Panch Kedar trek is a combination of treks to five holy shrines of Lord Shiva in the Kedarnath valley. The five temples are Kedarnath (3,583 m), Tungnath(3,680 m ), Rudranath (2,286 m), Madhyamaheshwar (3,490 m) and Kalpeshwar (2,200 m). Panch Kedar Trek is undoubtedly the most popular trek among the devotees of Lord Shiva. Each of these temples has its own mythological significance. However, these Panch Kedar temples form an ally owing to a legend dating back to Mahabharata.
Panch Kedar Story
After the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas were on their journey of repentance. They were seeking forgiveness from Lord Shiva for the sinful act of killing their family members in the battle. Lord Shiva was spotted by Bhima in the form of a bull or Nandi, near Guptkashi. Before the Pandavas could reach the bull, it disappeared. It then rematerialized itself in different parts of the valley. The Hump appeared at Kedarnath, navel and torso at Madhyamaheshwar, hair at Kalpeshwar, head at Rudranath and 'bahu' or limbs at Tungnath. The Pandavas built temples at each of these spots and worshipped Lord Shiva. The Panch Kedar legend is indeed quite an intriguing one. Besides its spiritual significance, Panch Kedar Trek is also popular among nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Major part of the Panch Kedar Trekking trail falls in Kedar Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the Chopta-Tungnath range needs a special mention with its 240 species of birds. It assures the spotting of local birds like Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Griffon, Scarlet Finch, Hill Patridge and Himalayan Swiftlet. Besides these local birds, many species of migratory birds are also spotted in this region. Wild flowers, colorful Rhododendrons and a variety of reptiles on forest trails during Panch Kedar Trek are among the other natural attractions.
