Panch Kedar

Panch Kedar Yatra at a glance

Panch Kedar is the yatra to five Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand: Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. Four of the five need a walk, from a short 3.5 km climb at Tungnath to about 20 km at Rudranath, and all except Kalpeshwar close in winter. The season runs roughly May to October. Doing all five takes about 13 days from Haridwar. We organise single-Kedar yatras and the full circuit from Dehradun, with guides, stays and meals.

Which Panch Kedar yatra is right for you?

You do not have to do all five at once. Many yatris start with Kedarnath and Tungnath, then return another year for Madhmaheshwar or Rudranath. Kalpeshwar is the easiest and can be done at any age. The full 13-day circuit suits people who already walk regularly and can manage several long climbing days in a row.

Prices are per person and vary with season and group size. Trek packages include guides and camps where needed; pony, porter and personal gear are usually extra. Check each package page for full inclusions.

The five Kedars: height, walk and difficulty

According to the legend of the Pandavas, after the Mahabharata war Lord Shiva avoided them by taking the form of a bull in Garhwal. When Bhima recognised him, he sank into the earth, and parts of his form appeared at five places, each now a Kedar. The figures below are approximate and differ slightly between sources.

Tungnath is counted among the highest Shiva temples in the world. Above Madhmaheshwar, the Budha Madhmaheshwar meadow about 2 km higher gives wide Himalayan views. For trek-by-trek detail, see our Rudranath Yatra and Madhmaheshwar Yatra pages.

When to go: 2026 dates and the 2027 season

Each Kedar opens and closes on a date fixed by the panchang. The 2027 dates are not announced yet (as of 28 October 2026). Kedarnath's date is traditionally declared on Mahashivratri and Rudranath's on Basant Panchami.

• Kedarnath: opened 22 April 2026; closes 11 November 2026 (Bhai Dooj).
• Madhmaheshwar: opened 21 May 2026; closes 16 November 2026.
• Tungnath: closes 6 November 2026.
• Rudranath: opened 18 May 2026; closed 17 October 2026, the earliest of the five.
• Kalpeshwar: open all year.

Winter seats: when the kapat close, the deities' utsav dolis come down to villages where puja continues. Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar are worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, Tungnath at Makkumath, and Rudranath at the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar.

Best windows: late May to June, and mid-September to mid-October. July and August bring monsoon landslides and slippery trails. If you want all five Kedars, plan to finish before Rudranath closes in mid-October.

Route: how the Panch Kedar circuit fits together

From Dehradun or Haridwar, the road goes via Rishikesh, Devprayag and Rudraprayag. A typical full-circuit order follows the valleys:

1. Kedarnath: Rudraprayag to Guptkashi and Sonprayag, shuttle to Gaurikund, then the walk or helicopter.
2. Madhmaheshwar: Guptkashi to Ukhimath and Ransi by road, then the walk via Gaundar with a night near the temple.
3. Tungnath: Ukhimath to Chopta by road, then the short climb; Chandrashila at sunrise if you are fit.
4. Rudranath: Chopta to Mandal and Gopeshwar, then from Sagar village a two-to-three-day trek with camps on the high meadows.
5. Kalpeshwar: Gopeshwar to Chamoli and Helang, then the Urgam valley road to Devgram.

Many yatris continue from Kalpeshwar to Joshimath and Badrinath. Our packing list works well for the Panch Kedar treks too.

Registration, permits and helicopter

• Kedarnath: the free Uttarakhand Char Dham registration is compulsory (registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app). See our registration guide.
• Rudranath: a forest department trek permit is required. In 2025 the administration reportedly capped entry at about 140 yatris a day and stopped new entries on the trail after 2 pm. Rules can change each season, so we check before every departure.
• Madhmaheshwar and Tungnath: forest and local rules may apply; we confirm them when we plan your dates.
• Helicopter: only Kedarnath has a regular helicopter shuttle, booked only on IRCTC HeliYatra. The other four Kedars are reached on foot or by road.

Fitness and advice for families

• Not every member needs to do all five. Elders can take darshan at Kedarnath by helicopter or palki, plus Tungnath and Kalpeshwar, while younger members trek to Madhmaheshwar and Rudranath.
• Start walking practice four to six weeks before the yatra: brisk walks and stair climbing every day.
• Get a medical check-up, especially for heart, lung, blood pressure or sugar conditions.
• Start each trek day early. Mountain weather often turns after midday.
• Mobile network is weak on the Madhmaheshwar and Rudranath trails. Carry a torch, power bank and some cash.

What we arrange on a Panch Kedar yatra

From Dehradun we arrange vehicles with hill-experienced drivers, hotel, village guesthouse and camp stays as each route needs, local trekking guides, simple vegetarian meals on the trail, help with Char Dham registration and the Rudranath forest permit, and timing advice for the Kedarnath helicopter. We plan around kapat dates and weather and adjust quickly if a trail or road closes.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Panch Kedar temples in order?

The traditional order is Kedarnath (first Kedar), Madhmaheshwar (second), Tungnath (third), Rudranath (fourth) and Kalpeshwar (fifth). All five are Shiva temples in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand. Each is linked to a part of Lord Shiva's bull form in the Pandava legend, such as the hump at Kedarnath and the face at Rudranath.

How many days does the Panch Kedar Yatra take?

Covering all five Kedars usually takes about 12 to 14 days from Haridwar, because four of them need treks and the roads between valleys are long. Our full Panch Kedar Yatra is 13 days and 12 nights from Haridwar. Single-Kedar yatras are shorter: Kalpeshwar is 3 days, Madhmaheshwar 4 days, and Rudranath or Kedarnath with Tungnath 5 days.

Which Panch Kedar trek is the most difficult?

Rudranath is generally the hardest, with a walk of about 20 km from Sagar village, steep climbs and high meadows above 3,500 m, so most groups camp on the way. Madhmaheshwar and Kedarnath are moderate to hard at about 16 km each. Tungnath is short but steep, and Kalpeshwar needs only a walk of about 300 m.

Which Panch Kedar temple is open in winter?

Kalpeshwar in the Urgam valley is the only Panch Kedar temple open all year. The other four close for about six months. In winter, Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar are worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, Tungnath at Makkumath, and Rudranath at the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar, where yatris can take darshan.

Is a permit needed for Rudranath?

Yes. Rudranath lies in a forest area and needs a forest department trek permit; the Char Dham registration does not cover it. In 2025 the administration reportedly limited entry to about 140 yatris a day, with no new entry after 2 pm. Limits for 2027 are not yet announced, so book early for May and June.

Can senior citizens do the Panch Kedar Yatra?

Senior citizens can comfortably do part of it. Kalpeshwar needs only a short walk, Tungnath is a short but steep climb with ponies often available, and Kedarnath can be reached by helicopter or palki. Madhmaheshwar and Rudranath involve long treks with basic stays, so they are best for elders only if they are fit and medically cleared.

When do the Panch Kedar temples open in 2027?

The 2027 dates were not announced as of October 2026. Kedarnath's opening date is traditionally declared on Mahashivratri and Rudranath's on Basant Panchami, with the temples opening between late April and May. In 2026 Rudranath opened on 18 May and Madhmaheshwar on 21 May. We add the 2027 dates here once they are declared.

Tell us which Kedars you wish to visit and the fitness of your group through the enquiry form on this page, or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page). Read this guide in Hindi: पंच केदार यात्रा हिंदी में.