Panch Kedar
Five sacred Himalayan temples in Uttarakhand, each enshrining a part of Lord Shiva's divine bull form. A pilgrimage born from the Pandavas' quest for atonement after the Kurukshetra war.
10–14 days
Circuit Duration
2,134m – 3,680m
Altitude Range
Uttarakhand, India
Location
Approx. 2 km to 20 km
Trek Range
Kedarnath only
Helicopter
Kalpeshwar only
Year-Round
The Panch Kedar Circuit
Kedarnath
Hump (prushtha)3,583m · 16–17 km from Gaurikund · Moderate · Apr–Nov
The most visited Panch Kedar is a Jyotirlinga and the spiritual heart of the circuit. Helicopter available. Stone-paved trail from Gaurikund.
Tungnath
Arms (bahu)3,680m · 3.5 km from Chopta · Moderate · Apr–Nov
Widely described as the world's highest Shiva temple. The 3.5 km paved trail from Chopta is short but steep and reaches high altitude. Chandrashila is a further climb beyond the temple.
Rudranath
Face (mukh)2,290m · Approx. 20 km from Sagar · Strenuous · May–Oct
A remote Panch Kedar where the face of Shiva is worshipped as a natural rock form. The Sagar route involves an approximately 20 km trek. A local guide is strongly recommended.
Madhyamaheshwar
Navel (nabhi)Approx. 3,289m · Approx. 19 km via Uniana · Moderate–Strenuous · May–Nov
The navel of Shiva is worshipped here according to Panch Kedar tradition. The route passes through Uniana, Ransi and Gaundar; confirm the current roadhead before travel.
Kalpeshwar
Matted Hair (jata)2,134m · 2 km from Urgam village · Short trek · Year-round
The only Panch Kedar that remains open throughout the year. A short walking path from Urgam leads to the natural-rock shrine; road and weather conditions still need checking.
Why Panch Kedar Exists
After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Shiva for atonement, but Shiva fled, disguised as a bull.
As the bull plunged into the earth at Kedarnath, five body parts emerged at five separate locations.
The Pandavas built a temple at each site. These five (Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar) form the Panch Kedar.
Pilgrims traditionally visit all five shrines as one sacred journey connected with Shiva and the Pandavas.
This account is part of the traditional Panch Kedar story. Details can vary across local and scriptural traditions.
Circuit Planning Tips
Traditional circuit order: Kedarnath → Tungnath → Rudranath → Madhyamaheshwar → Kalpeshwar. Many pilgrims start from Kedarnath because it has the highest traffic. Opening dates vary each year, so check every temple before planning the circuit.
Best window for the full circuit: late May to early June, or September–October. Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar are difficult in monsoon (July–August).
A local guide is strongly recommended for Rudranath and may also help on Madhyamaheshwar, especially in poor weather. Confirm current trail conditions locally.
Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar open year-round. Pilgrims who start the circuit late in the season can complete the remaining temples and end at Kalpeshwar even after others close.