Panch Kedar in Uttarakhand

Among the numerous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Panch Kedar—a group of five sacred shrines—holds exceptional reverence. According to the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva, he transformed into a bull to evade them. As Bheema attempted to capture him, the bull vanished, only to reappear in fragmented forms at five different locations, now known as the Panch Kedar.

The body parts of Lord Shiva in his bull form appeared at five different locations: the hump at Kedarnath, the arms at Tungnath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar, the face at Rudranath, and the hair and head at Kalpeshwar. In honor of these manifestations, the Pandavas constructed temples at each site to worship Lord Shiva.

Devotees of Lord Shiva often embark on the Panch Kedar Yatra, visiting these five sacred temples. Kedarnath Temple, which is also part of the Chota Char Dham circuit, holds special significance. Additionally, the Panch Kedar trek attracts many young adventurers who enjoy the challenge of trekking to these holy shrines nestled in the mountains.