This trip is our first english speaking trip, led by the local tour guide Kavita. I have already done 7 trips with her, she speaks simple and clear English and is a talented organizer. She comes from Haridwar and lives in the Himalayas as a trekking guide.
I have been traveling to the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand since 2010. The mountains beyond Rishikesh always attract me, so I have already organized six group trips there. Of the five Shiva temples of Panch Kedar, I have only visited two so far, the others are too remote to be integrated into a normal trip. The hiking trip will now have all five Panch Kedar temples as its destination, luckily it just fits into a three-week schedule!
Please contact me, if you have any questions! narada@purnam.de
Panch Kedar: Hiking Tour to secial Shiva temples
Panch Kedar is a group of five very remote Shiva temples in the high mountains of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. The temples are based on a story from the Mahabharata, where Shiva hid from the Pandava brothers. Reaching the temples is difficult, but they offer fantastic views of the mountains.
This hikingtour will take us to all five of these special temples:
- Kalpeshwar 2,200m
- Rudranath 3,559m
- Tungnath 3,680m
- Madhyamaheshwar 3,490m
- Kedarnath 3,583m
Shiva hiking tour - far away from everything
Panch Kedar - mythological story behind it
The story comes from the Mahabharata epic, which is around 2000 years old, and part of this 100,000-verse work is known as the Bhagavad Gita:
After winning the war of Kurukshetra, the five Pandava brothers wanted to free themselves from their heavy sins. They sought Shiva on the recommendation of Krishna and hoped for his blessings and deliverance from bad karma. Due to the gravity of the sins, Shiva did not want to meet the Pandavas. He disappeared from his residence in Varanasi (Kashi) and hid in the Himalayas
The Pandavas built a temple at each of the five places, just as many other temples in the region are attributed to the five brothers. However, there are also speculations that the five temples were built by Shankara or the followers of the Gorakhnath Samradaya from Nepal, who had a special connection to the Pashupatinath temple.
On average, the 5 Panch Kedar temples are all located at an altitude of around 3300m, none of them can be reached by vehicle. This is of course due to the history: Shiva wanted to hide from the Pandava brothers!
Kedarnath - Highlight of the Shiva hiking tour
The temple of Kedarnath at 3583m is considered one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world. To reach it you have to drive about 200 km from Rishikesh and then walk about 16 km further out into the high mountains. The temple is sheltered in a basin, with a range of 7,000-metre peaks behind it. “Kedarnath” means ‘Lord of the Field’. The Shivalingam in the temple is considered one of the 12 particularly holy ‘Jyotirlingas’. The founder of Advaita Vedanta and great reformer of Indian spirituality Adi Shankaracharya is buried behind the temple.
The other four Shiva tempels
- Kalpeshwar iis quite easy to reach since the construction of a new road. It is the lowest of the five (Panch) Kedar temples and the only one that is not closed six months a year due to snow. It is located on a river half in a cave in a picturesque valley.
- Rudranath is considered to be very difficult to reach, the
- lies half in a cave in a remote rhododendron forest, surrounded by a few small sacred pools. This is where the face of Shiva appeared, “Rudra” means “the roaring one”. Pictures here.
- Tungnath is considered the highest Shiva temple in the world and is located around 300 meters below the Chandrashila peak. From here you have an incredible view of the mountains: Nanda Devi, Kedarnath Peak, Choukhamba and Neelkanth
- Madhyamaheshwarlies in a green valley between the snow-capped peaks of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and Neelkantha. This is where the middle (Madhya) part of Shiva or the navel emerged.
Quick Facts Panch Kedar Yatra - Shiva hiking tour
- Date: 5.-25.10.2025
- Price: Double room 1900,- & Single room 2200,-€
- New: If you book 6 months before day 1 of the trip, there is a 10% discount.
If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail: info@purnam.de
Itinery of the trip
You can arrive 1-2 days earlier. The first accommodation is quietly located in the jungle between Haridwar and Rishikesh. You can be picked up at any time from the airport in Delhi (5-hour drive) or Dehradun (45-minute drive). The trip can also be easily extended to the end.
The overnight stays are printed in bold in the itinerary, the Panch Kedar temples are underlined.
1. Arrival at Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar – start of the journey
The journey begins with the arrival at the peaceful Aurovalley Ashram in „Rishidwar“ (between Rishikesh and Haridwar). Surrounded by the tranquillity and spiritual atmosphere of the ashram, we can relax after our arrival and get in the mood for the coming days over dinner together.
2. Visit to Haridwar, puja in the Shiva temple and Ganga Arati
The day begins with a spiritual tour of Haridwar, one of the holiest cities in India. After a puja in the Shiva temple, we enjoy a 10 km walk along the Ganges and experience the famous evening Ganga Aarti.
