Panch Kedar Trek
Maximum Altitude : 3886 Mts
Best Time to visit : May to June & Aug to October
Grade : Moderate Trek (mostly easy)
Duration : (16 days/15 nights)
Nestled in these very Garhwal Himalayas ranges are five of Hinduism's most important temples, popularly known as the Panch Kedar. Associated with the legend of Mahabharata, each of the five shrines houses a separate and distinct Shiv Linga. - At Kedarnath(3584 m), the Shiv Linga is a natural rock that resembles the hump of a bull.
Nestled
in these very Garhwal Himalayas ranges are five of Hinduism's
most important temples, popularly known as the Panch Kedar.
Associated with the legend of Mahabharata, each of the five
shrines houses a separate and distinct Shiv Linga. At Kedarnath
(3584 m), the Shiv Linga is a natural rock that resembles at the
hump of a bull.
Madhmaheshwar (3289 m) - Madhmaheshwar is situated at
the base of Chaukhamba Peak and here the Linga is worshipped in
the form of a navel.
Tungnath (3810 m) - Tungnath is the place where the arm
of Shiva appeared.
Rudranath (2286 m) - Rudranath is where the face of
Shiva is said to have appeared. Here there is a natural rock
temple in which the Shiva Mukha is worshipped.
Kalpanath (2134 m) - situated in the beautiful valley of
Urgam, here Shiva is worshipped in his matted hair form.
Passing through various gorges, forests and valleys the Panch
Kedar trek provides a breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges.
The Panch Kedar circuit is a 170km and 16-day trek, starting
with a drive from Rishikesh to Gaurikund.
Day 01: Delhi – Haridwar – 210 Kms( Drive 5-6
Hrs)
Arrive Haridwar. Local sightseeing and evening Arti at
Har Ki Pauri. Overnight at The Haveli Hari Ganga- A Heritage
Hotel.
Day 02 – Haridwar – Guptakashi(1319mtrs). 223kms.
(Drive 9 – 10 hrs)
After
breakfast leave for Guptakashi via Rudraprayag. Late Lunch en
route at Srinagar. After lunch restart your journey and today
for the first time see the beautiful river MANDAKINI. Travel
along this to reach Guptakashi late in the evening. On arrival
check in The Char Dham Camp, Guptakashi located 2 kms out of
town towards Gaurikund. Dinner and OVERNIGHT at the the Chardham
Camp.
Day 03 - Guptakashi – Kedarnath.(3585meters)- ( Drive
32 Kms trek 14 Kms )
After breakfast pick up your packed
Lunch and leave for Gaurikund (A 32 kms drive one way ) on
arrival start your journey on the tough trek ahead. Stop for the
lunch en route and restart to arrive by late afternoon. On
arrival check in at Punjab & Sindh Awas. After freshening up
perform Pooja and also Darshan at the Shri Kedarnath ji. In the
evening also visit Adi Shankaracharya samadhi at the back of the
temple. Dinner and overnight at Punjab & Sindh Awas.
Day 04 – Kedarnath – Guptakashi. (Trek 14 Kms,
drive 32 Kms)
After breakfast start your journey back to
Gaurikund and on arrival leave for Guptakashi by road to reach
the Char Dham Camp by evening. Relax with Ayurvedic Massage.
Dinner and overnight at the Chardham Camp, Guptakashi.
Day 05- Guptakashi- Gaundhar( 3073 mtrs) Trek 13 Kms
17 Kms Trek to Gaundhar- the confluence of Madhmaheshwar Ganga
and Markanga Ganga and the last settlement before one reaches
Madhmaheshwar. Overnight in tents.
Day 06: Gaundhar-Madhmaheshwar (3289Mtrs)- Trek 10 Km
10
Kms Trek to Madhmaheshwar through wild unparalleled scenic
beauty, engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks.
Overnight in tents.
Day 07: Madhmaheshwar-Gaundhar
10 km return trek to
Gaundhar Overnight in tents.
Day 08: Gaundhar-Ukhimath( 1311 Mtrs) – 12 Kms trek
and 16 Kms drive
12 km Trek to Jagasu and from there 16 km
drive to Ukhimath. Night stay at Ukhimath.
Day 09: Ukhimath-Chopta-Tungnath( 3886 Mtrs)- 35 Kms drive-
4 Kms Trek
Drive 35 km to Chopta (2900 m) Further 4 km trek
to Tungnath through some of the finest most picturesque pockets
of the Himalayas. Return trek to Chopta in the afternoon.
Overnight in camp. The narrow trek from Chopta does not have too
much pilgrim movement. Chopta is situated in a beautiful meadow.
The vision enjoys perfect freedom. There is more to see than
what eyes angle of view can afford. The beauty of the bughyal(
the high altitude meadow )is unsurpassable. The Tungnath temple
standing in the center of the stone paved platform, under 3,600
meters high summit of Chandrashilla (4090m) the monument is a
fine piece of ancient architecture.The idols of Vyas and
Kalbhairav stand along the "Shivling" inside the
temple.
Day 10: Chopta-Panargupha- (2286 Mtrs) – 30Kms drive,
10 Kms trek
Drive 30 km to Sagar. Further 10 km trek to
Panargupha. Overnight in tents.
Day 11: Panargupha-Rudranath( 2286 Mtrs)- 12 Kms Trek
Begin
12 Kms Trek to Rudranath. The trek goes through alpine meadows
and huge dense forests with a panoramic view over the Nanda
Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti peaks. Rudranath is situated
amidst thick woods,Here the'mukh' or the lord's face appeared
and Shiva is worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev. Situated at a
height of 2286 metres all around are fragrant flower laden
meadows where herbs grow in profusion. In the background, in all
their glory , are the glittering snow-capped peaks.Near the
temple is a stream of sparkling water known as Vaitarini - the '
Water of Salavation'.Overnight in tents.
Day 12: Rudranath-Dumak- (2432 Mtrs)- 18 Kms Trek
18
Kms Trek to Dumak. Carry packed lunch. Night halt in tents.
Day 13: Dumak-Kalpeshwar Mahadev( 2250 Mtrs) – 14 Kms
Trek
14 Kms Trek to Urgam/Kalpeshwar Mahadev. Overnight in
tents.
Day 14: Kalpeshwar Mahadev-Helang- Joshimath- 9 Kms trek 12
Kms drive
9 Kms Trek to Helang. Drive 12 Kms Joshimath.
Overnight at the Chardham Camp, Joshimath.
Day 15 - Joshimath – Haridwar. 274kms. (drive 9 –
10 hrs)
After breakfast leave for Haridwar and on the way
take lunch at Srinagar. Restart and if time permits visit
Devprayag (The confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, to
becomes The Ganga). Reach Haridwar & overnight at The Haveli
Hari Ganga.
Day 16- Haridwar- Delhi
Post Breakfast leave for
onward journey.
