Panchkedar Trek & Drive

• Altitude : 2,134 m/ 7001 ft
• Drive distance:  Joshimath to Urgam - 19 km
• Trek distance: Urgam To Kalpeshwar - 1 km
• Overnight stay in homestay/tent

We will start the day with a hearty breakfast and we will take a ride from Joshimath to Urgam village, which is 19 km away from Joshimath. Urgam village is a peaceful habitat at 2134 meters elevation from where you start walking to Kalpeshwar. The altitude so far will be the same as Urgam village. Urgam village is known for its serenity and peacefulness, a place where saints meditate.

The entire scenery is revitalizing Kalpeshwar. You will slowly climb up in the diverse forests and animals grazing around. The trail is moderate with a lot of rest. You will be greeted by villagers at every step. It is a short hike to Kalpeshwar, the first temple of the Panch Kedar, and the entire route is decked with mountain scenery. It is believed that Lord Shiva’s hair appeared here. Folklore also has it that Kalpeshwar was the favorite meditative spot for sages like Durvasa and Arghya. While at the temple, also pay respect to the Kalpeshwar tree, it is believed the tree grants all your wishes. From Kalpeshwar, you will also get stunning views of Nanda Devi, Mt. Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti.  150 m behind the temple premises lies the ‘Dhyan Badri’ temple, although not one of the five Badris, this is yet another mystical experience for you. Many people visit Kalpeshwar temple because of the gorgeous views of the untouched mountain valley, the terraced fields of the villages, and the dense woods. After paying your respect at the temple and spending some time in the serene environs, return to the Urgam village, where we will stay the night. It will be a unique experience to have lunch in such a humble environment. The people at Urgam are very warm and hospitable and you can get the chance to interact with them and learn many interesting stories from them. Enjoy your climb henceforth and halt at Urgam\'s culturally rich homestays.

• Altitude: 2, 400 m/ 7874 ft
• Trek distance: 12 km
• Overnight stay in homestay/ tent

Welcome the next morning with a healthy breakfast and refreshing sunrays. Urgam is known for its potato and apple farms and you will spot tonnes of big fields, just don\'t trespass them without permission. Just as you begin your day you will be happily surprised to walk through the abundant valley.

The next stop is Kalgot which is a 12 km hike from Urgam but it\'s not tiring. At an altitude of 2400 meters, it is a perfect remote habitat with many waterfalls around it. You can spot them as you walk through the dense forests, watching the dance of the sun and shadows. You will get to witness the beautiful rolling meadows of an untouched Himalayan region.

Kalgot village lies in the Alakanada Valley. The altitude gradually increases as you climb up from Urgam towards Kalgot. You will notice tiny habitats that greet you now and then on your trek as you walk with the sounds of murmuring waterfalls. You may also see banchakki or Gharats in the villages. This is the best opportunity to interact with them and get to know their culture and region. It\'s a refreshing experience to watch their lifestyle away from modernization and absorb its rustic charm. Enjoy your night in the typical Garhwali homestay.

• Altitude: 3,400 m/ 11154 ft
• Trek distance: 14 km
• Overnight stay in homestay/ tent

A new day awaiting new experiences. We will start the day early after some refreshments in the morning and head towards Panar Bugyal. Today will be an uphill hike, more strenuous than before. The trail is 14 km long and the entire walk is under the shadows of green woodlands. There will be numerous farmlands and rock paths and there will also be a pleasant breeze to soothe you on the way. You will also encounter lush meadows waiting for you.

The best thing about the trek is that along with spiritual importance each moment is taking you closer to nature. It is the experience of being in the wild. This trail is also a great route to encounter birds like Himalayan Monals, Green Bee Eaters, and Black Drongos. Panar Bugyal as the name suggests is a highland meadow that offers beautiful views of Mt. Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Nanda Devi, and Bandarpoonch.  Sunset is especially beautiful here as the golden rays of the sun hit the snow-covered peaks and paint the sky and the mountains in hues of red, orange, purple, and pink. Needless to say, it is an awe-inspiring experience.

On the fourth day, you will have a real adventure experience by staying in tents underneath the dark sky amidst the cool breeze of the forests.

• Altitude: 3600 m/ 11811 ft
• Trek Distance: 14 km
• Overnight stay in homestay/ tent

Wake up in your cozy tent rooms and take a few breaths of freshness. Today you will hike up to Rudranath. At 2286 meters in height, it is considered as the hardest and the most durable temple compared to the other four ones. The journey to Rudranath will be life-altering.

The natural rock temple has rock-paved pathways surrounded by dense rhododendrons. The climb is 8 km long and a moderate hike.

