Know Everything About Tungnath Temple - The World’s Highest Shiva Temple

One of the highest temples of Lord Shiva is situated in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and it is none other than the famous Tungnath Temple. The temple is famous all over Uttarakhand as one of the most prominent Shiva temples. Tungnath Temple is situated very high in the Garhwal Himalayas. Its high altitude location makes it one of the highest Shiva temples in the world. As with so many temples in Uttarakhand, Tungnath Temple also has deep mythological roots. It is a favorite trekking place in Uttarakhand, and its scenic beauty adds to its charm and grandeur. Its deep-rooted religious roots and panoramic landscapes are what make this one of the best temples to visit in Uttarakhand.

Read More : Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra Tour Packages

Meaning of Tungnath

In the local language, Tungnath means Lord of the Peak. It also means God of the Mountains. In some interpretations, Tung means arms, and Nath means Lord Shiva. Thus, Tungnath means the arms of Lord Shiva.

The Highest Panch Kedar Temple in Uttarakhand

Tungnath Temple is one of the Panch Kedar temples in Uttarakhand. Panch means the numerical digit five. It is the highest of all the Panch Kedar temples. Panch Kedar temples are five temples in Uttarakhand, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva. You can explore all these Panch Kedar temples by going on a Panch Kedar trekking tour. If you do not want to trek, then you can book a more comfortable Panch Kedar Tour Package. All five temples in the Panch Kedar temples are shown below.

• Kedarnath
• Madhmaheshwar
• Tungnath
• Rudranath
• Kalpeshwar

Mythological Legends of Tungnath Temple

Almost all the temples in Uttarakhand have some story or mythological legend behind their formation. Tungnath Temple, too, has so many mythological stories that tell of its formation and history. The mythology and legends behind Tungnath Temple are what make it so attractive to tourists and devotees.

The Origins of Tungnath Temple

The real origins of Tungnath Temple are far more interesting than the temple itself. It all starts after the Kurukshetra war has ended and the Pandavas want to pray to the gods and forgive them for the sins of killing their brothers. They went to the Himalayan mountains in search of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva assumed the form of a buffalo and hid from them. But Bhima found the hiding place of Lord Shiva and caught him. But Lord Shiva disappeared again and appeared as different body parts of the bull in different places. These places are called Panch Kedar and the temples in these places are built as temples of Lord Shiva. The limbs of the bull appeared at Tungnath Temple.

Opening Dates of Tungnath Temple in 2023

2023, the opening date of Tungnath Temple is slated to be in the month of May 2023. The Badri Kedar Temple Committee generally declares the Opening and Closing Dates of Tungnath Temple. The temple opens in April or May every year and remains open till Diwali. It closes after Diwali since it is a time when heavy snowfall takes place in high-altitude places in Uttarakhand.

Things to Do at Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple is a spiritual and also trekking place in Uttarakhand. Apart from a religious visit to Tungnath Temple, visitors can do a lot of other things at the temple. Even during their route to Tungnath Temple, there are a lot of exciting activities that you can do.

• Pilgrimage visit: Tungnath Temple is the world’s highest Shiva temple. You can visit the temple during your Char Dham Yatra.
• Trekking: Tungnath is a great trekking destination in Uttarakhand. The Tungnath Trek is a relatively easy trek and even beginners who are new to trekking can undertake this trek. You can have magnificent views of the Garhwal Himalayas during the trek.
• Wildlife watching: You can spot many exotic Indian birds and animals during your trek such as Monal pheasant, musk deer, pika mouse, wild goat, etc.
• Sunrise views: The sunrise views from Chandrashila mountain peak and also from Tungnath Temple are very beautiful. You can see beautiful sunrises from Chopta also, which is the starting point of the Chandrashila Trek.
• Mountain views: From Chandrashila Peak which is just ahead of Tungnath Temple, you can have magnificent views of the famous mountain peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas. Some of the most famous ones are Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Chaukhamba, Kedar Peak, Nanda Devi, Dunagiri, Kamet, Thalaysagar, and others.

Tungnath Temple Trek

The trekking route to Tungnath Temple starts from Chopta. Tungnath Temple first comes on the trekking route, and then comes Chandrashila Peak. Tungnath Temple comes on the route to Chandrashila Peak. You can rest for some time at Tungnath Temple and then start your trek to Chandrashila Peak. It is for this reason that this trek is also called Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila Trek. Tungnath Temple trek is about 3.5 km from Chopta. It takes about 4 to 5 hours of trekking and you can take rest stops in between. Avoid winter months for this trek as there is heavy snowfall in this region and the mountain roads are not good for treks.

Festivals at Tungnath Temple

Mahashivratri is celebrated with great religious zeal at Tungnath Temple. Vasant Panchmi is another festival that is very popular with locals. Devotees from Chopta and neighboring towns and villages have a great deal of devotion to Tungnath Temple. The temple is decorated with flowers and devotees chant prayers and sing bhajans during this festival. Locals perform folk dances and enact various chapters from the Hindu mythological epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. Diwali and Dussehra are also celebrated at Tungnath Temple.

Travel Tips for Tungnath Temple

• You will need to be physically fit to visit Tungnath Temple. The Tungnath Trek is not very difficult, but you should have the physical stamina to trek up to Tungnath Temple.
• During the peak tourist season, you will find mules and porter services for Tungnath Temple.
• Avoid traveling during monsoon and winter seasons, as there are high chances of landslides and snowfall during these times.

The Altitude of Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 3680 meters above sea level.

Location of Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple is in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand and is located below Chandrashila Peak.

Timings of Tungnath Temple

The timings of Tungnath Temple are from 6 am to 7 pm. You can enter Tungnath Temple without paying any entry fees.

Tungnath Temple and Its Connection with the Ramayana

One of the famous stories behind the formation of Tungnath Temple comes from the epic Ramayana. According to the Ramayana, after Lord Ram killed Ravana, he returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya. On his way back, he and Lakshmana sat in deep meditation at Chandrashila Peak, which is close to Tungnath Temple. Chandrashila Peak is named after the Moon-god who is called ‘Chandra’ in Hindu mythology.

Read More: Kedarnath Yatra Tour Packages

The Mythology Connection of Tungnath Temple with the Mahabharata War

The construction and formation of Tungnath Temple comes after the Mahabharata war ends. It is the first time that we come to know about the actual origins of Tungnath Temple. According to Hindu mythology, Arjuna, who was one of the five Pandava brothers, built Tungnath Temple to pray to Lord Shiva and atone for his sins.