Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is the land of gods and home to the revered ‘paanch kedars’. The tranquil Tungnath Mandir is among the 5 Kedars. The temple is located in Rudraprayag District and is at an altitude of 3680 m. The beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is extremely important for Hindu Pilgrims and Devotees. The temple is nestled in the Tungnath mountains and is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Owing to its location, this Mandir offers panoramic views of snow-capped mountains. A sacred temple for devotees, the Tungnath Mandir is linked to the legend of Pandavas.
All You Need To Know About The Tungnath Mandir
The sacred Tungnath Mandir in Rudraprayag district is significant to Hindu devotees. Here is everything you need to know about the Tungnath Mandir.
1. Legend Of Tungnath Mandir
The Tungnath mandir in the Rudraprayag district is linked to the legend of the Pandavas. According to Indian Mythology, Lord Shiva resides in the mountains of the Himalayas. The legend is that the Pandavas emerged victorious after killing their cousins when the Mahabharat was fought. They were repenting their sins for the Kurukshetra war and sought Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva hid himself from the Pandavas in the Garwhal Region and took the form of a bull. The Pandavas spotted the bull and realised it was Lord Shiva, who dissolved in the earth. And Shiva’s body parts appeared in 5 different parts. It is said that the hump appeared in Kedarnath, the face showed in Rudranath, the hair in Kalpeshwar, the stomach at Madhyamaheshwar and finally, the arms showed up in Tunghnath.
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2. How To Reach
The Tungnath Mandir is located at a height of 3680 m. The devotees and pilgrims trek for 5 kilometres from Chopta. Chopta is well connected by road. Cars, taxis, and buses operate from the cities of Uttarakhand to Chopta. The Chopta region is also accessible by air and rail. The airport near Chopta is the Jollygrant Airport in Dehradun, and the nearest train station close to Chopta is Rishikesh. Devotees are required to trek from Chopta, and the climb is steep. The trek is only 5 kilometres and can be done by untrained and trained people. The trek boasts beautiful scenic views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains and happens during April and September. The trek to the Mandir is a panoramic one. The trek is part of a 5 Kedar circuit trek. The circuit includes Kalpanath, Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Rudranath and Tungnath.
3. Best Time To Visit
The beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is extremely important for Hindu Pilgrims and Devotees. The temple is nestled in the scenic and tranquil Tungnath mountains. A sacred temple for devotees, the Mandir is linked to the legend of Pandavas. The highest of the Shiva Mandirs, the Tungnath Mandir, is situated in the Rudraprayag district and is at an elevation of 3680 m. The weather conditions in summer are suitable for visiting the Mandir. The temperature during summer generally does not go above 20 degrees Celsius and is pleasantly cold. Therefore, trekking to the Mandir mostly happens during the warmer summer. The Tungnath temple is inaccessible in winter when it is engulfed in snow. Thus, the best time to visit the Tungnath Mandir is April to September.
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4. Things To Do In Tungnath Mandir
Devotees from all around embark on the trek for the Tungnath Mandir to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The trek to the mandir is difficult as the mountain is steep. However, the trek is a scenic one. The soaring Himalayan mountains add to the panoramic views offered at Tungnath Mandir. The other places that tourists can go to include Chopta Valley. The Chopta Valley is famous because of its trekking routes. The Chopta Valley is perfect for nature enthusiasts and trekking enthusiasts as the trekking routes are very picturesque and have various difficulty levels. The mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand, Chopta, is picturesque and serene. Devotees can also trek further from the Tungnath Mandir and visit the Chandrashila Peak, located at 3690 m. The Chandrashila peak is famous because it is believed that Lord Rama meditated here after defeating Ravana.
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The land of Gods, Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, is home to the revered 5 Kedars. The renowned Tungnath Mandir is nestled in the beautiful Rudrapryag District. The revered temple can be accessed by a trek from Chopta Valley. The weather conditions in summer are suitable for visiting the Mandir. The temperature during summer generally does not go above 20 degrees Celsius and is pleasantly cold. Plan your trip to Uttarakhand to embark on a spiritual journey like never before.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tungnath Mandir
Is Tungnath Mandir higher than Kedarnath?
The Tungnath Mandir is in the Rudraprayag District and is at an altitude of 3680 m. It is believed that the arm of Lord Shiva, who had taken the form of a bull, fell at Tungnath. Located at a higher elevation than Kedarnath, it is renowned for being the highest Shiva temple. Kedarnath, where the hump of Lord Shivas Bull avatar had fallen, is at an altitude of 3583 m. So, yes, Tungnath is higher than Kedarnath at 3680 m.
How difficult is the Tungnath trek?
Tungnath Mandir is at an altitude of 3680 and is the highest Shiva Temple in Uttarakhand. Devotees are required to trek from Chopta to Tungnath Mandir, which is of moderate difficulty. The trek is only 5 kilometres and can be done by untrained and trained people. The trek boasts beautiful scenic views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains. It happens during April and September.
What are the must-packed things for Tungnath mandir?
People visiting the Tungnath Mandir are advised to pack essentials like first-aid boxes, and trekking tools. Appropriate warm clothing should also be packed because the temperature becomes chilly during the day. Although the trek to the Mandir is 5 kilometres, it is still advisable to pack essential items like water purification systems and sleeping bags.
What is special about the Tungnath mandir?
The Tungnath mandir in the Rudraprayag district is linked to the legend of the Pandavas. The temple is at a higher altitude than Kedarnath. Tungnath Mandir is at an altitude of 3680 and is the highest Shiva Temple in the world. Devotees must trek from Chopta to the Mandir, which is moderately difficult. The trek is 5 kilometres long and can be done by untrained and trained people. Owing to its location, Tungnath Mandir offers panoramic views of snow-capped mountains. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is of extreme importance for Hindu Pilgrims and Devotees.
Which is a more difficult trek, Kedarnath or Tungnath?
The Tungnath Mandir is in the Rudraprayag District and is at an altitude of 3680 m. while Kedarnath is at an altitude of 3583 m. The Tungnath Trek is 5 kilometres, while the Kedarnath Trek is a 14-kilometre trek. Owing to its trekking distance, the Kedarnath trek is difficult and takes longer than the trek to the Mandir. The trek to Tungnath takes around 4 hours while the trek to Kedarnath takes 6-7 hours because of its distance.
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