Rudranath Temple lies in the laps of Himalayan meadows, where the face of Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared. Inside the temple, you can see a beautiful stone-carved face that looks almost lifelike. The rock-carved sculpture of Shiva wears a smile on his face, which seems to melt away all your worries. Rudra Ganga flows near the temple, adding to its mystical allure. If you want to visit the temple independently, and not as a part of the Panch Kedar Trek then you should do so in the Hindu month of Shravan, when there is an annual fair held in the region and the entire area lights up and the shrine becomes even more beautiful.

From Panar Bugyal take the road that moves towards the ridge on the left. En route, you will find some boulders and views of the snow-capped peaks.  The trail slowly and gradually climbs up the ridge and after half an hour of walking, you will see the Panar meadows below you. The verdant expanse of the Panar meadows and the snow-capped peaks in the foreground is just the perfect scene to enjoy nature’s splendor and capture Instagram-worthy pictures. Continue on the ridge until you reach a section where there are huge boulders on the left and a green valley on the right. As you continue on the path, you will come to a patch where there are huge boulders on each side of the trail with the ridge in between. The greenery all around and the snow-covered beauty will strike you spellbound with their beauty. Continue on the gradually ascending mud trail and soon you will see prayer flags and bells in the distance. It will take about 20 minutes to reach the bells. Following this, the trail descends into the valley with bright flowers and shrubs all around you. After about an hour of hiking, the Rudranath temple becomes visible. 20-30 minutes into the hike and you will come across painted tourist huts, walk past the huts, and in a few minutes, you will arrive at the shrine.

Once you reach the Shiva shrine, one of the Panch Kedar\'s you will see the first real views of the biggest Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul, and more. Rudranath temple is surrounded on each side by Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Manas Kund, and Tara Kund. After some soothing moments at the sacred place, it will be time to go back to Panar. Enjoy your night in tents with happy faces.

• Altitude: 2,350 m
• Trek Distance: 14 km
• Packed lunch at Sagar Village
• Drive to Chopta from Sagar village
• Overnight stay in Swiss Cottage tents

Having done two Kedar is time to head to the third which is Tungnath. To reach Tungnath you will first hike 14 km to Sagar village. From there you will ride to Chopta village 32 km far. Again the trek route to Sagar village is through dense forests and numerous grasslands.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast and take the muddy trail descending towards Panar on the left. The path is a little meandering and soon you will reach the grasslands of Lunti Bugyal, from here take the trail on the left and you will reach a stream in about 45 minutes. The mud trail is well-defined. The trail descends further to a wooden bridge in the forest and another beautiful meadow comes into view, which is surrounded by alpine forests. A few tea stalls line the meadow that serves tea and refreshments to the pilgrims, there’s also a shade to protect the pilgrims from rain and sun. The area is marked by a boundary of colorful flags. Continuing along the meadow, you will enter another forest cover and can witness the forest cultivations done by the villagers. Sagar village soon becomes visible as well. Continue down along the left and you will come across a stream just before entering Sagar village. After the stream, the trail becomes pretty narrow and rocky until you reach Sagar.  At the end of the trail, there is a bus stop, and crossing the road, you can see Sakleshwar Mahadev Mandir.

From Sagar habitat, the road to Chopta is a serene ride rising slowly. Chopta is a popular tourist destination hence it is crowded. It is a very picturesque destination that is also a camping site for the Chopta Chandrashila trek. The beauty of Chopta Valley is such that it is often known as the ‘Mini Switzerland od Uttarakhand’. It is also a great spot for birdwatching, often considered a paradise for birdwatchers with as many as 240 species of birds. The most prominent varieties are the Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Griffon, Himalayan Swiftlet, Hill Partridge, and Scarlet Finch. It is an extremely peaceful location to relax after a long tiring day. Enjoy your night\'s stay in tents.

• Altitude: 3680 m/ 12073 ft
• Chopta To Tungnath, Chandrashila Summit and return (Trek 8 km)
• Trekking Time: 7 to 8 hrs
• Water source: none
• Overnight stay in Swiss Cottage tents
• Peaks spotted: Mountains of Garhwal and Kumaon, Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nandaghunti, Kamet, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, Kedar Dome, Thalayasagar, Gangotri Ranges, Jahanukut, etc.

Today will be an exciting day as you will climb to the highest Shiva temple in the world. Located at 3680 meters elevation Tungnath temple is over 1000 years old.

The route throughout the temple is cement paved with stairs and grills for safety. There are various stalls at the base of the temple that gives the vibe of a pilgrim spot. One thing to note about the trail to the top is that it is entirely decored with rhododendrons that change their colors from red to pink to white as you slowly rise above. We will start in the early hours of the morning so that we can reach Tungnath while it is still daytime and you can enjoy the golden hour from the top.

