Tungnath Mahadev Yatra:
India is home to many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, there are some that are considered special because of their importance, Tungnath is one such temple.
Tungnath is one such temple, situated amidst the majestic mountains of Tungnath, and is famous for being one of the highest Shiva temples in the world and the highest Panch Kedar temple in Uttarakhand.
It is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the order of the Panch Kedars. Tungnath is situated at an altitude of 3,680 meters above sea level and is believed to be over 1,000 years old.
The unprecedented Himalayan view from the meadows at Tungnath temple is leave anyone is awe. The natural beauty comes to its full glory at Tungnath temple.
The Tungnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is believed to be more than 1000 years old. The architecture of the main temple is similar to the architecture of the Kedarnath temple. Several small temples are also built around the Tungnath temple built in North Indian style.
After entering the temple, the idol of Lord Shiva’s vehicle river remains first. The Shiva lingam of Lord Shiva located in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made of black stone. Apart from this, the image of Lord Ganesha is engraved on the right side of the entrance of the temple. Statues made of Vyas Rishi, Kaal Bhairava and Ashta Metal have also been installed in the temple premises.
Story behind Tungnath Mahadev Temple:
According to mythology, both Shiva and his consort Parvati reside in the Himalayas. The Tungnath temple is actually associated with the Panch Kedar temples that were built by the Pandavas.
Sage Vyasa is believed to have advised the Pandavas that their sin of killing their own cousins the Kauravas during the war of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra could be forgiven only if they worshiped Lord Shiva and appeased him. And, on the advice they went in search of Lord Shiva who was trying to escape from the Pandavas as he was convinced of the guilt of the Pandavas.
To prevent the Pandavas from finding him, Lord Shiva took refuge in Guptkashi and took the form of a bull and began to sink into the earth, but then Bhima saw him and caught hold of the bull from behind. Then the rear part of that bull remained the same and the remaining four parts came out at four other places, where the Pandavas built a temple of Lord Shiva to seek forgiveness for their sin.
When Bhima caught the bull form of Mahadev then his arms appeared in Tungnath. The rear part (hump) of the bull was left at Kedarnath while the other three parts, the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar and the hair at Kalpeshwar.
Facts also say that Lord Rama meditated on the Chandrashila peak in the vicinity of Tungnath. Also, it is also believed that Ravana, the king of Lanka, did penance to Lord Shiva when he was residing there.
Mysteries of Tungnath Mahadev:
1. The temple was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya and now the priest of this temple is a local Brahmin of Makku village.
2. The temple is opened only for 6 months during the year and rest of the time the symbolic idol of Lord Shiva in Tungnath is moved to Mukkumath, which is 19 kms away from Tungnath.
3. It is believed that King Ravana performed penance here when Lord Shiva stayed here with his wife Parvati.
4. It is said that after killing Lankapati Ravana, Ramchandra meditated on Chandrashila, one and a half kilometer away from Tungnath. Ramchandra had spent some time here. Chandrashila is situated at a height of fourteen thousand feet. Wherever you go, you get to see amazing views.
What to see in Tungnath Mahadev?
1. Chopta:
Chopta, a small hamlet located in Uttarakhand, is a trekker's heaven. The base camp of treks like Tugnanath, Deoria Tal and Chandrashila, Chopta is an ideal destination for intermediate trekkers to go on a guided trek and brush up their skills. Chopta promises a life-altering expansion of your boundaries.
The third temple of Panch Kedar is located in Tugnanath, around 3.5 km away from Chopta. Camping in the open grassy meadows of Chopta that slopes on softly, among alpine, pine, deodar and rhododendron trees is soul-fulfilling. The snow-covered peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhambha dominate the panoramic views seen in Chopta.
2. Chandrashila Trek:
Perched at an astounding altitude of over 4000 mts above sea level, Chandrashila offers a panoramic 360 degree view of the some of the very majestic Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba and Kedar Peak.
A wide variety of landscapes, dense rhododendron forest, highest temple of Lord Shiva,Tungnath Temple and panoramic views of the Himalayan range from Chandrashila are key highlights of this trek.
3. Kanchula Kharak Musk Deer Sanctuary:
The Kanchula Korak Deer Musk Sanctuary houses the famous Musk Deer and more importantly, and abundance of lush green vegetation, a lot of varieties of which are claimed by locals to have not even been scientifically classified yet.
Sprawled over an area of 5 sq. km, you can spend a larger bit of your day here, lazing around with a pair of binoculars to explore the place.
4. Rohini Bugyal:
Rohini Bugyal is a tranquil meadow hidden within Chopta Valley’s dense forest. The breathtaking views of the Garhwal Himalayas, including Kedarnath Peak, Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Thaly Sagar, Kedar Dome, and others, can be seen from Rohini Bugyal.
During the months of March and April, the hiking path to Rohini Bugyal is shielded by a crimson carpet of Rhododendron owners. This is one of the quietest campsites you’ll ever visit, and the best sounds you’ll hear are countless birds chirping and clear streams flowing through the mountains.
5. Sari Village:
The Sari village located at an altitude of 2000mts in Ukhimath Block of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. The 3-km link road reaches you to the Sari Village from Tala, which is on the Ukhimath -Chopta road. Sari village is about to 20km before Chopta Hill Station. This Village is the base site for, who want to visit the beautiful Deoria Tal lake and one can reach Deoriyatal by 2.5km trek.
This beautiful village is surrounded by farm field from 3 sides and the fourth side with Oke and rhododendrons trees. You can find beautiful Rhododendron trees full of flowers on the trek to Deoria Tal and at Deoria Tal during spring.
Sari Village is a declared eco-tourist village by Uttarakhand government in 2006. And it has more than 10+ small hotels and home Stay here in Sari village.
6. Dugalbitta:
Cocooned in the fascinated land of Chopta, Dugalbitta or Duggalbitta is a small hamlet which is an halt for travelers coming to Chopta or visiting Char Dham. It is situated at an astonishing height of 2600 meters and recently turned itself into a perfect getaway for the travelers.
Dugalbitta is a part of Kedarnath Wildlife sanctuary and is a treasure of nature in itself. The location is situated on side of road connecting Gopeshwar and Guptkashi towns.
Duggal Bitta means space or location between two mountains. And the location of Duggalbitta is exactly the same surrounded two mountains and providing the perfect hamlet for birds, streams and meadows.
How to reach Tungnath Mahadev?
Tungnath Temple is located at a trekking distance of 3.5 km from Chopta and comes under the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Chandrashilla peak is further 1.5 km ahead of the temple.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Bhaniawala, Dehradun, 41 km from Haridwar. After reaching Haridwar, you need to carry the rest of the journey by road only. Haridwar to Chopta is about 225 km by road.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is at Haridwar/Rishikesh. After reaching Haridwar/Rishikesh you need to carry the rest of the journey by road only. Haridwar/Rishikesh to Chopta is about 225 km by road.
By Road:
Buses are available from Rishikesh and Dehradun to Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. From here you can hire a taxi to reach Chopta, from where Tungnath is a 3.5 km trek. If you are planning to drive then you can reach Rudraprayag from Rishikesh via National Highway 58 and then take National Highway 109. After this you have to take a right turn for Ukhimath. Chopta used to come before Ukhimath by the same route.
Best time to visit:
April to November is the best time to visit Tungnath. During summers the town is in full bloom, and the air is fresh and crisp. The peaks are covered with a lush green cover of pine deodar and rhododendrons.
During monsoon, the place becomes prone to landslides, so it is recommended to be avoided.
While the winters are a big no, as Tungnath is covered with a thick blanket of snow until early March.
