What is Panch Kedar?
Five Sacred Shiva Temples of Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand
Panch Kedar is a group of five Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. These five shrines mark the spots where different body parts of Lord Shiva appeared after the Pandavas prayed for atonement. Completing all five temples is considered one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimages, believed to grant moksha. The yatra is officially recognised by Uttarakhand Tourism as a major Himalayan pilgrimage circuit.
The yatra season is typically May to November, with most temples closing in winter due to heavy snowfall. Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple accessible year-round. Many pilgrims combine Panch Kedar with the Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar for a complete Uttarakhand pilgrimage.
What is the Best Time for Panch Kedar Trek?
Month-Wise Guide — When to Visit Each Kedar Temple
Best time for Panch Kedar trek is May–June and September–October. May–June offers freshly opened temples, snow-clad trails, and rhododendron blooms. September–October brings post-monsoon clarity with the sharpest Himalayan views. Avoid July–August — heavy monsoon makes mountain trails dangerous and slippery.
The Panch Kedar yatra season runs from May to November. However, not all months are equal — weather, trail conditions, and crowd levels vary significantly. Temple opening and closing dates are announced each year by the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). Here is an honest, experience-based guide from our team who has completed this trek many times.
- All 4 seasonal temples newly open
- Snow on trails adds beauty
- Clear weather, long daylight hours
- Rhododendrons in full bloom
- Ideal for photography & trekking
- Heavy rainfall, slippery trails
- Landslide risk on mountain roads
- Rudranath trail becomes dangerous
- Cloudy skies, no Himalayan views
- Not recommended for Panch Kedar
- Clearest Himalayan views of the year
- Trails dry and safe
- Less crowded than May-June
- Cooler, pleasant temperatures
- Temples close in Oct–Nov
| Temple | Opens | Closes | Trek Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kedarnath | May (Akshaya Tritiya) | Nov (Bhaidooj) | 16 km from Gaurikund |
| Tungnath | May | Nov | 3.5 km from Chopta |
| Rudranath | May | Oct–Nov | 24 km from Sagar |
| Madhyamaheshwar | May | Oct–Nov | 24 km from Ransi |
| Kalpeshwar | Year-Round | Never Closes | 11 km from Urgam |
How Much Does Panch Kedar Package Cost?
18-Day Panch Kedar Trek Tour Package from Haridwar — Pricing Guide
Panch Kedar package from Haridwar starts from ₹35,000 per person for groups of 9 or more (18 Days 17 Nights). Medium groups (5–8 persons) start from ₹38,000 and small groups (2–4 persons) from ₹45,000. Price includes accommodation, all meals, cab transfers, and GST invoice.
Panch Kedar is a longer, more involved yatra than a standard Char Dham — it covers five temples across different valleys, each requiring separate treks. The total package cost depends on group size, accommodation type, and whether you opt for helicopter at Kedarnath.
What is the Panch Kedar Itinerary? — 18-Day Day-by-Day Route
Haridwar → Kedarnath → Tungnath → Rudranath → Madhyamaheshwar → Kalpeshwar → Haridwar
The standard Panch Kedar itinerary is 18 Days 17 Nights from Haridwar. The route covers all 5 temples in sequence: Kedarnath (D1–D4) → Tungnath (D5–D6) → Rudranath (D7–D10) → Madhyamaheshwar (D11–D14) → Kalpeshwar (D15) → return Haridwar (D17–D18). Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar each require 2-day treks due to remote terrain.
Day 1: Haridwar → Guptkashi (250 km · ~8 hrs)
Departure from Haridwar, drive via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag to Guptkashi. Evening Ganga Aarti at Haridwar before departure or at Rishikesh en route. Overnight Guptkashi.
Day 2: Guptkashi → Gaurikund → Trek Starts
Drive to Sonprayag, shared jeep to Gaurikund (1st Kedar base). Begin 16 km trek toward Kedarnath. Night stay at Linchauli or Jungle Chatti camp.
Day 3: Kedarnath Darshan (3,583 m)
Early morning puja at Kedarnath Temple — 1st Kedar. Explore Bhairavnath Temple and Gandhi Sarovar. Overnight stay at Kedarnath.
Day 4: Trek Back → Guptkashi
Descent to Gaurikund via 16 km trek. Drive back to Guptkashi. Rest and overnight stay.
Day 5: Guptkashi → Chopta (70 km · ~3 hrs)
Drive through Ukhimath to Chopta — the base for Tungnath (2nd Kedar). Night stay at Chopta camp/guesthouse.
Day 6: Tungnath Darshan (3,680 m)
3.5 km trek to Tungnath — 2nd Kedar and the highest Shiva temple in the world. Optional extension to Chandrashila peak (4,090 m). Return to Chopta.
