Five faces of Shiva
Five high-altitude temples where different parts of Shiva's divine form are said to have emerged from the earth. One of the most demanding and rewarding pilgrimage treks in the Himalaya.
According to legend, the Pandavas sought Shiva's blessing after the Kurukshetra war. Shiva, unwilling to grant it, disguised himself as a bull and dived into the earth at Guptakashi. Different parts of his body emerged at five locations across the Garhwal Himalaya — the hump at Kedarnath, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar, and the hair and head at Kalpeshwar. Together these form the Panch Kedar.
Unlike the Char Dham, which can be completed largely by road, the Panch Kedar demands serious trekking. Tungnath, the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680 m, requires a 3.5 km climb. Rudranath involves a two-day trek through rhododendron forests and high meadows. Madhyamaheshwar sits in a meadow at 3,497 m with views of the Kedarnath range. This is a circuit for those who want to earn their darshan.
ModerateShiva's hump (prishtha)
The principal and most visited of the five, Kedarnath is also a Jyotirlinga — one of the twelve most sacred Shiva shrines in India. The ancient stone temple, believed to have been built by the Pandavas and restored by Adi Shankaracharya, stands at the head of the Mandakini valley beneath a wall of peaks.
Highlights: Jyotirlinga, Vasuki Tal, Bhairavnath temple
Easy–ModerateShiva's arms (bahu)
The highest Shiva temple in the world, Tungnath sits on a ridge above the meadows of Chopta — often called the 'mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand'. The short trek rewards with sweeping views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba. Chandrashila peak (4,130 m) is a further 1.5 km above.
Highlights: World's highest Shiva temple, Chandrashila summit, Chopta meadows
ChallengingShiva's face (mukha)
The most remote of the five, Rudranath requires a two-day trek through dense rhododendron forests and open bugyals. The temple is a natural rock formation rather than a built structure. The surrounding meadows are carpeted with wildflowers in June and September, and the views of the Nanda Devi range are unobstructed.
Highlights: Natural rock shrine, Pitradhar meadow, Nanda Devi views
Moderate–ChallengingShiva's navel (nabhi)
Set in a high meadow at the confluence of two streams, Madhyamaheshwar offers some of the finest close-up views of the Kedarnath range. The two-day approach passes through oak and rhododendron forest, small shepherd settlements, and the beautiful Bantoli meadow. The temple is simple and intimate.
Highlights: Kedarnath range panorama, Bantoli meadow, Budha Madhyamaheshwar
EasyShiva's hair (jata)
The only Panch Kedar temple accessible year-round, Kalpeshwar sits in the Urgam valley above the Alaknanda. The short walk through a narrow gorge leads to a cave shrine where Shiva's matted hair is worshipped. The valley is quiet and largely untouched by tourism, with apple orchards and traditional stone houses.
Highlights: Cave shrine, Urgam valley, year-round access
Temples open. Rhododendrons in bloom on the approach to Rudranath. Snow may still cover higher sections.
Best month overall. Clear skies after monsoon, green meadows, thin crowds. Ideal for photography.
Crisp autumn air and golden light. Temples close in late October or November. Cold nights above 3,000 m.
Kedarnath → Madhyamaheshwar → Tungnath → Rudranath → Kalpeshwar. This minimises backtracking and ends in the accessible Urgam valley.
Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar involve multi-day treks with significant elevation gain. A reasonable level of fitness and prior trekking experience is recommended.
Forest rest houses and basic guesthouses are available at most trailheads. We arrange tented camps where guesthouses are unavailable or unsuitable.
Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar accessible in winter. It can be visited as a standalone trip or as the final stop on the full circuit.
Tell us your fitness level, travel dates and how many days you have. We'll design a route that fits — whether you want the full circuit or select temples.