Panch Kedar is five Lord Shiva temples located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. These five temples are Kedarnath, which is located at an elevation of 3583m, Tungnath, which is located at a distance of 3680m, Rudranath, which is located at an elevation of 2286m, Madhyamaheshwar, which is located at a distance of 3490m, and Kalpeshwar, which is located at an elevation of 2200m. These temples are only visited in the order of importance. The Panch Kedar are important pilgrimages in India because they are thought to have been built by the Pandavas from Mahabharat.
FORMATION OF PANCH KEDAR:
The most well-known legend surrounding the creation of Panch Kedar can be traced back to the epic battle of Mahabharata. During the battle, the Pandavas killed their blood relatives and gurus and went to Lord Shiva to confess their sins. However, Lord Shiva was enraged with them for their dishonesty on the field, so he ignored their requests and hid in Guptakashi in the Garhwal Himalayas disguised as a bull. This is how the name Guptakashi (literally “hidden Kashi”) came about.
The Pandavas arrived in the region in search of Lord Shiva, and Bhim attempted to capture him, but the bull split in the ground and vanished. Its hump appeared at Kedarnath, its navel at Madhya-Maheshwar, its face at Rudranath, its arms at Tungnath, and its hair at Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas built temples in each of these locations, and these five temples became known as Panch Kedar.
Panch Kedar Temples to Visit
KEDARNATH
“लगा दो कुछ जुगाड़ मेरे भोलेनाथ आ जाऊ मै तुम्हारे केदारनाथ |”
The most important of the Panch Kedar temples, Kedarnath, is located in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. Its beauty is indescribable. Because the bull’s hump first appeared here, the temple includes a Shiva lingam in the shape of a cone representing the bull’s hump. The temple that stands today is made of grey stone slabs and was built in the 8th or 9th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya. According to archaeologists, the temple is divided into four phases:
First Phase: This was the time when Rahul Sankrityayan wrote a book in which he mentioned seeing a stone inscription in Gupta Brahmi script near the temple that he thought was related to an earlier temple.
Second Phase: In the 11th century AD, the temple was rebuilt from the ground up, with garbagriha and antarala as the primary components.
Third Phase: In the 12th century AD, the temple was renovated.
Fourth Phase: A mandapa was finally added to the temple in the 18th century AD.
Best time to visit: From May to June and from September to October
TUNGNATH
“Shiva is not a god up there but a living presence here.”
Tungnath temple is the highest temple of Lord Shiva in the world, standing at a height of 3680 meters. This was the location where the bull’s hands appeared. On the way here, one is likely to pass by beautiful peaks such as Nanda Devi, Chowkhamba, Neelkanth, and Kedarnath.
There are meadows filled with exotic rhododendron flowers, and if one walks another 2 kilometers to Chandrashila peak, they are likely to see some beautiful mountains.
Best time: April to November is considered the ideal time to visit the temple since the climate is pleasant and moderately chill.
RUDRANATH
“Hamari ek khwaish hai adhuri, jo Rudranath ke darshan se hogi puri.”
This temple was formed by natural rock formation and is located at a height of 2286 meters. The bull’s face first appeared here. The Rudranath Temple is set among alpine meadows and dense forests densely forested with rhododendrons, and Lord Shiva is worshipped as ‘Neelkanth Mahadev’ here.
Some of the holy pools that surround the temple include Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund, and Mana Kund. Nanda Devi, Nada Ghunti, and Trishul are among the magnificent peaks found here. The trek to this temple is considered the most difficult of all the temple treks.
The temple’s striking feature is that it is surrounded by numerous ponds and Kunds. Every year, thousands of people flock to the temple to pay their respects to the dead, as it is believed that the dead souls pass through this temple. Dasmanis and Gosains are the priests at Rudranath Temple.
Best time: May to October
MADHYAMAHERSHWAR
“Hamari ek khwaish hai adhuri, jo Rudranath ke darshan se hogi puri.”
Madhyamaheshwar is the location where the bull’s navel first appeared. It is located at a height of 3289 meters in the Garhwal Himalayan village of Mansoona. The village is nestled in a lush green valley, surrounded by snow-capped peaks such as Kedarnath, Neelkantha, and Chaukhamba.
The path becomes a little rough after Bantoli, where Madhyamaheshwar Ganga joins Martyendra Ganga. On the way, one is likely to see the area’s diverse and unique wildlife, including some critically endangered species.
Best time: May to October
KALPESHWAR:
“अकालपनिक कलपेशवर मंदिर |”
The hair of the bull (Lord Shiva) appeared in this area, which became the site of the Kalpeshwar temple. Because of his long and knotted hair locks, Lord Shiva has also been given the name ‘Jateshwar’.
The apple orchards and potato plantations in Urgam valley make it an exotic location. The Urgam Valley can be reached from Helang, which is located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath road. The Kalpganga and Alaknanda rivers, which are a visual treat, are located along the way.
Best time: May to June followed by September to October
Hope you have a beautiful journey to Panch Kedar temples. Comment down your suggestions
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