The Kedarnath Temple, surrounded by the snowy ranges in the holy Garhwal Himalayas, is one of most sacred Hindu shrines committed to Lord Shiva, the Perpetuator of Truth. It is of utmost importance due to its presence as one of the sites in the Chota Char Dham (Four Sites) pilgrimage circuit. Located in the Uttarkashi district in the Uttarakhand state of India near the Mandakini River, this temple is enshrined with one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Lingas of Light, known to be the phallic form of Lord Shiva.
Built in the 8th century by Jagat Guru, Shri Adi Shankaracharya, the Kedarnath temple is only open for worship from April to November due to harsh weather in the remaining time of winter in the year. After closure, the head priest (Rawal) who moves towards Ukhimath at 60 km to worship Kedareshwara, Lord of the Kedar Khand (current region).
Legend
Many legends are associated with the temple. According to the narrative Puranas, the older temple here was there since the era of Mahabharata during which the Pandavas must have delighted Shiva through their penance in Kedarnath.
According to other legends, the two manifestations of Lord Vishnu (the Perpetuator of Life) known as Nara and Narayana underwent ardent penance in front of an emerged lingam from Earth in Badrinath. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva asked them for a boon because of which he was asked to permanently reside as a Jyotirlinga to destroy people’s tensions.
It is also said that Lord Shiva’ divine consort – Mata Parvati, worshipped Lord Shiva.
The Temple
To reach the Kedarnath Temple, you need to trek 18 km uphill from Gaurikund. The temple is an imposing stone edifice wherein at its entrance, you can see the statues of five Pandavas, Lord Krishna (incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Nandi (holy vehicle of Lord Shiva), and Virbhadra – the guard of Lord Shiva in the first hall. The hall’s walls exhibit pictures of many deities and Hindu mythology scenes. The inner sanctum is where the lingam resides for public worship. What will stun you here is the sculpted head of a man in the triangular fascia, which is also seen in another nearby temple where the Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati.
Behind the temple, do visit the Samadhi mandir (resting place) of Shree Adi Shankaracharya.
Other Attractions
Chorabari
Located at 2 km and also known as the Gandhi Sarovar, this is a sacred lake from where it is said that the elder Pandava brother, Yudhishthira, departed for heaven. The hovering ice on the waters offers a shimmering look.
Vasuki Tal
Located at 6 km, this is a lake from where you can have picturesque views of the Chaukhamba peaks.
Gaurikund
Located at 14 km and apart from being the starting point to reach the temple, this place is famous for a shrine of Goddess Gauri (Mata Parvati) and thermal medicinal springs.
Triyuginarayan
Located at 25 km from the temple and 5 km from Sonprayag, trek until here to be on the place marking the holy marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Further, do not miss to see the magically burning eternal flame right since marriage in the temple’s fascia.
Guptkashi
Located at 49 km, this is the home of popular shrines of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath.
Getting There:
By Air – The closest airport to Kedarnath Dham is located on the Rishikesh – Dehradun road which is Jolly Grant airport. After you debark from the airport you will be able to hire a taxi or get yourself a cab heading towards either Rishikesh / Haridwar or up till Gaurikund, whichever suits you best.
By Rail – The nearest railhead to reaching Kedarnath Dham is situated in Haridwar and Dehradun. These railway lines cater to trains from various different big and small towns and you can choose from the one that suits your needs the best.
By Road – The last road for Kedarnath is Gaurikund which caters to a number of private cars, buses, cabs and state transport. These transportation services cater from various closely situated cities like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Pauri, Dehradun, Uttarkashi etc.
Weather Conditions at Kedarnath:
Summer Season – This is considered to be the best time to visit Kedarnath Dham. With the temperatures touching 17 to 19 degrees Celsius and the overall atmosphere being extremely pleasant the summer months of May, June and early July are a much preferred time to visit this holy Dham.
Monsoon Season – The months of July to August is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening time to visit Kedarnath or any other Dham Yatra. The entire region remains prone to extremely unpredictable weather changes resulting in sudden torrential downpour of rains and unpredictable landslides.
Winter Season – The winter months commence from November and lasts till April during which the temple Kapat shuts down for Darshan and the entire region gets blanketed in a thick covering of snow. Helicopter services are also shut down due to inaccessibility.
Opening and Closing Dates:
The temple Kapat is opened for Darshan according to the change in season during the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The entire Dhams and the regions surrounding them spring to life. After a fun-filled and a complete spiritual time spent here the temple Kapat shuts down during the holy time of Bhai Dooj, which takes place a few days after Diwali.
Accommodation Facilities:
There are a number of budget-friendly accommodation facilities available which cater to the needs of all the travelers to Kedarnath Dham. If you wish to have a more comfortable stay then you have the option of booking a hotel or a lodge close to the Kedar valley for eg. at Guptkashi. There are also comfortable stay options at camping and tents located at close vicinity to the main temple. There are also government guesthouses available at the cheapest rates by the GMVN which consist of individual rooms as well as dorm room facilities. Accommodation in Kedarnath is not a matter of concern since there a number of options available however, make sure that all your bookings are done way beforehand in order to avoid any sort of a problem related to hotels and stay that may arise during the journey.
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