Tungnath Temple in Chopta Uttarakhand | History | Hotels & More

Tungnath is one of the most famous temples of Lord Shiva. Located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, this temple is a popular tourist destination for people seeking some adventurous trekking. This article uncovers everything that you must know before planning a visit to the tungnath temple in Uttarakhand. Keep up till the end to discover some of the interesting facts about the temple and how it holds a significant place in Indian history.

History of Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple holds a lot of spiritual significance in Indian mythology. It is believed that during the Dwaparyug, Pandavas fought a war at Kurukshetra, against their cousins, Kauravas and succeeded. After killing all the Kauravas, they move ahead in search of Lord Shiva. They wanted to please Lord Shiva who was already offended by the act of too many deaths at the war.

Pandavas went to Varanasi in search of Lord Shiva but couldn’t find him there. Lord Shiva was disheartened and angered by the act of Pandavas and hence did not want to accept their prayers. Pandavas went to the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand in search of Lord Shiva. To avoid meeting the Pandavas, Shiva turned himself into a bull but ‘Bhima’ somehow recognized him. He tried to catch the bull but it disappeared in the ground. Later its body parts were found scattered at different places on the land.

Major parts of the Lord Shiva’s (bull’s) body were found in 5 different places which later came to be known as the Panch Kedar. His ‘Bahu’ means arms were found in Rudraprayag. Due to this reason, Tungnath temple was built there by the Kauravas.

Tungnath Temple: Height & Structure

Tungnath temple is one of the highest temples of Lord Shiva. It is the highest of all the five temples that were built by the Pandavas as the Panch Kedar. It is built at a height of 3,680 meters above sea level which is equal to 12,073 feet.

Tungnath Temple is surrounded by a lot of beautiful trekking locations and picturesque landscapes. You can plan to visit some of the famous nearby mountain peaks including the Chandrashila peak, Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Neelkanth and Garhwal Valley.

How To Reach Tungnath Temple?

Tungnath Temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of the state of Uttarakhand. You can reach the Tungnath temple through bus, train, car, taxi or airplane, as per your convenience. Devotees and tourists generally trek the distance from Chopta to Tungnath. From chopta it is a 3.5 km trek to the Tungnath temple. People also visit the Chandrashila peak which is again a 1.5 km trek, starting from Tungnath Temple.

The nearest airport to Tungnath temple is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is 260 meters from the temple. From there you can take a taxi or bus to Chopta and trek the rest of the distance.

The nearest railway station to Tungnath temple is in Rishikesh. It is 210 meters from the temple. From the station you can again take a bus or taxi to Chopta and trek the rest of the distance.

Here is the most affordable way to reach the Tungnath temple. Most of the buses run from Rishikesh, so that serves as the connecting point between any metropolitan city and the temple.

How to reach Tungnath from Delhi?

You can take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun and then move ahead to Rishikesh in a train or bus. Another option is a direct train from Delhi to Rishikesh.

How To Reach Tungnath From Haridwar?

If you are starting your journey from Haridwar then you have two options. There are both buses and trains that run from Haridwar to Rishikesh. So you can prefer either of the two options to reach Rishikesh.

How to reach Tungnath from Rishikesh?

After reaching Rishikesh, take a bus to Ukhimath. Since there are no direct buses to Ukhimath, you will have to change the bus at Rudraprayag. After reaching Ukhimath, you can take a shared taxi ride to Chopta and trek the rest of the distance to the temple. There are also horse and pony rides available from Chopta to Tungnath temple at a cost of ₹700 to ₹800.

Tungnath trek distance

Chopta Tungnath Trek: The first trek starts from Chopta to Tungnath which is a 3.5 km trekking route. People generally complete this trek in about 3-4 days but it may vary depending upon the ability and experience of the person in trekking.

Tungnath Chandrashila Trek: Chandrashila is a mountain peak which is located at a distance of 1.5 km from the temple. People generally trek this distance to enjoy scenic beauty and picturesque landscape of the beautiful mountains.

Best Time To Visit Tungnath Temple

1. You can go to the Tungnath temple from April to November.

2. However the best months for the trek are May, June, September and October. 

3. It is advised to not visit the temple during the winter season as heavy snowfall makes the trek challenging and inaccessible.

4. Organizers may even restrict the entry to the temple during winters.

Tungnath Temperature Highlights and Visiting Schedule:

1. In 2024, Tungnath temple was opened on 10th May and it is scheduled to be closed on 4th November.

2. In the month of November the temperature at tungnath can be as high as 13°C and as low as 1°C.

3. Currently the temperature around the temple is about 5°C.

4. It is generally not recommended for beginners to take the Chopta trek during the last months.

Best hotels near Tungnath Temple

Accommodation near the temple is generally very accessible for the people. You can find hotel and lodges starting from a price as low as Rs 500 per day. The area also provide exclusive and luxurious facilities to people with expensive hotels starting at a price of rupees 5000 per day.

Here are some of the best and most affordable hotels near the Tungnath Temple:

Chopta The Mini Switzerland Amar Resort: Pricing starts at ₹2500 per day.

Snow N Shades Resort and Cafe: Pricing starts at ₹1800 per day.

Pine Tree Hotel: Pricing starts at ₹1400

Revery The Tiny House: Pricing starts around ₹3000

Tungnath Temple tour package

There are multiple tour and travel companies that provide a full fledged tour package to Tungnath. You can fill the contact us form and our team will call you to provide all the information related to Tungnath Tour Package.

Distances of Nearby Attractions from Tungnath Temple

Frequently Asked Questions about Tungnath Temple: