One of the popular spiritual treks in Indian Himalayan region, the Panch Kedar Trek stretches from an altitude of 2134 meters, in Urgam, to a height of 3680 meters, in Tungnath. The entire stretch reflects the mythical colours of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas went to the Himalaya to meet Lord Shiva who avoided the meeting due to the Gau Hatya (Killing Cow) and Brahmahatya committed by the Pandavas. It is believed that in the struggle that followed, parts of Lord Shiva's body that appeared in the form of a bull surfaced at various places in the Himalaya. The forelegs that showed up at Pashupatinath in Nepal, the hump of the bull at Kedarnath, the torso including the navel at Madhyamaheshwar, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar, thus forming the Panch Kedar in India (excluding Pashupatinath being in Nepal).
The Panch Kedar Trek not only covers the five shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva but also allows you to get acquainted with the remote villages that exhibit an ancient charm. The entire trail from Kalgot to Kedarnath en route to Rudranath, Mandal, Chopta, Gaundhar, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar offers immense opportunity to get enamoured by nature of the place which is blessed with the snow capped peaks sequestering the dense forest and lush green meadows rolling down the valleys. Below are the five Kedar and their significance;