3. Drive to Rudraprayag via Devprayag
After a dip in the holy Ganges in Devprayag, where the Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers flow together, we continue a 150 km drive to Rudraprayag. The impressive views of the Himalayan mountains and the interplay of the holy rivers accompany the journey.
4. Drive and hike to Kartikswami
The journey takes us 40 km further before we embark on a 12 km hike up and down to the Kartikswami temple. The temple offers breathtaking panoramas of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.
5.Drive via Karnprayag to Helang
A 120 km drive takes us past Karnprayag, where the Alaknanda and Pindar rivers meet. On the way, we enjoy spectacular views of the valley and mountains before reaching the small village of Helang, which is the starting point for the next small hike.
6. Hike to Kalpeshwar and Dhyan Badri
A small hike takes us up and down to the holy sites of Kalpeshwar and Dhyan Badri. Kalpeshwar is one of the Panch Kedar temples and attracts pilgrims for its spiritual atmosphere.
7. Drive to Gopeshwar
After the treks, a 55 km drive to Gopeshwar awaits us. This tranquil place is known for its temples and as a starting point for further spiritual treks in the Himalayan region.
8. Hike via Sagar to Paneer Bugyal
On a 10 km hike from Sagar, we ascend towards the high altitude pasture of Paneer Bugyal. The lush green meadows offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
9. Hike to Rudranath and Saraswati Kund
A spiritual highlight of the trip: The 10 km hike (up and down) takes us to the Rudranath temple, tucked away in the mountains, as well as the holy Saraswati Kund. This remote place is ideal for enjoying the silence of nature and immersing yourself in deep meditation.
10. Descent via Atri Muni cave and Anasuya
A 16 km hike leads down to Mandal, passing Anasuya Devi Temple and Atri Muni Cave, a place of great spiritual significance, where the sage Atri Muni is said to have meditated in a cave under the waterfall. Overnight stay will be again in Gopeshwar.
11. Hike to Mandal and drive to Saari
A 5 km hike down to Mandal is followed by a 50 km drive to Saari, a small village that serves as the starting point for the hike to Deoria Taal.
12. Rest day or hike to Deoria Taal
Depending on personal preference, we can use the day to relax or take a 10 km hike up and down to the beautiful Deoria Taal. The lake is famous for its reflection of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
13. Hike to Tungnath, return to Saari
A 10 km hike leads up to the Tungnath temple, the highest Shiva temple in the world. After the visit and a moment of reflection, we return to Saari, with a 50 km drive rounding off the day.
14. Drive to Ransi, hike to Nanu Chatti
After a 40 km drive to Ransi, we take a 7 km hike up to the small village of Nanu Chatti, a traditional mountain village, which serves as our starting point for the next day.
15. Hike to Madhyamaheshwar
A 6 km hike takes us up to the Madhyamaheshwar temple, another of the five sacred Panch Kedar temples. Here we have the opportunity to enjoy the spiritual atmosphere of this remote temple.
16.Hike to Ransi, drive to Sonprayag via Guptakashi
After the descent (7 km) back to Ransi, we drive 60 km via Guptakashi to Sonprayag, the gateway to the Kedarnath temple. Guptakashi is known for its historic temples and views of the Chaukhamba peak.
17. Hike to Kedarnath
Another highlight of the trip: the 16 km hike up to the famous Kedarnath temple. This sacred place, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India.
18. Hike to Sonprayag, drive to Rudraprayag
After a 16 km hike down to Sonprayag, we take a 60 km drive back to Rudraprayag, where we can reflect on the spiritual experiences of the past few days.
19. Drive to Rishikesh
A 135 km drive takes us to Rishikesh, the “yoga capital of the world”. The pilgrimage ends here in the spiritual atmosphere of this holy city on the banks of the Ganges.
20.Sightseeing and shopping in Rishikesh
The last full day of the trip is dedicated to exploring Rishikesh. A walk of around 10 km takes us to spiritual sites, ashrams and along the river before we have the opportunity to go shopping.
21. End of the trip with breakfast.
The pilgrimage ends after a final breakfast together.
We won’t be staying anywhere near the parking lot of our bus for a total of six nights. So most of the time, you can use a suitcase or a large travel bag. For the nights that have to be hiked, you will need a daypack with the essentials. On days 8, 9 & 10 as well as 14, 15 and 17 we stay in simple accommodation with light luggage. On the three days to Rudranath and on the way to and from Madhyamaheshwar, we will have a donkey with us to carry part of our load.
