The Shiva Temple — Tungnath

8 min readSep 18, 2020

An Overview

The Himalayas are magnificent and adorable. But have you ever wondered what makes them special? Well, you may get your answer if you visit the Tungnath Mahadev Temple located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India. The Tungnath Mahadev Temple or commonly called, Tungnath Temple is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Sitting at an altitude of 3, 680 metres, Tungnath is a perfect place for nature lovers or if you want to practice spirituality and spend your time doing some quality trekking. Tungnath is third among the Panch Kedars which were founded by the Pandavas and is believed to be more than 5,000 years old!

Tungnath is located near the Chopta valley which attracts thousands of tourist from different parts of the world every year. The temple is situated at the top of a mountain that separates Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The Tungnath trek along with Chandrashila trek, which is located at a distance of 2 kilometres from Tungnath, will give you a picturesque view of snow-clad Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Panchachuli, Banderpooch, Neelkanth and Kedarnath peaks.

Tungnath temple is built in a North-Indian architecture. Keep my words, you will be surprised to see such a beautiful architecture right above the valley of Chopta! The Kapat or the doors of the temple are crafted smartly and leave you awestruck. As you enter the temple, you see a stone image of Nandi facing towards the pratima of Lord Shiva. On the left, sits a beautiful idol of Lord Ganesha. You also get to see the images of the other four Kedars as you enter inside the shrine.

The place is perfect if you come with a group of friends, family, colleagues or even solo. The best time to visit Tungnath temple is from April to September. The temperature in Tungnath hovers around 16-degree celsius during the day. The temperature in Tungnath during winter dips down to the freezing point and you can have an enthralling adventure as you trek the snow-covered route.

Let us take you on a tour of the history of Tungnath!

History of Tungnath

The battle of Kurukshetra was over. The Pandavas killed their cousins, the Kauravas, and won the battle. Soon after the battle, Vyas Rishi -the compiler of Mahabharata and Vedas- suggested the Pandavas to seek help from Lord Shiva as he was the only one who could pardon them of the sin they had committed after killing their cousins. It is believed that Lord Shiva was disappointed and angry with the Pandavas and was convinced of their killing and guilt. The Pandavas went in search of Lord Shiva and started on a journey to the Himalayas. To avoid them, Lord Shiva took the form of a bull and hid in an underground shelter in Guptkashi. Later on, the body parts of the bull were found in five different places which are now called Panch Kedar. The hump was discovered at Kedarnath, navel and stomach at Madhmaheshwar, Bahu or arms/hands at Tungnath, Head at Rudranath and Jata (hair) at Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas built temples in these places to pay reverence to Lord Shiva and take his blessings.

The place also holds a significant position in mythology as it is believed that Lord Rama performed meditation at Chandrashila, which is located close to Tungnath temple.

The winters in Tungnath are extremely cold and witness high snowfall each year. The temple remains closed after Diwali for six months when the symbolic idol of the Lord is taken to Makkumath, 29 kilometers from Tungnath and worshipped there. The Badri Kedar Temple Committee decides the opening dates of Tungnath which is usually in April or May. The closing dates of Tungnath temple are also decided by the Temple Committee. The priest here is generally from Makku village unlike in the other four Kedars where the Brahman is generally from South-India. By now, you must be excited to visit this beautiful place, let’s see how to reach Tungnath temple!

How to reach Tungnath?

Most often, when people hear of Tungnath as the world’s highest Shiva temple, they believe that it must be very hard to trek the mountain up! Well, the surprising part is that the trek to Tungnath is a beginner level with a distance of just 3.5 kilometres. The trek starts from Chopta which is situated at a distance of around 400 kilometres from Delhi. While trekking up, you get to enjoy the sublime view of the Garhwal valley and majestic peaks as you rest on the benches constructed throughout the cemented trek. No matter if you are a beginner or an expert, the serene environment lets you dissolve all your pain and compels you to immerse into the spellbinding beauty!

The nearest airport from Chopta/ Tungnath is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, Uttarakhand at a distance of around 250 km.
The nearest railway station from Tungnath/Chopta is located in Rishikesh.
The distance between Chopta and Rishikesh is around 160 kilometres which can be covered easily in a day.
Public transport or taxis to reach Chopta valley can be easily found both in Rishikesh and Jolly Grant.
You can also prefer reaching Hardiwar by train and then opting for public transport or a taxi to Chopta. While the trains between Rishikesh and Delhi operate only once in a week, the trains between Haridwar and Delhi are more frequent. The distance between Haridwar and Chopta is around 185 kilometres.
If you are coming from Delhi by a private vehicle or a taxi, you may follow this route: Delhi>Haridwar>Rishikesh>Srinagar>Rudraprayag>Chopta>Tungnath
With the newly constructed ‘All Weather Road,’ your journey becomes easy and more comfortable.

As you visit Tungnath, we want you to explore as many places as possible and have an experience of a lifetime. Let’s see the places you can visit near Tungnath!

