Uttarakhand holds one of the densest concentrations of significant Shiva temples anywhere in India — a Jyotirlinga, an entire five-temple circuit built around a single Puranic legend, and major shrines at both extreme altitude and plains level. This page brings all of them together in one place.
The Complete List
The Panch Kedar — One Legend, Five Temples
Five of the seven temples above belong to a single unified legend: after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Shiva's forgiveness; he fled as a bull and dove into the earth; his body resurfaced across five sites in the Garhwal Himalayas. Completing the full Panch Kedar circuit — Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar — is one of the more demanding multi-site pilgrimages in Indian tradition, involving several separate treks across different districts.
Beyond the Panch Kedar
Neelkanth Mahadev, near Rishikesh, ties to the same poison-swallowing legend referenced in Rudranath's alternate name, but is an entirely separate, hugely popular pilgrimage site in its own right, easily combined with a Rishikesh or Haridwar trip without any Himalayan trekking required. Daksh Mahadev, at Kankhal near Haridwar, sits at the opposite extreme — plains elevation, year-round accessible, and tied to one of Shaivism's foundational stories: the destruction of Daksha's yagna and Sati's self-immolation, the mythological root of the Shiva-Shakti tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Panch Kedar temples?
The five Shiva shrines of the Panch Kedar circuit are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar, each said to enshrine a different part of Shiva's body — hump, arms, face, navel and hair respectively — that resurfaced after he fled the Pandavas in the form of a bull.
Which is the most important Shiva temple in Uttarakhand?
Kedarnath, both as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas — the most sacred category of Shiva shrine in Hindu tradition — and as the fourth stop of the Char Dham pilgrimage, making it the single most-visited Shiva temple in the state by a wide margin.
What is the highest Shiva temple in the world?
Tungnath, at 3,680 m, is widely cited as the highest Shiva temple in the world, reached by a roughly 3.5 km trek from Chopta — the most accessible of the Panch Kedar besides Kedarnath itself.
Is Neelkanth Mahadev part of the Panch Kedar?
No — Neelkanth Mahadev near Rishikesh is a separate, major Shiva pilgrimage site tied to the poison-swallowing legend (the same episode referenced in Rudranath's name), but it is not one of the five Panch Kedar shrines, which are all located deeper in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Which Shiva temple in Uttarakhand is easiest to reach?
Daksh Mahadev, in Kankhal near Haridwar, requires no trek or high-altitude travel at all — it sits at plains elevation and is accessible year-round by road, making it the most convenient on this list for pilgrims without time or fitness for the Panch Kedar circuit.
Retired Indian Army officer, founded Shiv Ganga Travels in 2010. Has routed pilgrims to every temple on this list across fifteen yatra seasons. More about the team.
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