Tungnath Temple peacefully adorned on the Chandranath Parvat is the highest Shiva temple in the world and the highest Panch Kedar temple of Uttarakhand.
It is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. Tungnath is perched at an elevation of 3, 680 metres above sea level and is considered to be more than 1,000 years old.
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This highest altitude temple of Lord Shiva is ironically the easiest one to achieve. Tungnath Temple can be reached by a moderately easy trek of 3.5km commencing from Chopta (2700mts). The region receives heavy snowfall during winters making Tungnath temple tough to access. The altitude of Tungnath Temple is approx 3600 mts.
Tungnath trek is well laid and doesn't necessarily require a guide except during peak winters when the area is covered with snow.
Magnificent in its architecture and artistic structure, Tungnath Temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and few other idols of Goddess Parvati and other gods can be seen in the vicinity. This sacred temple was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya and now the priest of this temple is a local Brahmins of Makku village.
The symbolic image of Lord Shiva is moved to Mukunath during winters, situated 19kms away. The trek goes through rocky terrains, green meadows and rhododendron bushes showering us with visual vistas of nature. The invigorating views of the imposing Himalayas boosts with confidence in the heart of the trekkers. Several named and unnamed peaks of the Himalayan range are distinctly visible from Tungnath.
The kapat of Tungnath temple will be thrown open for the pilgrims on 2 May 2025. .This date conincides with the opening date of Kedarnath Temple as well.
Closing Date of Tungnath Temple: The kapat of Tungnath Temple will been closed for the winters in the month of november and the deity will be worshipped at its winter seat in Makkumath.
The doors of Lord Tungnath, the third Kedar among the Panch Kedars, will be opened for devotees on May 2 with Vedic chanting. After which daily worship of the Lord will be performed here for six months of summer.
The doli of Tungnath will leave for Bhootnath Temple from Makkumath on April 30. On this day, the doli will stay here in the Bhootnath Temple. On May 1, the doli of Lord Tungnath will reach Chopta from Bhootnath Temple for stay. On May 2, the doli of Lord Tungnath will leave from Chopta to Tungnath in the morning. On the same day, at 10:15 in the morning, the doors of Shri Tungnath Temple will be opened for devotees for darshan.
Heavy snowfall has been recorded in Chopta region including Tungnath.
Trekking – The trek route to Tungnath commences at Chopta and involves easy to medium grade trekking. The enthralling treks take some through enchanting meadows, hushed hamlets, and conifers and oak forests. In winter, the trekking route is covered in snow. You can continue the trek to Chandrashila Summit as well.
Pilgrimage – Perched at a height of 3,600 meters, Tungnath shrine is one of the revered Panch Kedar dedicated to Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand and large number of pilgrims visits the shrine. The shrine sleeps under a thick blanket of snow during winters.
Bird Watching – You can see Monal and other birds easily around Tungnath. If lucky you can also spot musk deers in the region.
Lately, some budget accommodations/lodges have opened up at Tungnath for tourists and pilgrims. These properties are mainly operated by local priests with limited amenities and services. They can be booked on arrival.
Most of the tourists prefer staying at Chopta or Duggalbitta which has a handful of accommodation and Swiss Tent Camps. We recommend you to stay at Mayadeep Hotel in Chopta.
Tungnath have two-three basic eateries which offers maggie, tea, dal, rice, seasonal vegetable to the trekkers and pilgrims. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol is strictly prohibited at Tungnath.
The mythological background of Tungnath Temple is associated with the epic Mahabharata. Vyas Rishi told the Pandavas that they were guilty of killing their own brothers in the war and their sins would be expiated only if Lord Shiva pardoned them. Pandavas began to search Lord Shiva in the Himalayas and Lord Shiva kept avoiding them because they were guilty.
In order to escape from the Pandavas, Lord Shiva disguised himself as a bull and took refuge underground. The places where the parts of the bull were found are now renowned Shiva temples. Tungnath Temple (Mandir) is the place where his hands (bahu) were supposedly seen.
The trek from Chopta to Tungnath spans 3.5 km and is considered moderately difficult. For beginners, it typically takes 2-3 hours to complete. However, experienced trekkers or those with good stamina can reach Tungnath in under 90 minutes. During winter, the trek becomes more challenging as the path is often blanketed with thick snow, requiring extra caution and effort.
Another 1.5 km steep trek from Tungnath leads to Chandrashila summit which offers a majestic view of snow clad Himalayan peaks including Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba. To know about how to reach Tungnath, refer to Chopta driving directions.
Check out the Tungnath weather report for April
The minimun and maximum temperature in April in Tungnath is 2°C and 15°C respectively. The weather is generally pleasant and clear in April and you would feel cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Tungnath in April.
Tungnath is famous among tourist as Shiva Temple, Panch Kedar, Trekking, Meadows, Trek, Trekking, Pilgrimage, Snow Trek.
Tungnath is recommended destination for Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Tungnath is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Adventure, Bird Watching, Camping, Char Dham Route, Hiking, Panch Kedar, Pilgrimage, Religious, Shiva Temples, Temples, Trekking, Weekend Getaway, Winter Treks.
