The five Kedars are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar, five sacred Shiva temples spread across the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Together, they are known as the Panch Kedar and are linked to a famous legend of the Pandavas and Lord Shiva.
If you are planning to visit them, there is one thing to know first. Panch Kedar is not one trek with one trail. It is a group of five temples in different valleys, with each temple needing its own route, time and level of effort. Some are fairly easy for regular hikers, while others need good fitness and mountain experience.
What Are the 5 Kedars?
The five Kedars are sacred places where Shiva is believed to have appeared in five different forms. The traditional order is Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. The Uttarakhand Tourism Department also identifies these five shrines as the Panch Kedar.
Kedar | Form of Shiva | Approx. altitude | Main access |
Kedarnath | Hump | 3,584 m | Gaurikund trek |
Tungnath | Arms | 3,680 m | Chopta trek |
Rudranath | Face | Around 3,500 m | Long mountain trek |
Madhyamaheshwar | Navel and stomach | 3,497 m | Trek from Uniana/Ransi side |
Kalpeshwar | Matted hair | Around 2,200 m | Short trek from Urgam Valley |
The altitudes and route lengths can vary slightly between sources because different access points and route measurements are used. For planning, it is better to check the latest local trail and temple information rather than rely on one fixed number.
The Story Behind Panch Kedar
The story of Panch Kedar comes from a popular Hindu tradition linked with the Pandavas. After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas are said to have felt the need to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings for the bloodshed caused by the war. Shiva, according to the legend, did not want to meet them easily.
He took the form of a bull and hid in the Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima recognised the bull as Shiva and tried to catch him. Shiva then disappeared into the ground, with different parts of his body appearing at five places.
That is where the five Kedars come into the story. The hump is linked with Kedarnath, the arms with Tungnath, the face with Rudranath, the navel and stomach with Madhyamaheshwar, and the matted hair with Kalpeshwar. This is a sacred legend, not a historical account, but it remains central to the spiritual meaning of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage. For many pilgrims, this makes the journey feel like more than a set of temple visits. You are, in a way, following one story through five very different Himalayan landscapes.
1. Kedarnath
Kedarnath is the best known of the five and usually the first name people think of when they hear Panch Kedar. The temple stands at about 3,584 metres in the Mandakini valley and is reached by trekking from Gaurikund. Uttarakhand Tourism puts the trek at around 19 km uphill.
Kedarnath is associated with the hump of Lord Shiva. The journey can be busy during the main pilgrimage season, but the setting remains striking. High peaks, cold mountain air and the Mandakini valley create a very different mood from the crowded plains.
If this is your first Himalayan pilgrimage, do not treat Kedarnath as just a temple visit. The climb, altitude and long walking day can test your legs. Good shoes, slow pacing and enough water make a real difference.
If you are comparing Kedarnath with the similarly named Kedarnath Trek vs Kedarkantha Trek, be careful not to mix them up. They are completely different mountain experiences, with different routes, heights and purposes.
2. Tungnath
Tungnath is famous for being one of the highest Shiva temples in the world. It sits at about 3,680 metres and is linked with the arms of Shiva. The usual trek starts from Chopta and is roughly 4 km, though route measurements may differ slightly.
This is often the most approachable Kedar for a traveller who wants a taste of the Panch Kedar experience without taking on a long multi-day pilgrimage. The trail is well known and offers wide mountain views as you climb.
Yet, do not let the short distance fool you. The altitude and steady uphill gradient can make the walk harder than it looks on paper. If you are used to city walks but not mountain climbs, take your time.
For someone who wants to understand what makes a mountain climb suitable for a first-time trekker, the principles discussed in Kedarkantha Trek for Beginners are useful too. A steady pace and realistic fitness level matter more than simply looking at the trail distance.
3. Rudranath
Rudranath is perhaps the Kedar that feels most wild and remote. Here, Shiva is worshipped as a natural rock formation representing his face. The temple lies in a high Himalayan setting surrounded by forests, meadows and mountain views. The approach is much more demanding than the short Tungnath trail. There are several routes to Rudranath, and the distance depends on the starting point. The trail can involve long walking days, steep sections and remote stretches.
This is where we would ask you to be honest with yourself. Can you walk for several hours on rough mountain paths without rushing? If the answer is no, do not add Rudranath simply because you want to say you completed all five. Rudranath often comes up when trekkers compare difficult Himalayan routes. The question of which is the toughest Kedar has no simple answer because route choice, weather and fitness can change the experience.
