Tungnath Temple

Tungnath is one of the Panch Kedar, the five shrines that together enshrine the body of Shiva after he took the form of a bull to elude the Pandavas, and worship here is part of completing that sacred circuit. As the highest Shiva temple on earth, it holds a special place among Himalayan pilgrimages. Its combination of antiquity, altitude and alpine beauty makes it uniquely rewarding.

Tungnath, perched high on a ridge below the Chandrashila peak, is believed to be over a thousand years old and is the highest of the five Panch Kedar temples where the parts of Shiva-as-bull are worshipped — here his arms (bahu). The modest stone shrine is reached by a scenic 3.5 km trek from Chopta through alpine meadows (bugyals) and rhododendron forest, with the great Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba spread across the horizon. Like the other high Himalayan shrines it opens only in the warmer months, the deity being moved to Mukku village (Makkumath) for the winter. A short further climb to Chandrashila rewards trekkers with a breathtaking 360-degree mountain panorama.