The path is 3.5km long and normally it takes 4-5 hours to reach. Today’s hike is going to be a little grueling as you will have to make sharp turns around the mountains. Chandrashila trek has many hairpin bends and at the 10th bend, you will come to a flagpole section from where you can get a good view of the Chandrashila summit. Ravanshila connects Chandrashila to Tungnath. The temple is seen from a distance that stands right in front of a rocky cliff with infinite beauty around it. The entrance to Tungnath temple is at the 11th bend. Tungnath is where the hands of Lord Shiva are said to have appeared. Tungnath Temple also has a mention in the Mahabharata, according to which Arjun was the first person to lay the foundation of the temple.

You can also hike up to Chandrashila which is also a renowned hiking point. Chandrashila is 1.5 km above the temple. This is the highest place from where the ocean of distant pinnacles can be seen. The views from Chandrashila are simply incomparable. The path to Chandrashila starts behind the temple. There will be heavy snow from December to April and gaiters and crampons and sometimes ice ax is a must to climb to Chandrashila. From the summit, you can have a 360-degree panorama of notable mountain peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Chaukhmabha, Dronagiri, and Kedar. On a clear day, you can also discern the peaks like Thalaysagar and Gangotri ranges. En route, you will also spot the flora and fauna of the region. There are a lot of Bhojpatra trees on the trail and you can spot avian species like Himalayan Monals and Griffon vulture.

Once you get back to the base, you will stay in swiss cottage tents.

• Altitude: 1,765 m/ 5790 ft
• Drive to Ransi: 52 km
• Trek To Gaundhar: Altitude- 3,073 m/ 10,082 ft | Distance: 7 km
• Overnight stay in homestay/ tent

Another exciting day and it\'s time to move to the fourth Kedar. The journey begins from Chopta by road through Kalimath to Ransi, a 52km drive. After which is a 7 km trek to Gaundhar. The route is made of mud and scree. The motorable road ends at Ransi village and the trek starts from here. It is a well-paved path with the Madhyamaheswar Ganga River flowing on the right. It is an easy route as it is mostly downhill and it is since the route is a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, the views, and the biodiversity is amazing. You can witness the rich biodiversity of the region with its beautiful flora and fauna. You will encounter numerous butterfly species, lizards, mountain goats, guard dogs, sheep, monkeys, and various bird species as well. The mountain and the forests will give you an amazing opportunity to be close to nature and absorb its peaceful vibrations.

Gaundhar is located at an elevation of 3073 meters and is the base camp for hikers who want to reach Madhyamaheshwar. You will witness the holy merging points of rivers Madhyamaheswar Ganga and Markanga Ganga. It is a stunning viewpoint, never to miss. The temple self is set against a beautiful backdrop of green hills and meadows.

Enjoy your another tent stay at the Gaundhar camp. Sleep well for the upcoming Kedar next morning.

• Altitude: 3,490 m/ 11,450 ft
• Trek distance: 10 km
• Temple visit
• Overnight stay in homestay

Today we will trek to the Madhyamaheswar Templer, which is often considered the second Kedar and also the fourth Kedar by many. Today is the hardest day of the trek as you will climb uphill all throughout the trek and gain quite a bit of altitude. It is an overwhelming hike of 5-6 hours covering a distance of 10 km to Madhyamaheshwar temple. The temple is 3490 meters in height and is a striking element hidden between the alpine trees of the Garwhal mountains. The shrine is placed perfectly between green meadows and lush forests.

After breakfast at Gaundhar, head out on your trekking adventure towards Madhyamaheswar. Start the day early so that you can reach the temple by lunchtime. The trail is quite similar to the previous day but it gets a lot steeper half an hour before the climb. As you climb towards the temple you will witness beautiful grasslands covered by pine trees. The trekking trail is well marked there is no chance of losing the track. All throughout the day, you will notice breathtaking scenery at every juncture and it gets better and better as you keep climbing up. There are also fixed benches along the route to sit down if you get tired. Along the route, you will also spot some shops that sell snacks and drinks. You can reenergize yourself at these points. The final few hundred meters to the temple is a  flat walk and the view that opens up in front of you will leave you in a dearth of words. Once you reach the leveled path, you will reach the temple in a few minutes and you will feel quite satisfied and accomplished after arriving at the mighty temple.

Madhyamaheswar temple is thousands of years old and you can get a close look at the ancient architecture. Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of navel-shaped Lingam here. Along with the main temple, there are also two small shrines, one dedicated to Shiva’s consort Parvati and another to Ardhanarishvara - a composite male and female idol of Lord Shiva.  You will halt the night next to the temple. The camping place is stupendous with clear sights of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, and Neelkanth. Have your hot dinner and rest in your tents.

