The Panch Kedar is a circuit of five sacred Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, each believed to enshrine a different part of Lord Shiva’s body that fell here after the Mahabharata. According to legend, the Pandavas sought Shiva’s blessing after the Kurukshetra war, but Shiva evaded them by hiding as a bull. When cornered, he dived into the earth — different body parts emerging at five locations now known as the Panch Kedar.
1️⃣ Kedarnath (3,583m) — Shiva's Hump
The most famous of the five. 16km trek from Gaurikund. 12th Jyotirlinga.
The questions pilgrims most commonly search on Google about this yatra.
Panch Kedar is a circuit of five Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. Legend ties them to the Pandavas seeking Shiva, who appeared in five body-parts across these sites.
It's a longer, trek-heavy pilgrimage — usually 12–16 days depending on pace and weather, since several temples (Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar) need multi-day treks. It's far more demanding than Char Dham and suits experienced trekkers.
Four of the five open roughly May to October/November, closing for winter snow. Kalpeshwar is the exception — it stays accessible year-round. Exact opening dates follow the Hindu calendar each season.
Yes, considerably. Panch Kedar involves long, remote Himalayan treks to Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar with basic facilities, whereas Char Dham has motorable access to most shrines and only two treks. Good fitness and trekking experience are essential.
Rudranath is generally considered the toughest, requiring a long, steep trek through alpine meadows and forest. Madhyamaheshwar is also a multi-day trek. Kedarnath, Tungnath and Kalpeshwar are comparatively more accessible.