Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand is the highest Shiva temple in the world, situated at an altitude of 3,680 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is the third of the five Panch Kedar temples and is dedicated to the arms (bahu) of Lord Shiva. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas built the Panch Kedar temples to seek Shiva's forgiveness for the sin of killing their kin in the Kurukshetra war. The trek to Tungnath from Chopta is a relatively accessible 4 km climb through rhododendron forests and open alpine meadows, making it the most visited of the Panch Kedar shrines. In winter the temple is closed and snow-covered, with the deity moved to Mkumath village. The summit of Chandrashila, about 1.5 km beyond the temple, offers panoramic views of peaks including Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Bandarpunch, and Chaukhamba. The combination of accessibility, altitude, natural beauty, and religious significance makes Tungnath one of the most rewarding destinations in the Uttarakhand Himalaya.