Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comThe Panch Kedar
The Panch Kedar are a group of five sacred Shiva temples in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas which, according to legend, are each dedicated to a different part of Shiva's bull-form.
Significance of The Panch Kedar
According to the legend in the Skanda Purana's Kedarkhand, after the Mahabharata war the Pandavas sought release from the sin of killing their own kin and teacher. Displeased with them, Shiva took the form of a bull and vanished into the Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima recognised the bull near Guptakashi and caught its tail and hind legs, but Shiva sank into the earth and reappeared in five different forms at five different places, his hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tungnath, face at Rudranath, navel and belly at Madhyamaheshwar, and hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar. Pleased with this, the Pandavas built temples at all five sites.
Of the Panch Kedar, Kedarnath is the foremost and most-visited temple, and is also counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas. The remaining four, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar, see comparatively fewer pilgrims, and reaching most of them requires trekking.
The Panch Kedar
Where Shiva's hump is worshipped; also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the foremost and most-visited of the five.
Where Shiva's arms are worshipped; the highest Shiva temple in the world (about 3,680 m), near Chandrashila peak.
Where Shiva's face is worshipped; set within a natural rock formation, reached via a roughly 20 km trek through dense forest from Gopeshwar.
Where Shiva's navel and belly are worshipped; reached via a roughly 16-18 km trek from Ransi village near Ukhimath.
Where Shiva's matted hair (jata) is worshipped; the only Panch Kedar temple accessible year-round, a short walk from Urgam village.
Visiting The Panch Kedar
All five Kedars close through heavy winter snowfall and open only in summer and autumn, except Kalpeshwar, the only one of the Panch Kedar accessible year-round, since it sits at a comparatively low altitude (about 2,200 m) close to a motorable road. Trekking distance and difficulty vary widely across the rest, Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are 16-18 km, Tungnath is a short 3-3.5 km from Chopta, while Rudranath is the toughest, a roughly 20 km trek through dense forest from Gopeshwar.
Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world (about 3,680 m), sitting just below the famous Chandrashila peak, which offers 360-degree views of major Himalayan peaks including Chaukhamba and Nanda Devi. Pilgrims and trekkers often combine a Tungnath visit with the climb to Chandrashila.
About The Panch Kedar
This page presents the list of Lord Shiva's Panch Kedar, a group of five sacred temples, their locations, and what makes each one distinctive. Where a Kedar has its own detailed page, a link is provided.
The information on this page is presented with easy-to-read sizing and print support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Panch Kedar?
Kedarnath (hump), Tungnath (arms), Rudranath (face), Madhyamaheshwar (navel and belly), and Kalpeshwar (hair), these five temples together are called the Panch Kedar.
Where is the Panch Kedar legend first mentioned?
The most authoritative account of the Panch Kedar legend is found in the Kedarkhand section of the Skanda Purana.
Which of the Panch Kedar is the hardest to reach?
Rudranath is considered the hardest, reached via a roughly 20 km trek through dense forest from Gopeshwar. Tungnath, by contrast, is the most accessible, just 3-3.5 km from Chopta.
Are all five Panch Kedar open year-round?
No, four of the five close through winter due to heavy snowfall. Only Kalpeshwar, which sits at a comparatively low altitude, remains accessible year-round.