{"id":4361,"date":"2019-03-04T12:46:56","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T12:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namasteindiatrip.com\/blog\/?p=4361"},"modified":"2026-06-11T03:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T03:14:19","slug":"panch-kedar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.namasteindiatrip.com\/blog\/panch-kedar\/","title":{"rendered":"Panch Kedar – Where Shiva is Worshipped in Different Forms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uttarakhand<\/a> \u2014 mostly reckoned as Devbhoomi or Land of holy abodes \u2014 is the most visited pilgrimage destination in North India. There are myriads of legends associated with the origin of the holy abodes of Devbhoomi which are related to an array of five holy temples of Lord Shiva<\/a> collectively called Panch Kedar. This set of Lord Shiva temples includes Tungnath, Kedarnath<\/a>, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. All these revered shrines are beautifully located in the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges, whose origins are mostly associated with the Pandavas of Mahabharata. Each of the temples is popular for its amazing location and tranquil ambiance.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it is not very easy to reach these holy shrines as there is no motorable or straight road going to the destinations. The splendid journey of Panch Kedar \u2014 it generally takes 14\u201316 days to complete this spiritual journey \u2014 gives you a lifelong memorable experience. Snow-clad mountains, lush green meadows, imposing mountain peaks, wildlife, and enchanting water streams add more glory to the spiritual significance of this journey. This entire sacred journey covers approximately 107 km of trekking commencing from Rishikesh<\/a> in the order: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Panch Kedar at a Glance \u2014 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Temple<\/b><\/td>\nAltitude<\/b><\/td>\nBody Part<\/b><\/td>\nTrek (One Way)<\/b><\/td>\n2026 Opening<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kedarnath<\/span><\/td>\n3,583 m<\/span><\/td>\nHump (back)<\/span><\/td>\n16\u201318 km from Gaurikund<\/span><\/td>\n22 April 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tungnath<\/span><\/td>\n3,680 m<\/span><\/td>\nArms<\/span><\/td>\n3.5 km from Chopta<\/span><\/td>\n2 May 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rudranath<\/span><\/td>\n3,600 m<\/span><\/td>\nFace<\/span><\/td>\n20 km from Sagar Village<\/span><\/td>\n18 May 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Madhyamaheshwar<\/span><\/td>\n3,497 m<\/span><\/td>\nNavel<\/span><\/td>\n19 km from Uniana<\/span><\/td>\n21 May 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kalpeshwar<\/span><\/td>\n2,200 m<\/span><\/td>\nHair (Jata)<\/span><\/td>\n2 km from Urgam Village<\/span><\/td>\nYear-round<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Panch<\/p>\n

Legends Behind the Origin of Panch Kedar<\/b><\/h2>\n

Similar to other pilgrimage places, Panch Kedar also has numerous legends associated with its origin. One of the most popular is taken from the Mahabharata era. The legend states that Pandavas were heavily burdened with the guilt of fratricide. To seek blessings from Lord Shiva and to please him they performed atonement, but Lord Shiva didn\u2019t want to absolve their sins so easily. To hide from the Pandavas he disguised himself as a bull at Guptkashi.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pandavas came searching for him and reached the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges. Bheema (one of the mighty Pandava brothers) recognised Lord Shiva and tried to catch the bull, then Lord Shiva as a bull dived into the ground and disappeared. Lord Shiva then reappeared in the Garhwal Himalayan Range in different parts at different places. His hump was discovered at Kedarnath, navel at Madhyamaheshwar, face at Rudranath, arms at Tungnath, and hair at Kalpeshwar. Since then, he has been worshipped differently at different spots of Panch Kedar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kedarnath Temple<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Shri<\/p>\n

Located in a picturesque landscape studded with beautiful mountains, snow-covered peaks, lush green valleys, and dense forests, Kedarnath is considered one of the most important and sacred shrines of Panch Kedar. The temple is nestled at an elevation of 3,583 metres above sea level in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is also considered one of the prime destinations in Chota Char Dham Yatra<\/a>. The temple has a cone-shaped lingam resembling the hump of Lord Shiva.<\/span><\/p>\n

The present temple of Kedarnath<\/a> is believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD. Gaurikund is the nearest motorable road point leading towards Kedarnath. The remaining distance \u2014 around 16\u201318 km trekking trail \u2014 is covered on foot through steep slopes, though the panoramic views make the experience enthralling. Due to heavy snowfall, the temple is closed from November to April.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kedarnath Important Updates 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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