Tungnath Temple is one of the highest Shiva temples in the world and the highest of Panch Kedar temples in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag. Tungnath (means: Lord of the peaks) stretches form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. It is situated at an altitude of 3,680 m and is just below the Chandrashila peak. The temple is believed to be about a 1000 years old and is the third in the Panch Kedar.
Other than a religious destination, Tungnath is a famous trekking destination. The 4 km (2.5 mi) trek starts from Chopta, the nearest place connected via a motorable road. Chopta is about 63 km from Rudraprayag towards Karnaprayag and can be reached from Rishikesh through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
The temple is beckoned by the famous legends of the Pandavas and Lord Shiva. It states that sage Vyas Rishi advised the Pandavas to seek Lord Shiva’s forgiveness for their deeds in the Mahabharata. Hence the Pandavas went in search of Shiva who avoided them. To keep them away, Shiva took the form of a bull and went into hiding underground. Later Shiva’s body emerged in five different locations.
It is the highest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the Panch Kedar. Visited by thousands of pilgrims, Tungnath is also a great trek site for many adventure enthusiasts.
Dussehra and Diwali are celebrated here with great enthusiasm.