Tungnath Temple Trek – History and Complete Travel Guide

Uttarakhand is home to five Kedarnath temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as the Panch Kedar. The third of these is the Tungnath Temple. This temple was built thousands of years ago by the Pandavas during the Mahabharata period. Tungnath Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, nestled in the Himalayan mountains between the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.

Being a Shiva temple, it is also known as Tungnath Mahadev. If you want a mix of adventure and religious pilgrimage, you should definitely visit the Tungnath Mahadev Temple. Above the Tungnath Temple is the famous Chandrashila Hill, associated with Lord Rama.

Today, we will tell you where the Tungnath Temple is, how to get there, the secrets of the Tungnath Temple, and other information. In this article, you will learn everything from the Tungnath trek to the temple's history, story, journey, structure, and significance. Let's begin.

Tungnath Temple

Tungnath is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is very difficult to climb. This is because it requires a steep climb, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Kedarnath is very famous among devotees, but after Kedarnath, Tungnath Temple is mentioned among the Panch Kedars.

Every year, thousands and lakhs of devotees trek to reach Tungnath Temple. Although the temple is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall, devotees continue to visit. The beauty of the temple is difficult to describe in words. It can only be experienced by visiting it. So, let's learn everything about Tungnath Temple.

History of Tungnath Temple

The story of Tungnath Temple is primarily linked to the Mahabharata period. After the fierce battle of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas decided to appease Lord Shiva to atone for the sin of killing their own clan and Brahmins. They then searched for Lord Shiva from Kashi to Kedarnath, but could not find him.

Lord Shiva was extremely angry with all the Pandavas. To hide from them, he took the form of a bull and attempted to disappear into the earth. However, Bhima spotted him and caught the bull from behind. The bull's hindquarters remained there, while the remaining four parts appeared at four other locations, which we call Panch Kedar.

When Bhima caught Mahadev's bull form, his arms appeared here. The bull's hindquarters remained at Kedarnath, while the other three parts appeared: the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar, and the matted locks at Kalpeshwar. At these five locations, the Pandavas built temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and installed Shivalingas. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva absolved them of their sins.

Where is the Tungnath Temple located?

The Tungnath Mahadev Temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of the state of Uttarakhand. Beyond Ukhimath is a village called Chopta. Near this village is a hill called Tungnath. Chopta village can be reached by various means. From there, one can climb Tungnath Hill to reach the Tungnath Temple.

Chopta village is at an altitude of approximately 3,470 meters (11,385 feet) above sea level. The Tungnath Temple is located 3 to 4 kilometers from here. The Tungnath Temple is at an altitude of 3,680 meters (12,073 feet) above sea level. It usually takes 2 to 3 hours to reach Tungnath from Chopta.

Three waterfalls originate from Tungnath Hill, which form the Akshakamini River. This hill is located between the famous Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. This 3-4 kilometer route is extremely difficult, as it involves a nearly vertical climb. Many pilgrims give up early and turn back.

Tungnath Trek

You can only reach Chopta village by private or public transport, so the rest of the journey must be made on foot. The trek to Tungnath Temple is not too difficult, as it has been leveled by cutting through rocks and stones, but there are steep climbs in some places.

The trek to Tungnath Temple will not be too difficult. Even if you walk intermittently, it will take a maximum of 3 hours. The most attractive feature of the Tungnath Trek is the breathtaking scenery.

On the way to Tungnath Temple, you will pass through bamboo and rhododendron forests. These forests begin as soon as you reach Chopta from Gopeshwar. Here, you will see the Himalayan mountains, cool air, a variety of flowers, and velvety grass.

View around Tungnath Temple

When you travel to Chopta by bus or taxi, the area is called the Bugyal region in the local language. A Bugyal is a velvety meadow nestled between trees and snow. It lies at the timberline in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. This line marks the point where the numerous trees end and the velvety grass begins. In a way, it's the place between the trees and the snow where the velvety grass grows.

In winter, this grass is covered in snow, making it even more beautiful. You'll also find colorful flowers here, adding to the captivating scenery. Chopta village is a picturesque village surrounded by pine and alpine trees. Climbing one and a half kilometers from the Tungnath Temple, you can reach the top of Chandrashila Hill, from where you can see a stunning view of the Himalayan mountain ranges.

Triyuginarayan Temple Distance 

Starting Point	Distance to Triyuginarayan	Route / Via	Mode Options	Approx. Travel Time
Delhi	~420 km	Delhi → Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Road (Car/Bus), Train (to Haridwar/Rishikesh) + Taxi, Flight (to Dehradun) + Road	12–13 hrs by road
Dehradun	~260 km	Dehradun → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Taxi, Bus, Private Car	9–10 hrs
Haridwar	~240 km	Haridwar → Rishikesh → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Bus, Taxi, Car	8–9 hrs
Rishikesh	~210 km	Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Bus, Shared Taxi, Car	7–8 hrs
Rudraprayag	~90 km	Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Taxi, Car	3–4 hrs
Guptkashi	~45 km	Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Triyuginarayan	Taxi, Car	1.5–2 hrs
Sonprayag	12 km road + 5 km trek	Direct route to Triyuginarayan	Shared Jeep/Taxi + Trek	30–40 mins (road) + 1.5 hrs (trek)
Kedarnath	~25 km (via Gaurikund & Sonprayag)	Kedarnath → Gaurikund → Sonprayag → Triyuginarayan	Trek + Jeep + Road	3–4 hrs
Ghaziabad	~390 km	Ghaziabad → Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag	Car, Bus, Train (to Haridwar) + Road	11–12 hrs
Chennai	~2,250 km (multi-mode)	Chennai → Delhi/Dehradun (Flight) → Rishikesh → Sonprayag → Triyuginarayan	Flight + Road	3 hrs (flight) + 12–13 hrs (road)
Nearest Airport (Dehradun)	~225 km	Jolly Grant Airport → Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Sonprayag	Taxi, Bus, Private Car	8–9 hrs
Nearest Railway Station (Rishikesh)	~210 km	Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Sonprayag	Taxi, Bus	7–8 hrs