1. Kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India, it stands at an elevation of about 3,583 meters (11,755 feet). 

This ancient temple is a part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where Shiva is worshipped as a lingam of light.

The temple’s origins are shrouded in legend, with its present structure attributed to the 8th-century philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya, who is believed to have revived its prominence. 

The conical rock formation inside the temple represents Lord Shiva’s hump, and the shrine is considered the most significant of the Panch Kedar temples, where different parts of Shiva are venerated.

Surrounded by towering snow-clad peaks, including the Kedarnath mountain, the temple offers breathtaking natural beauty. It is accessible via a challenging 16-kilometer trek from Gaurikund. 

The temple is open to devotees from April to November, closing during the harsh winter months due to heavy snowfall. 

Despite the arduous journey, thousands of pilgrims visit Kedarnath annually, seeking spiritual solace and blessings from the divine.

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Tungnath

2. Tungnath

Tungnath peacefully adorned on the Chandranath Parvat is the highest Shiva temple in the world and the highest Panch Kedar temple of Uttarakhand. It is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. Tungnath is perched at an elevation of 3, 680 metres above sea level and is considered to be more than 1,000 years old.

This highest temple of Lord Shiva is an ironically easiest one to achieve. Tungnath Temple can be reached by a moderately easy trek of 3.5km commencing from Chopta (2700mts). The region receives heavy snowfall during winters making Tungnath temple tough to access. The altitude of Tungnath Temple is approx 3600 mts. Tungnath trek is well laid and doesn’t necessarily require a guide except during peak winters when the area is covered with snow.

Magnificent in its architecture and artistic structure, Tungnath Temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and few other idols of Goddess Parvati and other gods can be seen in the vicinity. This sacred temple was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya and now the priest of this temple is a local Brahmins of Makku village.

The symbolic image of Lord Shiva is moved to Mukunath during winters, situated 19kms away. The trek goes through rocky terrains, green meadows and rhododendron bushes showering us with visual vistas of nature. The invigorating views of the imposing Himalayas boosts with confidence in the heart of the trekkers. Several named and unnamed peaks of the Himalayan range are distinctly visible from Tungnath.

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3. Rudranath

Rudranath is the highly revered temple of Lord Shiva is peacefully adorned in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is the fourth temple to visit in the circuit of Panch Kedar pilgrimage. The celestial temple is snuggled inside the rhododendron forests and the alpine meadows. The exhilarating trek to Rudranath temple can be either commenced from Sagar village, Helang or Urgam village. 

Rudranath temple is the toughest one to reach in comparison with other temples of Panch Kedar. The Himalayan peaks adding to the glory of Rudranath are Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. The trekking route to Rudranath temple offers awe-inspiring views of the diversified beauty of nature and the deep gorges that make the place all the way more interesting. 

Rudranath temple is the toughest one to reach in comparison with other temples of Panch Kedar but it is worth the pain as one can see the glorious Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti peaks. The trail passes through the wild grassy meadows, the thick woodlands and offers awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas. You can indulge in the blissful morning aarti performed at the Rudranath temple which generally starts from 8 am and the evening aarti that takes place at 6:30, every day. 

Sit beside the sparkling Vaitarini River also known as the ‘Water of Salvation’ and hear the music of the placid river flowing by. There are 3 different trek routes to reach Rudranath, and every trek offers different landscapes and beauty. There is a prominent saying for Rudranath Trek amongst local people “Rudranath ki Chadai, German ki Ladai” considering its lofty course.

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madmaheshwar

4. Madhyamaheswar

Madhmaheshwar is mystically covered by the snow-capped Himalayas on the right side, lush green alpine meadows on the left side and dense forest act as its backdrop. The shepherd huts, village houses, thousands of years old Madmaheshwar temple and picturesque views complete this town. The temple architecture is a classic north Indian style.

Madmaheshwar (also called as MadhyaMaheshwar and Madhmaheshwar) is a quaint little holy town named after the sacred Madhyamaheshwar Temple of Lord Shiva. It is situated at an altitude of 3490 mts above sea level.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva is part of the famous Panch Kedars. This is the fourth temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar Pilgrimage circuit; the other temples being Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar. There are two other smaller shrines, one for Shiva’s consort Parvati and the other dedicated to the Ardhanarishwara.

The middle (Madhya) or navel of the bull, considered a divine form of Shiva, is worshiped at this temple. Bhima, the second Pandava brother is believed to have built this temple and worshiped Shiva here. To the right of the main temple, there is a small temple where the marble image of Saraswati is installed in the sanctum.

At Madhyamaheshwar Temple entire village shows their presence at the evening aarti performed at the temple and the guests are greeted. One can feel the spiritual vibes in the proximity of the temple. The locals refer Madhyamaheshwar to as Madhamaheshwar which literally means the Drunken god.

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Kalpeshwar

5. Kalpeshwar

Kalpeshwar is the last and fifth temple in the list of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit and it is the only temple of the sacred Panch Kedar that remains open throughout the year. The matted hairs or Jata or Lord Shiva are worshipped inside this temple.

Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of matted hairs at Kalpeshwar and the trail to this sacred shine goes through thick forests and lush green terrace fields. There is also an old Kalpvriksha tree here which is said to be the wish-granting tree in Hindu mythology.

Many trekking enthusiasts and devotees commence the Kalpeshwar trek as it offers stunning views of the untouched valley, the terraced fields, and the dense woods, guiding the mortals to the shrine of Lord Shiva. One can see the old Kalpvriksha tree here, which is believed to grant the wishes of the devotees.

The Kalpeshwar trek starts from Urgam village where the buoyant Kalpganga River flows in eternity. This area has many sprawling apple orchards and potato farms. Earlier the trek route existed from Helang to Kalpeshwar via Urgam village, having a trek distance of 10 km. But now jeepable roads are available from Helang to Urgam, now it’s just a 1 km trek to Kalpeshwar.

You can also visit the Budha Kedar temple, Dhyan Badri, and the Sapt Badri temple or the Seven Badri’s that are in the proximity of Kalpeshwar. Kalpeshwar temple is one of the five Panch Kedar (shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva). As a result, Kalpeshwar is visited by thousands of devotees and pilgrims mostly Shaivites or devotees of Lord Shiva.

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Panch Kedar Temples Yatra

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