• Altitude: 1,319 m/ 4,327 ft
• Trek Distance: 17 km
• Drive to Guptkashi (35 km)
• Overnight stay in a hotel

We are coming towards the end of the Panch Kedar yatra trek. Today you will head to Guptkashi which is 35 km from Ransi. Guptkashi has a temple similar to Vishwanath of Kashi that is dedicated to Lord Shiva, hence the name.

Wake up early in the morning, to catch the mesmerizing sunset at Madhyamaheswar. If you hike up to the Budha Madhamaheswar, you will get stunning views of the Chaukhambha Massif and Mandani Parbat, the sunrise over these peaks is absolutely beautiful. From Madhyamaheswar, we will retrace steps back to Ransi village, following the same mountain scenery and from here we will drive to Guptkashi. The drive is spectacular with pleasant forests and everything is tranquil.  Guptkashi is located en route to Kedarnath on a ridge. The Mandakini River lies on the west side. The central attraction in Guptkashi is the Manikarnika Kund, a stream where Ganga and Yamuna meet. Gaurikund the starting point of the Kedarnath trek is located 15 km from Guptkashi. If you want to do any last-minute shopping for miscellaneous stuff for the trek, Guptkashi has a market where you can do so. You will stay in hotels at night after full meals.

• Altitude: 3,584 m/ 11,758 ft
• Drive to Gaurikund: 15 km
• Trek to Kedarnath: 16 km
• Visit temple
• Evening aarti at Kedarnath Temple
• Overnight stay in a guesthouse

The last and the most awaited Kedarnath will finally come to your grace. Kedarnath needs no introduction, it is one of the most visited Dhams of Char Dhams and is a world-famous pilgrimage destination. From Guptkashi it’s a 15 km drive to Gaurikund from where you will start your trek. Gaurikund to Kedarnath is a 16 km long trek, however, the newly laid out trail is slightly longer. A constant stream of pilgrims keeps walking up to Kedarnath every year and you will notice many of them along the way.

Kedarnath is located at an elevation of 3584 m is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas that represent shrines of Lord Shiva all around the world. Kedarnath is synonyms with extravagance, heart-filling elegance between snow-capped peaks, and huge glaciers decored around. You can see the gushing river flowing through the valley and hundreds of humans walking up-down at every moment. From Guarikund start your trek and continue through Rambada Bridge to reach Jungle Chatti, your first stop point. Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti is at a distance of 4 km. If you are tired take a break here, have some water and refreshments and continue on your journey. From Jungle Chatti, the next stop is at Bheembali, which is at a distance of 3 km from Jungle Chatti. There are accommodations along Bheembali as well. The third stop is at Linchauli, which is 4 km  Linchauli, accommodations are available at Linchauli as well. The mountain views from Linchauli are extraordinary and will take all your tiredness away. From Linchauli, it is another 4 km to Kedarnath base camp. From the base camp, you will get panoramic view of the mountain environs and the temple not very far away. 1 km from the base camp is our last and final destination, the revered Kedarnath Dham, which is also one of the Jyotirlingas. You can feel the divine mysticism and the spiritual aura of the place as soon as you set foot on the Kedarnath shrine.

You will be spending the night in the lap of the Himalayas with OM chanting and Shiva\'s blessing for the bright future. Make the most of the last high camping of the long journey.

• Trek distance: 16 km to Gaurikund
• Drive To Guptkashi: ( 30 km)
• Overnight stay in a hotel

Like every good thing, the Panch Kedar Yatra too comes to an end and it is quite difficult to describe the feeling as the yatra comes to an end. The return journey home starts from Kedarnath, the finale of the Panch Kedar trip. Wake up early and get ready to witness the morning Pooja of Kedarnath temple. Post breakfast begins your downwards journey from Kedarnath.

The last stop but not the least is at Guarikund. The Gauri Kund water body is known for its hot springs. There is a famous Parvati temple as well. According to legends, Gaurikund is where Parvati did penance involving yogic and ascetic practices to win Lord Shiva’s heart and it is believed that Lord Shiva accepted to marry Parvati here and they got married in the Tijuginarayan temple. From Gaurikund you will drive to Guptkashi which will be your last night stay in the mountains.

• Drive will commence at 6 am, reaching the destination at around 6 pm
• Breakfast and lunch will be on the way at a roadside inn, exclusive of charges.

And the trek ends here as you wake up on the last day of the Panch Kedar Yatra. You will be dropped off at Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun based on your convenience. Go home with an amplitude of memories of the spiritual and adventurous trip. We wish you a happy and safe journey to your home.