Tungnath Temple

Highest Shiva temple of the Panch Kedar, above Chopta meadows.

दर्शन महत्व: Trek + temple combo dominates Himalayan Instagram.

यात्रा का सर्वश्रेष्ठ समय: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

History

Tungnath above Chopta is the highest of the Panch Kedar Shiva temples (about 3,680 m). The small stone shrine is reached by a well-worn trek and is traditionally where the Pandavas worshipped Shiva’s arms.

Legends

• After Kedarnath (hump), Tungnath received the bahuen (arms) of the bull-formed Shiva who dived into the earth.
• Ravana is also said to have done tapasya here; the ridge still feels like a hermitage.