About the Panch Kedar
According to tradition, after the Kurukshetra war the Pandavas sought Shiva to atone, and Shiva, avoiding them, took the form of a bull and vanished into the earth; parts of his form appeared at five places in Garhwal — the hump at Kedarnath, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar and the hair at Kalpeshwar.
This is a trekking pilgrimage through high Himalayan meadows. Kalpeshwar is open all year; the others are reached by treks of varying length and close in winter.
The usual route
- Kedarnath
- Madhyamaheshwar — trek from Ransi
- Tungnath — trek from Chopta
- Rudranath — long trek from Sagar or Mandal
- Kalpeshwar — Urgam valley, open all year
Routes vary by operator and starting city. Opening dates, timings and rules change — confirm with the temple or the official portal before you travel.
Temple guides for this yatra
Timings, aarti, how to reach, dress code and tips for each temple.
When to go
About May to November for the high temples; the deities of several shrines move to winter seats in the valley in the cold months.
Practical tips
- Go only with fitness for multi-day mountain treks and an experienced local guide.
- Opening and closing dates are announced each year — confirm before planning.
Read before you go
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