Tungnath Nearby Places to Visit

Chandrashila Trek: As the name suggests, Chandra in Hindi means ‘Moon’ and ‘Shila’ means rock. Interestingly, the height of the Chandrashila peak is almost half the height of Mt. Everest, around 4,000 metres! The Chandrashila trek is situated at a distance of around 2 km from Tungnath temple. The steep trek from Tungnath takes you to the Chandrashila peak, the place where Lord Ram- the central character in India Mythology Ramayana- performed Tapasya (penance) after he stumped out demon-king Ravana. As you reach the summit, you find an invigorating view of Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, Kedarnath, Nanda Devi, Banderpoonch, Pancha Chuli peaks. The temperature in Chandrashila hovers between 5–11 degrees in Summers while between -3 to 5 degrees in winters. We highly recommend you to visit Chandrashila as you plan to come to Tungnath. Click here to know more…
Chopta: Chopta is a small town in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The place is famous for the picturesque view it offers of the Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi and Trishul mountain ranges. If you are planning to do camping or spend a night under the stars, Chopta is one of the best choices for you. Chopta is a basecamp for multiple treks including Tungnath, Chandrashila and Deoriatal treks. After or before your trek, you can enjoy eating some tasty Maggi or a bun-maska with a cup of tea filled with love, ginger and cardamom as you breathe in fresh scent emerging out of the rhododendron and alpine trees embedded along the valley. Leave Delhi the Friday night, reach Chopta Saturday morning and enjoy your weekend here, in case you are looking for some quick refreshing trip! Click here to know more…
Deoria Tal: Bet my words, the mesmerising reflection of the Chaukhamba peak on the beautiful Devaria or Deoria lake will make you fall in love with this place! The distance between Tungnath and Deoria lake or Deoria Tal is around 25 kilometres towards Ukhimath and Kedarnath. You can do bird-watching, sightseeing, trekking, camping and star gazing and must spend a night here! Click here to know more…
Kanchula Kharak Musk Deer Sanctuary: Famous for observing Musk Deers, the sanctuary witnesses the footfall of thousands of animal lovers from across the world each year. The distance between Chopta and Kanchula Kharak Musk Deer Sanctuary is six kilometres by road. You can easily find a sharing vehicle from Chopta to reach here. Click here to know more…

Activities in Tungnath

Nurtured in a serene environment, Tungnath is one of the best places for you if you want to practice spirituality. As soon as you enter the temple premises, a wave of positivity hits you and lets you stay here for hours contemplating the various aspects of life. You can simply sit outside the temple premises and meditate to relieve all your stress and imbibe the positivity inside you.
The 3.5 km long trek to Tungnath is itself the best part of the entire trip. As you climb up the mountains, you get boosted up with tonnes of energy that makes you realise that it’s human that can do wonders! You can feel Lord Shiva sitting in Tungnath attracting you towards yourselves and your steps automatically move as you walk uphill. What adds to the beauty is the Chandrashila trek, especially during winters, that gives you a view which gets tattooed inside your brain for a lifetime.
Stargazing and bird watching are the activities that most tourists like to do while in Tungnath. Have you ever slept while looking at the stars, the way they move and fall! If not, you must try and book your stay in Tungnath today itself!
You can shoot videos and click some cool pictures in Tungnath (restricted inside the temple) and cherish the moments for a lifetime. Pinky promise, you won’t be disappointed if you are looking for some photography or videography in Tungnath, be it a cover picture or a display picture!

Visiting a place like Tungnath which rests between the rich vegetation and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary makes you feel humble. As they say, mother nature is the best teacher, you seem this saying to fit aptly here! Feel the energy and bliss of Lord Shiva at the Tungnath temple!

Explore the local culture and cuisine

Dev-bhoomi Uttarakhand is rich in culture and cuisine. When it comes to food and water in Tungnath, you get to eat a freshly cooked meal and drink water directly from the Himalayas! You can also try eating the dishes that are organically grown or go for a tasty maggi, the favourite food of the trekkers as you stay here!

A bonfire with beautiful Pahari songs will never allow you to go back to your place! Let’s explore Tungnath; sing, dance and create memories here! if you finding the best hotels in chopta the go visit Enlighten Hikes, Personally my Experience Was good with this resort.

Important tips for Visiting Tungnath

‘A-lot Stays’ promotes responsible tourism and believes that the serenity of the place should never be compromised with. We are happy that our customers understand this well and they themselves promote the idea of travelling with a responsibility to keep the Himalayas clean and unharmed! Here are some tips for visiting Tungnath. Make sure you keep them in mind before you start the journey to ensure a hassle-free trip!

People with health problems like hypertension and breathing problems must consult with their doctor before coming to Tungnath.
The temperature in Tungnath dips down to the freezing point. Make sure to carry proper woollen wears, jackets, socks, gloves, caps and trekking shoes!
You must carry a raincoat with you if you are visiting Tungnath during the monsoon season. You can also rent ponchos and raincoats as you reach here.
Even if the Tungnath trek is an easy level trek, you should always hire a porter who is generally well versed with the geographical condition of the place and can guide you in a much better way.
Internet connectivity here can sometimes be disturbing. Also, make sure you carry enough batteries and a power bank with you if you come here.
Carrying some extra cash would help as it’s difficult to find ATMs nearby.