In the wondrous world of Uttarakhand's Panch Kedars

Uttarakhand, fondly known as Devbhoomi (the Abode of Gods), fits its famous name. It is home to the famous Char Dhams, and a host of temples that are revered by the followers of Hindus. Devotees from all over the world flock to the state, year round. Look closer, the local culture here is steeped in rituals, traditions and folklore. The state also finds an important place in Hindu mythology and is a place that legends are made of. Panch Kedars, are another such treasure of Uttarakhand, five temples dedicated to Hindu deity, Shiva, spread in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Legends link these temple to the famous epic, Mahabharata, who were searching for Shiva, who eluded them for very long. It is believed that he later appeared, in five different parts, in different regions of Garhwal. Pandavas, built these five temples, the Panch Kedars, to celebrate and worship Shiva.

If this has you intrigued, here is a closer look at the Panch Kedars.

One of the most-visited and revered shrines for the Hindus, Kedarnarth is also a major stop for those on the Panch Kedar trail. It stands tall at an altitude of 3583 m in the Himalayas and legends, again, believe that it was built by the Pandava brothers. Legends say that Kedarnath is the site where Shiva's hump appeared.

It lies at just 223 km from Rishikesh, a hill town that is regarded as the Yoga Capital of the World. The surrounding region was severely hit by the devastating flashfloods of 2013.

Rudranath is regarded as the third temple, after Kedarnath and Tungnath, that one should visit in the correct order on a tour of the Panch Kedars. It stands in an alluring forest that is full of rhododendrons. The locals believe that the area is guarded by Vandevi, the Forest Goddess; thus she is worshipped here first.

It is believed to be the site where the face of Shiva showed up; it is revered as Nilkantha Mahadeva here. The trek to it starts from a village named Sagar that is nestled at around 3 km from Gopeshwar. It is believed to be quite an arduous trek; nonetheless, devout believers of Shiva visit it every year.

Tungath is one of the highest Shiva temples in the world, and is the highest of the Panch Kedars. It is believed to be the place where Shiva's arms fell; another legend link it to Rama. Legends say that Rama meditated at the Chandrashila peak, which lies close to Tungnath. Trekkers and pilgrims usually cover both the sites in one go. It comes third in the order of visiting Panch Kedars.

Madhyamaheshwar is set in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand's Garhwal at a height of 3497 m, in a village named Goundar. This is where the middle part, or the belly, of Shiva is worshipped. It is set in the mid of a lush meadow, with the Chaukhamba peaks standing at the horizon. The temple houses a navel-shaped Shivalingam in the sanctum.

Kalpeshwar is believed to be the site where Shiva's head appeared as the Pandavas went searching for him. It stands at 2200 m in the Himalayas in the Urgam Valley and is a sight to behold. It falls last in the order if you are visiting the Panch Kedars. This is also the only temple that can be visited all through the year, as the others shut down in the peak of winters every year.

Shiva is worshipped as Jatadhar or Jateshwar here. It has a road head leading till 300 m from the main temple now; previously, the temple was accessible only via a 12 km trek.