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

Destination : Rishikesh - Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Madhmaheshwar - Gaundhar - Jagasu - Tungnath - Panargupha - Rudranath - Dumuk - Kalpeshwar - Helang - Rishikesh

Duration : 16 Days

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

Destination : Hardwar- Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Madhmaheshwar - Gaundhar - Jagasu - Tungnath - Panargupha - Rudranath - Dumuk - Kalpeshwar - Helang - Hardwar

Duration : 15 Days

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.