Panch Kedar Temples Uttarakhand 5 Shiva Temples in Garhwal Himalayan region

Panch Kedar consists of five Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Shiva, situated in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. 

Panch Kedar Temples in Uttarakhand

1) Kedarnath Temple

2) Tungnath Temple

3) Rudranath Temple

4) Madhyamaheshwar Temple (also known as Madmaheshwar)

5) Kalpeshwar Temple

These Panch Kedar Temples hold significant importance for pilgrims who follow a strict order of visitation. Among these temples, Kedarnath is considered the main temple and is part of the Chota Char Dhams, along with Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri. Additionally, Kedarnath is recognized as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

The Panch Kedar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage, is believed to have a direct connection to the Gorakhnath Sampradaya, a religious tradition known for its pilgrim practices, in Nepal. This claim is substantiated by the fact that the pilgrimage concludes at the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal, where the head of Lord Shiva is worshipped, rather than at Kedarnath, where his hump is venerated. Another supporting evidence in this context is the similarity between the emblem used in the dome of Kedarnath temple and the one displayed in the dome of Pashupathinath temple in Kathmandu. Furthermore, the Tungnath and Madhyamaeshwar shrines are exact replicas of the Kedarnath shrine. 

Panch Kedar Temples