Quick Answer
Panch Kedar are five Shiva temples in Garhwal, Uttarakhand — Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. Tradition holds that parts of Shiva’s bull form appeared at each after the Pandavas sought him: the hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tungnath, face at Rudranath, navel at Madhyamaheshwar and hair at Kalpeshwar.
One body, five temples
The Panch Kedar ("five Kedars") are a family of high Himalayan Shiva temples linked by a single sacred narrative: when Shiva, in bull form, dived into the earth to avoid the Pandavas, different parts of his body surfaced at five places across Garhwal. Pilgrims who complete all five are said to complete the full darshan of that divine form.
The five temples
| Temple | Body part (tradition) | Altitude (approx.) | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kedarnath | Hump | 3,583 m | Trek ~16–18 km from Gaurikund |
| Tungnath | Arms | ~3,680 m | Trek ~3.5 km from Chopta — highest Shiva temple in the world |
| Rudranath | Face | ~3,600 m | Trek ~20 km through alpine meadows |
| Madhyamaheshwar | Navel (middle) | ~3,497 m | Trek ~16–18 km from Ransi |
| Kalpeshwar | Hair (jata) | ~2,200 m | Short walk from roadhead in Kalapani valley — open all year |
Character of each shrine
Kedarnath is the most visited and the only one that is also a Jyotirlinga and Char Dham. Tungnath, reached from the meadows of Chopta, offers perhaps the finest Himalayan panorama of the five — Chandrashila peak rises just above it. Rudranath is the wildest, a multi-day trek through bugyals (alpine pastures) where the face of Shiva is worshipped in a natural rock. Madhyamaheshwar sits in a remote valley beneath Chaukhamba’s towering wall. Kalpeshwar, the lowest and the only one open through winter, worships Shiva’s matted locks in a small cave temple.
Planning a Panch Kedar yatra
A full Panch Kedar pilgrimage typically takes 10–14 days and involves serious trekking. The traditional order begins at Kedarnath and ends at Kalpeshwar. Each temple has its own season and winter seat; verify current conditions before attempting the longer treks, and travel with proper preparation.