4. Madhyamaheshwar
Madhyamaheshwar, also called Madmaheshwar, is associated with the navel and stomach of Shiva. The temple stands at around 3,497 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is reached through a mountain trail towards Gaundar and the temple area.
The route takes you through villages, forests and open mountain landscapes. Compared with Kedarnath, the experience feels quieter and more intimate. You get more time to notice small things, such as village homes, old trails and the changing sound of the forest.
A common mistake is to think that a quieter temple means an easy trek. Madhyamaheshwar still demands stamina. The final climb can feel tiring after hours on the trail, so keep your pace steady from the start.
5. Kalpeshwar
Kalpeshwar is the fifth Kedar and is linked with the matted hair, or jata, of Lord Shiva. It lies in the Urgam Valley at roughly 2,200 metres. Unlike the other four, Kalpeshwar remains accessible through much of the year and is the easiest of the five to reach.
The temple has a different feel from the grand pilgrimage image many people have of Kedarnath. It is set in a more secluded Himalayan valley, and the final approach is short compared with the longer Panch Kedar trails.
That makes Kalpeshwar a useful choice if you want to experience one part of the Panch Kedar tradition without committing to the full circuit. It also works well for travellers who are short on time or are not ready for several long trekking days.
What Is the Traditional Panch Kedar Order?
If you are planning the complete pilgrimage, the traditional order is generally given as:
- Kedarnath
- Tungnath
- Rudranath
- Madhyamaheshwar
- Kalpeshwar
Some modern travel plans change the road sequence to save driving time or fit local conditions. That does not mean the temples themselves have changed. It simply reflects the practical side of travelling through the Garhwal mountains.
A full Panch Kedar trip is not something I would plan like a normal weekend holiday. Current travel guides estimate roughly 12 to 16 days for a complete circuit, depending on the route, road transfers, walking pace and rest days.
The same rule applies to any serious mountain trip: do not judge the journey only by its distance. If you are planning another Uttarakhand trek, checking the Kedarkantha Trek Total Distance can also show why trail length and actual effort are not always the same thing.
Is Panch Kedar Difficult?
The answer depends on whether you visit one temple or attempt all five. Tungnath and Kalpeshwar are the easier choices, while Kedarnath involves a long uphill walk and Rudranath is known for its more demanding and remote approach.
The full Panch Kedar circuit is best suited to people who are comfortable with long mountain walks. You should also leave room for weather changes, road delays and rest. Himalayan plans rarely run perfectly to the minute.
Before going, focus on these basics:
- Build your walking fitness before the trip.
- Carry proper trekking shoes with good grip.
- Keep warm layers even during warmer months.
- Carry basic medicines and personal supplies.
- Check the latest weather and trail conditions.
- Keep extra time for road and weather delays.
- Avoid rushing at high altitude.
If you are unsure about your fitness, a focused How to Get Fit for Kedarkantha Trek approach gives a useful example of how to prepare your legs and stamina before a Himalayan trek. The temples also have seasonal access patterns. The four higher shrines close during winter due to snow, while Kalpeshwar is the exception and remains accessible year-round.
Can You Visit All 5 Kedars in One Trip?
Yes, but it needs proper planning. The five temples are spread across different parts of the Garhwal Himalayas, so you cannot simply walk from one temple to the next in a straight line. The journey combines road travel, village transfers and several separate treks.
For a first-time visitor, I would not try to squeeze the entire Panch Kedar Yatra into the shortest possible schedule. A day saved on paper can become a very tiring day in the mountains. Give yourself some breathing room, especially if you are travelling with parents, children or someone new to trekking.
And if you only have a few days, there is no rule that says you must visit all five. Kedarnath has enormous spiritual importance, Tungnath offers a manageable high-altitude trek, and Kalpeshwar gives you a quieter Himalayan experience.
For people who are also considering Kedarkantha, the Kedarkantha Trek Difficulty can help put the effort involved in a shorter summit trek into perspective. The two trips should not be treated as the same experience, but the comparison can help when choosing a first Himalayan trek.
The real beauty of Panch Kedar is that the five temples do not feel like five copies of the same place. Each has its own trail, landscape and mood. So when you ask what are the 5 Kedars, the simple answer is five sacred forms of Shiva, but the journey behind those five names is much richer.
