Tungnath

At around 3,680 metres, Tungnath is believed to be the highest Shiva temple in the world, and the loftiest of the Panch Kedar — the five sacred Shiva shrines of the Garhwal Himalaya. Legend ties it to the Pandavas, who are said to have built these temples to seek Shiva's forgiveness after the great war of the Mahabharata; here, it is the god's arms (bahu) that are worshipped. The stone temple is over a thousand years old and reopens each year when the snows recede.

The trek to Tungnath begins at Chopta, a tiny cluster of meadows and forest so lovely it has earned the nickname 'mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand'. A well-graded path of about three and a half kilometres climbs through alpine pasture and rhododendron to the temple, gaining height steadily but rewarding walkers of moderate fitness.

From the shrine a short, steeper push leads to the summit of Chandrashila at around 4,000 metres, where a breathtaking 360-degree panorama unfolds — Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and the great wall of the Garhwal Himalaya laid out in every direction. Catching this view at sunrise, with the peaks glowing pink above a sea of cloud, is one of the most cherished experiences in all of Uttarakhand.

April–June and September–November. Chopta is a snowy winter destination; the temple closes in deep winter.