Tungnath Temple
Shiva (Tungnath) temple · Tungnath (via Chopta), Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, India
Photo: Varun Shiv Kapur · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Tungnath Temple is a Shiva temple on Chandranath Parvat in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), which manages it, gives its elevation as about 3,680 metres and calls it the highest temple of Shiva and one of the Panch Kedar, the five Kedar shrines of the Garhwal Himalaya.
Pilgrims reach it on foot from Chopta, a meadow halt on the road between Gopeshwar and Ukhimath. The same path continues above the temple to the Chandrashila summit, so the shrine is visited by trekkers as well as devotees.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Tungnath Temple
According to the Panch Kedar tradition retold by the Rudraprayag district administration, the Pandavas sought Shiva's forgiveness after the Kurukshetra war. Shiva avoided them and went underground, and parts of his body are believed to have reappeared at five places. Tungnath is associated with his arms (the district text says hands); Kedarnath with the hump, Rudranath with the face, Madhyamaheshwar with the navel and Kalpeshwar with the hair.
Because it is the highest of the five, devotees who complete the Panch Kedar circuit often regard the climb to Tungnath as one of its most demanding stages. These are matters of faith and are presented here as tradition.
Heritage
History of Tungnath Temple
Reliable dated records of the temple's foundation were not found in the government sources consulted, so no founding date is given here. Tradition credits the Panch Kedar shrines to the Pandavas, which is a belief rather than a documented historical fact.
The temple is today one of the shrines administered by BKTC, a body constituted under a 1939 Act that also manages the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples. The committee's archived site and its current listing both describe Tungnath as part of the Kedarnath tradition.
Architecture and sacred features
The Rudraprayag district administration notes that a stone image of Adi Shankaracharya, about 2.5 feet tall, stands beside the linga in the sanctum, and that a Nanda Devi shrine is located at Tungnath. Detailed architectural studies of the temple were not available among the sources consulted.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is open only part of the year. BKTC publishes opening and closing dates each season (for example, it listed 10 May and 29 October for 2019), and the district administration notes that priests move down to a lower village for the severe winter months. Check the current season's dates with BKTC before travelling (checked October 2026).
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Tungnath Temple
Opening of the temple doors
The temple reopens for the pilgrim season after winter; BKTC announces the date each year.
Closing of the temple doors
Worship at the high shrine pauses for winter and priests move to a lower village, according to the district administration.
Location
How to Reach Tungnath Temple
The roadhead is Chopta, which lies on the Gopeshwar–Ukhimath road. BKTC describes the walk from Chopta to the temple as a trek of roughly 3 to 3.5 km; Uttarakhand Tourism notes that the route continues beyond the temple to Chandrashila peak. The path is steep and at high altitude, so allow extra time.
As listed by BKTC, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (about 223 km from Tungnath) and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh (about 205 km). Buses and taxis run from Rishikesh towards Chopta via Rudraprayag and Ukhimath, according to Uttarakhand Tourism.
Location: Tungnath (via Chopta), Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, India
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
More in Hindu temples in Uttarakhand · Shiva (Tungnath) temples · Temples in Ukhimath Tehsil · Temples in Rudraprayag District
Questions
Tungnath Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Which district is Tungnath Temple in?
Tungnath is in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, according to both BKTC and the Rudraprayag district administration.
How high is Tungnath Temple?
BKTC and the Rudraprayag district website give its elevation as about 3,680 metres above sea level.
Why is Tungnath part of the Panch Kedar?
According to tradition, parts of Shiva's body reappeared at five places after he hid from the Pandavas. Tungnath is associated with his arms.
How long is the trek from Chopta to Tungnath?
BKTC describes it as a trek of roughly 3 to 3.5 km from Chopta. The path is steep and at high altitude.
Is Tungnath open in winter?
No. The temple opens for a season each year and closes for winter; BKTC publishes the dates, so check them before planning a visit.
What is Chandrashila?
Chandrashila is the summit of Chandranath Parvat above the temple. Uttarakhand Tourism places it at about 4,000 m and lists it as a popular trek beyond Tungnath.
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q3630554 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Tungnath — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee — Other Temples – The Temple of Shri Tunganath at Tunganath
- Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee — Tungnath (archived BKTC page)
- District Administration Rudraprayag, Government of Uttarakhand — Temples – District Rudraprayag
- Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board — Chopta
- Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee — Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee – home
Further reading: Tungnath Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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