Day 7: Chopta → Mandal → Sagar Village
Drive to Sagar village via Gopeshwar — the base camp for Rudranath (3rd Kedar) trek. Overnight Sagar.
Day 8: Rudranath Trek — Day 1
Begin 24 km trek through dense forests and beautiful Panar Bugyal meadows. Overnight at Panar camp.
Day 9: Rudranath Darshan (2,286 m)
Reach Rudranath — 3rd Kedar. Darshan of the stone face of Lord Shiva. Overnight at Rudranath.
Day 10: Return Sagar → Ukhimath
Trek back to Sagar, drive to Ukhimath for overnight rest.
Day 11: Ukhimath → Ransi Village
Drive to Ransi village — the base for Madhyamaheshwar (4th Kedar) trek. Overnight Ransi.
Day 12: Madhyamaheshwar Trek — Day 1
Begin 24 km trek through rhododendron forests to Bantoli camp. Stunning Himalayan panorama en route.
Day 13: Madhyamaheshwar Darshan (3,497 m)
Reach Madhyamaheshwar — 4th Kedar. Darshan of the navel of Lord Shiva. Spectacular views of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and Neelkanth peaks.
Day 14: Return Ransi → Helang/Urgam
Descent back to Ransi, drive to Helang or Urgam village — the base for Kalpeshwar (5th Kedar).
Day 15: Kalpeshwar Darshan (2,200 m)
11 km trek to Kalpeshwar — 5th Kedar and the only Panch Kedar temple open year-round. Darshan of the hair (Jata) of Lord Shiva.
Day 16: Helang → Badrinath (Optional)
Optional visit to Badrinath Temple en route — the 4th Char Dham. Overnight near Badrinath or Chamoli.
Day 17: Badrinath → Haridwar (300 km)
Drive back to Haridwar via Chamoli, Devprayag, Rishikesh. Final blessings at Har Ki Pauri Ganga Aarti.
Day 18: Haridwar Departure
Panch Kedar Yatra complete. Drop at Haridwar railway station / hotel. Jai Kedarnath! Jai Panch Kedar!
What is Included in Panch Kedar Package?
Accommodation, Meals, Transfers & More — Full Inclusion List
Panch Kedar package includes: hotel/guesthouse/camp accommodation throughout, all meals (breakfast + dinner daily), private cab/jeep transfers between all temples, first aid kit, and GST invoice. Not included: trek guide, porter service, temple entry/puja arrangements, helicopter tickets, pony/doli charges, and personal medical expenses.
Which is the Best Panch Kedar Tour Operator in Haridwar?
Registered, Local & Trusted Since 2013 — 4.9 ★ Google Rating, 5,000+ Pilgrims
Tour Venture India is a Haridwar-based, GST-registered pilgrimage tour operator running Panch Kedar packages since 2013. With a 4.9 ★ Google rating from 5,000+ pilgrims, registered with Uttarakhand Tourism Board, and operating own vehicle fleet, they provide end-to-end Panch Kedar Yatra support including trek guides, accommodation, and on-ground emergency assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions — Panch Kedar Yatra
Cost, Duration, Best Time, Trek Difficulty & More
Panch Kedar is a group of 5 sacred Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand — Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. The complete yatra takes 18–22 days from Haridwar and covers all five temples across separate treks. Season runs May to November. It is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages, believed to grant moksha.
- 5 Temples: Kedarnath · Tungnath · Rudranath · Madhyamaheshwar · Kalpeshwar
- Duration: 18 Days 17 Nights from Haridwar (standard)
- Best Time: May–June and September–October
- Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (5 separate treks, longest 24 km)
- Highest Temple: Tungnath at 3,680 m — highest Shiva temple in the world
- Operator: Tour Venture India, Haridwar — GST registered, 4.9 ★ Google rating
- What: Pilgrimage covering 5 Shiva temples — Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar & Kalpeshwar.
- Starting Point: Haridwar, Uttarakhand — the most popular and well-connected gateway.
- Duration: 18 Days 17 Nights (standard); 20–22 Days for extended/relaxed pace.
- Best Time: May–June and September–October.
- Cost: Starting from ₹35,000 per person.
- Operator: Tour Venture India — registered tour operator in Haridwar since 2013, 4.9 ★ Google rating.
- Contact: +91-8057146497 | tourventureindia@gmail.com
This page is written and maintained by the Tour Venture India team — pilgrimage travel specialists based in Haridwar since 2013. All package details, itinerary, trek distances, and travel tips on this page are verified from our on-ground experience guiding pilgrims through all five Kedar shrines.