Panch Kedar Trek
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Region:  Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Duration:  : 16 days, 15 Nights (Haridwar/ Dehradun to Haridwar/ Dehreadun

Difficulty Level :Moderate
Best time to visit : During Summer time June to October
Max altitude: 3680 meters
Approx trekking: 170 kms

Panch Kedar refers to the five Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva all located in the Garhwal Himalayan region in Uttarakhand. The five temples for worship are the Kedarnath (3583 m), the Tungnath (3680 m), the Rudranath (2286 m), Madhyamaheshwar (3490 m) and Kalpeshwar (2200 m). The Kedarnath is the main temple, which is part of the four famous Char Dham Yatra; the other three dhams are Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

The total trek length to cover all the five temples of Panch Kedar is about 170 kms. The road from Rishikesh leads to Gaurikund from where the trekking starts to the Kedarnath temple. The trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund is of 14 kms (one way). Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a buffalo hump.

After Kedarnath, road travel to Guptakashi and further to Jagasu covers a distance of 30 kms. Trek to Madhaymaheshwar temple from Jagasu via Gaundhar (24 kms).  Madhaymaheshwar is a magnificent Lord Shiva temple with the imposing peaks of Chaukhamba , Kedarnath and Neelkanth soaring in the heavens.

The road back from Madhaymaheshwar the trekker encounters Chopta via Jagasu (45 kms). Chopta is 15 kms from Tala and 3 kms uphill from Chopta, Tungnath the highest Lord Shiva temple is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows. The sanctity of the region is unsurpassed. Lord Shiva’s arm is worshipped here. An hour’s climb from here leads to Chandrashila (4090 m). The entire journey is one of the finest realms of the Himalayas.

After the Tungnath trek, the drive along the road up to Mandal (8 kms) leads to the Rudranath Temple trek 20 kms). Amidst thick woods the ‘mukh’ of Lord Shiva is worshipped here. Near the temple is a stream of sparkling water known as the Vaitarini (Water of Salvation). A cross country trek from Mandal to Heland via Anusuyadevi, Rudranath, bansi Narayan, Urgam and Kalpeshwar or vice-cvrsa can be rewarding.

Trek to Kalpeshwar temple from Mandal is for 11 kms via Urgam village and is considered strenuous due to the steepness of the route. The small rock temple entered through a cave is the manifestation of Lord Shiva’s hair (jata). The Panch Kedar yatra is completed after the Kalpeswar temple darshan.

WHEN SHOULD I GO?

All the temples of Panch Kedar are open, generally from April to October each year however the best months to visit are May, June, September and October. During the winter period all the Panch Kedar temples except Kalpeshwar are inaccessible due to snowfall. Kalpeshwar is open throughout the year.

WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF FITNESS REQUIRED?

The difficulty level of this trek ranges from moderate to tough thus, if you want to do this trek, your fitness level must be quite good and you must have habit of exercising and walking.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE TREK?

15 Nights and 16 Days

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