After the epic battle of Mahabharata the five Pandavas went to the Himalayas in search of Lord Shiva to seek his pardon for the sin of killing their kin. Lord Shiva did not wish to appear before them and hid in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. He left behind his hump and went on to Tungnath where he left behind his arms. Still pursued by the Pandavas, he left his face at Rudranath and his navel at Madmaheshwar. Finally he left his hair at Kalpeshwar. These are the venerable Panch Kedar, Every devotee of Lord Shiva must undertake a pilgrimage of the Panch Kedar at least once in his lifetime.
There is a definite route when one undertakes Panch Kedar Yatra in the Himalayas. The starting point is Kedarnath and from there one goes on to Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheshwar and then finally Kalpeshwar. It is customary to end the pilgrimage with a visit to Badrinath. You arrive at Gaurikund from Haridwar and, if you are a true devotee you go on foot towards the temple, a journey of 13 km or so across tough sloping terrain. Kedarnath, at a height of 3580 metres and sitting alongside the Mandakini River, is the site of one of the 12 Jyotirlinga and the Shivalinga here is conical in shape. The next stop on the Panch Kedar Yatra is Tungnath.
The highest Hindu temple at a height of 3680 metres, Tungnath can be reached from Chopta by walking the distance of 3 kilometers, the final one being a rather steep trek. The temple is 1000 years old, possibly older, with legends stating that it was built by the Pandavas. The temple remains open from April to October. For trekkers, this is a wonderful destination since the route also includes Chopta and Chandrashila.
From Tungnath you proceed to Rudranath, the third of the Panch Kedars, via Sagar, about 20 km away. Located at a height of 2286 metres in Rudraprayag district, the temple is surrounded by a number of sacred water tanks with Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti mountains forming the backdrop. You travel from Gopeshwar across Liti Bugyal to Pitradhar a Dhalabni Maidan to reach the temple. Said to be the site where Lord Shiva shed his face, the temple houses a Swayam Bhuva or naturally created face of Lord Shiva in the shape of a Shivalinga projecting from a large rock. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas as they diligently traced Lord Shiva and came upon his face in the rock. Apart from being a holy destination, Rudranath is a lovely trekking destination.
Fourth on the Panch Kedar pilgrimage list is Madhamaehswar or Madhyamaheshwar since the temple here houses the navel part of Lord Shiva. Located at a height of 3497 metres in Mansuna village in Garhwal, the temple has a navel shaped lingam in the sanctum flanked by two stones representing Parvati and Ardhanarishvara. You can visit between April and October. Apart from being one of the Panch Kedars Madmaheshwar is also a lovely trekking route with treks from Uniana, about 18 km from Ukhimath. You can trek to Bantoli, Khatara-Nanu, Ransi and Gaundhar that are more or less along the route to Madmaheshwar before proceeding to the last of Panch Kedars, Kalpeshwar.
The last of the Panch Kedar, Kalpeshwar is at a height of 2200 metres in Urgam Valley in Garhwal. The small stone temple is accessible through a cave passage but to get there you have to walk 12 km from Helang on Rishikesh-Badrinath road. Happily, since it is at a lower height, the temple is accessible throughout the year and you can also take time off to explore the beautiful Urgam valley before you proceed to Badrinath to conclude the Panch Kedar yatra.
All temples on the Panch Kedar circuit are at a considerable height so it is better to acclimatize yourself before starting the pilgrimage. Carry plenty of woollens, sunglasses and wear protective boots because the going is tough. However, you can be sure Lord Shiva will be pleased and will grant you your boon easily. After all he is Bholenath, the Lord who bestows favors with ease.
Start point of Panch Kedar Yatra:
Kedarnath
There is a definite route when one undertakes Panch Kedar Yatra in the Himalayas. The starting point is Kedarnath and from there one goes on to Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheshwar and then finally Kalpeshwar. It is customary to end the pilgrimage with a visit to Badrinath. You arrive at Gaurikund from Haridwar and, if you are a true devotee you go on foot towards the temple, a journey of 13 km or so across tough sloping terrain. Kedarnath, at a height of 3580 metres and sitting alongside the Mandakini River, is the site of one of the 12 Jyotirlinga and the Shivalinga here is conical in shape. The next stop on the Panch Kedar Yatra is Tungnath.
Tungnath
The highest Hindu temple at a height of 3680 metres, Tungnath can be reached from Chopta by walking the distance of 3 kilometers, the final one being a rather steep trek. The temple is 1000 years old, possibly older, with legends stating that it was built by the Pandavas. The temple remains open from April to October. For trekkers, this is a wonderful destination since the route also includes Chopta and Chandrashila.
Rudranath
From Tungnath you proceed to Rudranath, the third of the Panch Kedars, via Sagar, about 20 km away. Located at a height of 2286 metres in Rudraprayag district, the temple is surrounded by a number of sacred water tanks with Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti mountains forming the backdrop. You travel from Gopeshwar across Liti Bugyal to Pitradhar a Dhalabni Maidan to reach the temple. Said to be the site where Lord Shiva shed his face, the temple houses a Swayam Bhuva or naturally created face of Lord Shiva in the shape of a Shivalinga projecting from a large rock. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas as they diligently traced Lord Shiva and came upon his face in the rock. Apart from being a holy destination, Rudranath is a lovely trekking destination.
Madhyamaheshwar
Fourth on the Panch Kedar pilgrimage list is Madhamaehswar or Madhyamaheshwar since the temple here houses the navel part of Lord Shiva. Located at a height of 3497 metres in Mansuna village in Garhwal, the temple has a navel shaped lingam in the sanctum flanked by two stones representing Parvati and Ardhanarishvara. You can visit between April and October. Apart from being one of the Panch Kedars Madmaheshwar is also a lovely trekking route with treks from Uniana, about 18 km from Ukhimath. You can trek to Bantoli, Khatara-Nanu, Ransi and Gaundhar that are more or less along the route to Madmaheshwar before proceeding to the last of Panch Kedars, Kalpeshwar.
Kalpeshwar
The last of the Panch Kedar, Kalpeshwar is at a height of 2200 metres in Urgam Valley in Garhwal. The small stone temple is accessible through a cave passage but to get there you have to walk 12 km from Helang on Rishikesh-Badrinath road. Happily, since it is at a lower height, the temple is accessible throughout the year and you can also take time off to explore the beautiful Urgam valley before you proceed to Badrinath to conclude the Panch Kedar yatra.
All temples on the Panch Kedar circuit are at a considerable height so it is better to acclimatize yourself before starting the pilgrimage. Carry plenty of woollens, sunglasses and wear protective boots because the going is tough. However, you can be sure Lord Shiva will be pleased and will grant you your boon easily. After all he is Bholenath, the Lord who bestows favors with ease.
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