Tungnath Temple Uttarakhand
Tungnath Temple Uttarakhand – The Highest Temple in the World
India is a land of spirituality, and you will find a connection between nature and spirituality everywhere. The country is also known to the world for its religion and devotion. People travel miles to visit temples situated on hilly terrain or inside dense forests. Tungnath is a temple located in the lap of the Himalayas. This temple of Lord Shiva is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Thousands of devotees often visit the temple, even though the journey there is not easy.
Besides Lord Shiva devotees, adventure lovers also visit the place to enjoy trekking in the Chopta Valley, Uttarakhand. The journey could be tiring, though true nature lovers will find it refreshing due to the breathtaking views around the trekking route. In the following section, you will find a helpful guide if you plan to visit the Tungnath temple soon.
The History of Tungnath
You can note the Tungate Temple’s reference in the most incredible Indian epic, the Mahabharata. After winning the Battle of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas went to Tungnath temple to obtain Lord Shiva’s blessings. According to the Mahabharata, Lord Shiva wanted to test the patience of the Pandavas by hiding in different places in the Himalayas. The Pandavas had found other parts of Mahadeva’s assistant, Nandi, in five different places. These five places have become the holy temples of Lord Mahadeva. Besides Tungnath, the other four temples are Rudranath, Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar.
How Can You Reach Tungnath Temple?
The Tungnath Mahadev Temple is located in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Travelers have to move towards the Rudraprayag district to visit this temple. Your first destination should be Chopta Valley, where you will find the beginning of the trekking route to this temple.
The temple is located at an elevation of 3470 meters above sea level, and the trekking route will be challenging. It would be best if you climbed high altitude, and the route passes through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Therefore, you will not find human habitats along the route. Travelers should hire professional guides for the trek to Tungnath temple in Uttarakhand.
The best way of reaching Chopta by road is by taking a bus service from Delhi, the capital city of India. You will find multiple private bus operators on this route, and an online ticket booking facility is available through third-party booking applications. The nearest railway station to Chopta is Rishikesh Railway Station, though the rail station is not operational yet. Instead of Rishikesh, tourists can reach Rudraprayag railway station to reach Chopta Valley. Dehradun Airport is the nearest airport to the Chopta Valley.
The Best Time to Visit Tungnath
The time between April and October is the best time to visit Tungnath. However, trekkers and adventure lovers can visit the place anytime. However, you must avoid the monsoon as the overall road condition becomes risky during this season. The time between June and August or mid-September is not appropriate for tourists due to the monsoon.
So, these are the things that you should know about the Tungnath trek before planning your journey. It would help if you had a professional guide for the trekking route and contacted a local tour operator who can help in such cases.