Shri Tungnath Temple
Above Chopta, on Chandranath (Chandrashila) parbat, Rudraprayag district, Garhwal Himalaya · Lord Shiva as Tungnath, worshipped as the arms (bahu) of Shiva in his bull form
The highest Shiva temple in the world, at about 3,680 m – a short but steep walk from the Chopta meadows, and the third of the Panch Kedar.
Tungnath is a small stone temple on the shoulder of the Chandrashila peak, at about 3,680 m (the figure given by BKTC), and is commonly described as the highest Shiva temple in the world. It is the third of the Panch Kedar: here Shiva's arms are said to have appeared after he vanished into the earth as a bull. The temple is reached by a paved footpath of about 3–3.5 km from Chopta on the Ukhimath–Gopeshwar road. It is open only from about late April/May to early November; in winter the deity is worshipped at the Markandeya (Markateshwar) temple at Makkumath.
Timings
- Season: Usually late April/May to early November. Opening and closing dates are fixed every year by panchang and announced by BKTC; the closing date is usually announced on Vijayadashami at Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath.
- Temple hours (season): approx. 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM; confirm at Chopta
- Morning aarti: approx. 6:00 – 7:00 AM
- Evening aarti: approx. 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- Winter seat: Markandeya (Markateshwar) temple, Makkumath (approx. Nov – Apr)
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Rudrabhishek / abhishek by the temple priest – Varies – ask the priest or BKTC staff at the temple (no published rate found) (Mornings during the open season)
- Archana and aarti offering – Varies (small dakshina) (During darshan hours)
- Doli Yatra and Kapat Udghatan (opening) – Free to attend (Spring (late April/May) – date announced by BKTC)
- Kapat Bandh (closing) and doli to Makkumath – Free to attend (Early November (6 November in 2025, 11:30 AM))
How to book darshan
No booking is needed for darshan. Pujas are arranged at the temple. Char Dham registration is not required for Tungnath alone, but stays at Chopta fill up on weekends in May–June and October.
BKTC (Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee)
Dress code
No formal code. Wear warm, windproof layers and proper walking shoes; it can be near freezing even in May and October.
Best time to visit
May–June and mid-September to the closing in early November, in clear weather. July–August is monsoon: slippery path, cloud and landslides on the approach roads. In winter the temple is closed and the path is under snow.
How to reach
- air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun – about 225–260 km by road (Wikipedia gives 258 km).
- rail: Rishikesh (about 210–240 km) or Haridwar.
- road: Chopta lies on the Ukhimath–Gopeshwar road, approx. 30 km from Ukhimath and approx. 40 km from Gopeshwar. Shared jeeps run to Ukhimath and Gopeshwar; to Chopta itself they are infrequent, so most visitors hire a taxi.
Festivals
- Kapat Udghatan (opening) – Late April/May
- Shravan month – Jul–Aug
- Kapat Bandh (closing) – Early November