Map of Panch Kedar Tempels
Altitude adjustment on the Shiva hiking tour
We have planned the trip so that we can gradually adapt to the altitude. The hikes become more strenuous as the altitude increases, so we take our time to get used to the rising altitude. Here are the highest points of the trip in order.
- Tag 4: Kartik Swami 3050 m (hike)
- Tag 4: Kanakchonry 2250 m (stay)
- Tag 5: Helang 1,800 m (stay)
- Tag 6: Kalpeshwar Temple 2,200 m (hike)
- Tag 7: Gopeshwar 1,600 m (stay)
- Tag 8: Paneer Bugyal 2,600 m (stay)
- Tag 9: Rudranath Temple 3,559 m (hike)
- Tag 13: Tungnath Temple 3,680 m (hike)
- Tag 13: Chandrashila 4000 m (above Tungnath)
- Tag 15: Madhyamaheshwar Temple 3,490 m (stay)
- Tag 17: Kedarnath Temple 3,583 m (stay)
(german) Dieses Video über Shiva habe ich zusammen mit Torge erstellt. 🙂
Necessary fitness
The Shiva trekking tour includes very strenuous hikes up to 4000m (Chandrashila). Good preparation is required to be fit enough to reach all the Panch Kedar temples. To prepare, you should do weekly hikes of 15 to 20 km and be able to walk 15 km two days in a row without any problems before the first hike of the trip to Kartik Swami Temple. You can already start working on this.
Service, Booking, Arrival
- Title: Panch Kedar Shiva hiking tour
- Period: 21 days
- Date: 5-25.10.2025
- Route: Haridwar, Panch Kedar Temple, Rishikesh
- Highlight: Morning Puja at Kedarnath Temple
- Tour guide: Kavita
- New: If you book 6 months before day 1 of the trip, there is a 10% discount
- Arrival & Departure: Indira Gandhi IA New Delhi (DEL) or Dehradun Airport (DED)
- Service: Overnight stay, full board, transfers, pick up from the airport and tourguide
- Questions? Mail to: info@purnam.de
Booking: With the booking you will receive an invoice for my services as a tour guide and cultural-spiritual lectures. The remaining amount for accommodation, meals, transfers, local tour guide and entrance fees is only due on day 1 of the trip and can be paid on site.
Services of the Panch Kedar Shiva trekking tour:
- Travel by private minibus through the mountains, from the start of the trip in Haridwar to the end in Rishikesh
- Pick-up from Delhi or Dehradun airport
Price:
- Double room 1900,-, single room 2200,-€trip.
- New: If you book 6 months before day 1 of the trip, there is a 10% discount
Service:
- Overnight stay, full board, transfers, pick-up from the airport & tour guide
Questions? Mail to: info@purnam.de
Not included is:
- Return journey to the airport (trip ends in Rishikesh, but we are happy to help with the organization)
- Personal insurances
- Vaccinations (please discuss with your doctor)
- Visa
Visa: in general, there are two different ways for tourists to obtain a visa for India: You can apply directly to the Indian embassy or consulate here: indianvisaonline.gov.in
You can apply via an agency that checks everything again beforehand: Apply for an e-visa for India.
We assume no liability for the information on visa applications.
Tourguide: Kavita
I have been organizing trips together with Kavita Reisen for years, this is the 5th trip to the Garhwal region. Kavita grew up in Haridwar and lives in the mountains, she has a small guesthouse in Manali and works as a trained mountain and hiking guide.
Kavita: “As a person who was born at the foot of the Himalayas (Haridwar), I have always had a heart for the mountains. Even while studying computer science, I never stopped loving and exploring hills and mountains whenever I got the opportunity. After graduating, I worked with a few companies, but my heart was always in the mountains. Most of the time I thought about how I could make a career in something that would help me realize my dreams and also support me financially.
I finally left the corporate world when I got an opportunity to work as a mountain guide from an adventure company in Rishikesh. I was stunned with joy and embarked on the journey I had been longing for all along. In the meantime, I completed my basic and advanced mountaineering courses from “ABVIMAS” and “HMI” respectively. Now it was time to expand the dream a little further. The idea was to start something of my own in this terrain from before, but now I have the right resources and experience to fulfill it.
I started my company “Step to Himalayas” and continued to do treks and expeditions in the Himalayan region, now the project has grown bigger: “The Mountain Child”. I also participated in small projects in Uttarakhand, which allowed me to make some valuable contacts and get to know the place better. I was on one of these projects in Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand, working as a freelance mountain guide when I met Narada from PURNAM. Such a friendly person! We realized that we have common visions and decided to cooperate, what a blessing! We have already carried out several joint projects and have many more planned for the future.”
Tour guide Kavita
Kavita and Narada in Haridwar 2019
