 One
of the best ways of getting a magnificent view of the Garhwal
Himalayas is through the Panch
Kedar trek. Home to the very sacred Badrinath and Kedarnath
shrines, the forests of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,
Valley of Flowers, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Benog Reserve
(Mussoorie) not to mention some of the highest peaks in India,
viz. Nanda Devi (7817m), Trishul (7120m) and Chaukhamba (7138m),
the Garhwal Himalayas is also the source of the great Ganga
and Yamuna rivers- rivers that practically water the whole
of the Northern India belt.
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
- Kedarnath (3584 m) - At Kedarnath, 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.
ITINERARY ONE:
 Rishikesh - Gaurikund - Kedarnath -
Madhmaheshwar - Gaundhar - Jagasu -
Tungnath - Panargupha -
Rudranath - Dumuk -
Kalpeshwar - Helang - Rishikesh
Day 1: Delhi-Rishikesh
Leave Delhi for Rishikesh (230 km) and halt.
Day 2: Rishikesh-Gaurikund
After Breakfast drive to Gaurikund (209 km). Overnight at Gaurikund
Day 3: Gaurikund-Kedarnath
Begin 14 Kms Trek to Kedarnath. Lunch enroute at Rambara . Overnight at Kedarnath - 3581 m.
Day 4: Kedarnath-Gaurikund-
Guptkashi
14 Kms trek to Gaurikund. Drive some 40 kms to Guptkashi situated at an elevation of 1319 mts and if possible visit the Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet. Overnight at Guptkashi.
 Day 5: Guptkashi-Gaundhar
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 6: Gaundhar-Madhmaheshwar
10 Kms Trek to Madhmaheshwar through wild unparalleled scenic beauty, engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Overnight in tents
Day 7: Madhmaheshwar-Gaundhar
10 km return trek to Gaundhar Overnight in tents.
Day 8: Gaundhar-Ukhimath
12 km Trek to Jagasu and from there 16 km drive to Ukhimath. Night stay at Ukhimath.
Day 9: Ukhimath-Chopta-Tungnath
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 tents.
 Day 10: Chopta-Panargupha
Drive 30 km to Sagar. Further 10 km trek to Panargupha. Overnight in tents.
Day 11: Panargupha-Rudranath
Begin 12 Kms Trek to Rudranath. The trek passes through wild orchards & picturesque bugyals and invloves trekking over high ridges. Overnight in tents.
Day 12: Rudranath-Dumak
18 Kms Trek to Dumak with packed lunch. Nighthalt in tents.
Day 13: Dumak-Kalpeshwar Mahadev
14 Kms Trek to Urgam/Kalpeshwar Mahadev. Overnight in tents.
Day 14: Kalpeshwar Mahadev-Karnprayag
9 Kms Trek to Helang. Drive 70 Kms to Karnprayag. Lunch enroute. Halt at Karnprayag.
Day 15: Karnprayag-Rishikesh
Drive to Rishikesh. Lunch enroute. Overnight at Rishikesh.
Day 16: Rishikesh-Delhi
Sight seeing in Rishikesh. Leave for Delhi in the evening..
ITINERARY TWO:
Hardwar- Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Madhmaheshwar - Gaundhar - Jagasu - Tungnath - Panargupha - Rudranath - Dumuk - Kalpeshwar - Helang - Hardwar
Day 1: Arrive at Hardwar
Leave Delhi for Hardwar. Visit Chandi Devi temple, Mercury Shivlinga, Daksh temple and watch the 'Aarti' (holy ceremony) performance at the river 'Ghat' at sunset. Stay overnight
Day 2: Hardwar to Gaurikund (239 Kms.)
7 hour drive to Gaurikund via Rudraprayag. Check in Hotel.
Day 3: Gaurikund to Kedarnath
After breakfast, begin 14 kms Trek / 6 Hr trek to Kedarnath
Day 4: Kedarnath to Guptkashi 54 kms / 6 Hr
After breakfast trek down 14kms to Gaurikund and after lunch drive to Guptkashi (40 kms). Dinner and overnight in Hotel / Camps.
Day 5: Guptkashi to Gaundhar
17 Kms/6 hr Trek to Gaundhar- the confluence of Madhmaheshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga and the last settlement before one reaches Madhmaheshwa. Overnight in tents.
Day 6: Gaundhar to Madhmaheshwar
10 kms / 5 Hr trek to Madhmaheshwar through wild unparalleled scenic beauty, engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Overnight in tents
Day 7: Madhmaheshwar to Gaundharl
10 km/5 hr return trek to Gaundhar. Overnight in tents.
Day 8: Gaundhar to Ukhimath (6 Hr)
12 km trek to Jagasu and from there 16 km drive to Ukhimath. Night stay at Ukhimath.
Day 9: Ukhimath - Tungnath - Chopta
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 tents.
Day 10: Chopta - Panargupha
Drive 30 km to Sagar. Further 10 km trek to Panargupha. Overnight in tents.
Day 11: Panargupha to Rudranath
Begin 12 Kms/6 hr trek to Rudranath. The trek passes through wild orchards & picturesque bugyals and involves trekking over high ridges. Overnight in tents.
Day 12: Rudranath to Dumuk
18 kms / 8 Hrtrek to Dumak with packed lunch. Night out in tents.
Day 13: Dumuk to Kapeshwar Mahaddev
14 kms / 7 Hrtrek to Urgam/Kalpeshwar Mahadev. Overnight in tents.
Day 14: Kalpeshwar Mahadev to Rudraprayag
9 kms trek to Helang and then drive to Rudraprayag. Check in Hotel / Resort.
Day 15: Rudraprayag to Hardwar
160 kms / 6Hr d rive to Hardwar via Srinagar, Devprayag and Rishikesh. Check in Hotel and rest.
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