Panch Kedar

The Panch Kedar refers to 5 sacred Shiva temples in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region, each with a connection to the Epic – Mahabharata. According to local beliefs, after the great war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas wanted to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings to absolve their sins. When Shiva wanted to avoid them, he took the form of a bull, but Bhim identified the bull as Shiva and caught him by his tail, but it disappeared into the ground. Different parts of his body appeared at five locations, which became the Panch Kedar temples. The temples at Kedarnath (head), Madhmaheshwar (navel), Tungnath (arms), Rudranath (face), and Kalpeshwar (hair) together form this sacred circuit called Panch Kedar.

You can customize Chardham Tour Packages to include visits to some of these ancient shrines, particularly the Tungnath temple. The Panch Kedar circuit is visited by thousands of devotees and trekkers each year. The temples, built in the North Indian Nagara style, showcase incredible stone architecture that has stood strong for over a thousand years, telling tales of devotion, craftsmanship, and the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Timings & Entry Fees of Panch Kedar:

The temples remain open from May to October/November (depending on the weather). Winter closure varies for each temple. Entry is free, but special pujas start from INR 1,100. Helicopter services to Kedarnath cost between INR 4,500 to 7,500 per person (one way).