Shri Kedarnath Dham, which is one of the four Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, also known as Chota Char Dham, is located in the district of Rudraprayag on the Garhwal Himalaya ranges, on the shores of the River Mandakini. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, after whom this famous pilgrimage destination in India has been named. The Shikhar, or the tower of the temple, which stands against the backdrop of the colossal Kedarnath Peak standing at 6,940 meters, lends it a mysterious and timeless aura. The temple is one of the highest altitude temples in the country, as it stands at an astounding elevation of 11,755 feet approx.

Shri Kedarnath Temple is surrounded by five temples, which are Badri-Kedar, Madhya Maheshwara, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kallesvara. The presiding deity is a conical shaped lingam which is 12 feet wide and 12 feet high. The front of a temple has a small pillared hall, which contains images of Goddess Parvati and the five Pandava princes from the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Outside the temple, a large statue of Nandi, the sacred bull and vehicle of Lord Shiva, stands guard at all times.

A fascinating feature of the temple is the head of a man which is carved in a triangular stone fascia. Just behind the Kedarnath Temple is the Shankaracharya Samadhi, where Adi Shankaracharya, the renowned Hindu philosopher and theologian, is believed to have attained moksha, or salvation.

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History of Shri Kedarnath Temple

Shri Kedarnath Dham, besides being one of the four Chota Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, is also one of the 12 Jyoti Lingas in India, besides being the highest. It is also considered to be the most important temple among the Panch Kedars, which are a group of 5 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The origins of Shri Kedarnath Temple is shrouded in mystery, as it’s not clear when and who built the temple exactly. There are, however, several interesting legends surrounding the temple. These make for some interesting reading, besides highlighting its spiritual and cultural significance in Hinduism and among the devotees.

The most famous legend associated with the Kedarnath Temple is this. At the end of the Kurukshetra War in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers were overcome with guilt. To repent for their sins for killing their own kith and kin, they sought to meet Lord Shiva on the advice of Sage Vyasa. However, Lord Shiva, clearly in no mood to forgive them, disguised himself as a bull and wandered the Himalayan mountains.

When the Pandava brothers did find him at last, he tried to disappear by sinking headfirst into the ground. Bhima, one of the strongest of the Pandavas, grabbed him by the tail. He could only get hold of the hump in the struggle that ensued. As a result, other body parts of Lord Shiva appeared at four other locations.

The hump appeared in Kedarnath, navel at Madhya-Maheshwar, two forelegs at Tungnath, face in Rudranath and hair at Kalpeshwar. The head of the bull appeared in Pashupatinath in Nepal.These five places where the body parts of Lord Shiva were found, came to be known as Panch Kedar. The first temple at Kedarnath was built by the Pandavas.

Kedarnath Temple Opening & Closing Dates 2024

The opening dates of the Kedarnath Temple are declared on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, while the closing dates of the Kedarnath Temple are declared during Bhai Dooj, which is celebrated during the festival of Diwali. The opening date of Shri Kedarnath Dham in 2024 is 10 May.

Best Time to Visit for Kedarnath Yatra

It’s important to remember that since the Kedarnath Temple is situated at such a high altitude, surrounded by the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, it remains cold throughout the year. Even then, the most comfortable time to visit it is from the months of May to June and September to October. The temple can also be visited during the monsoon season, which begins in July and lasts till August. Although this season is marked by floods and landslides, even then, it can be safely visited.

How to Reach Kedarnath Temple?

Shri Kedarnath Dham< can be reached by air, rail and road, and can be reached by either of these means of transport.

• By Air: The nearest airport to Shri Kedarnath Temple is Jolly Grant Airport, also known as the Dehradun Airport in Dehradun, situated at a distance of almost 238 kilometers. The airport operated daily flights to Delhi. The Jolly Grant Airport is well connected to Gaurikund, which is the point where the motorable road to Kedarnath ends. Taxis can be hired from the airport till Gaurikund.
• By Rail: The nearest railway stations to Shri Kedarnath Dham are Haridwar & Rishikesh Railway Stations, situated almost 216 kilometers away on NH 58. Frequent trains run to all the major destinations of India. Rishikesh and Haridwar both are connected by a motorable road to Gaurikund, and taxis as well as buses can be hired from Rishikesh to Gaurikund, the point where the motorable road to Kedarnath ends.
• By Road: Regardless of whether you arrive by taxi, bus or any other private vehicle, you will have to stop at Gaurikund, which is the point where the motorable road to Kedarnath Temple ends. Gaurikund is well connected to all the major destinations of Uttarakhand and other parts of India.

Buses to Srinagar are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi. Taxis and buses to Gaurikund are available from Rishikesh, Dehradun, Pauri, Haridwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. From Gaurikund, you will have to undertake a trek of almost 14 kilometers. Those who cannot take this trek because of physical difficulties or health related problems, can hire a palanquin or a pony.

Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra By Helicopter

Helicopter services to Kedarnath Temple are offered by the Uttarakhand government as well as private heli operators. The helicopter services to Kedarnath can be availed from Sitapur, Sersi, Phata, Dehradun and Guptkashi.

Weather in Shri Kedarnath Dham

Shri Kedarnath Temple is situated at an elevation of almost 11,755 feet, so it receives cold weather throughout the year. It is cold even during the summer season, which begins in May and lasts till June. The average temperature during this time ranges between 9°C to 12°C.

The monsoon season in Kedarnath arrives in July and lasts till August, with the temperature dropping to around 10°C. The monsoon season is marked by heavy rains, landslides and floods. However, Shri Kedarnath Dham can be safely visited even this time of the year.

The winter season in Kedarnath Dham starts from November and extends till April. The extreme weather condition, which is marked by intense snowfall, blocks all means of transport. It becomes inaccessible to tourists. The season is marked by subzero temperature.

Best Places to Visit in and around Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath Dham is the most significant temple among the temples of Panch Kedar Yatra, situated in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag region. The temple of Shiva is at an elevation of 3,584 metres and one can easily experience the sense of spirituality and peace in the air there. The beautiful River Mandakini flows in close proximity to the temple as the temple is located in the Garhwal region. The Kedarnath Temple is also a part of the Char Dham pilgrimage Yatra and is listed in the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples.

Vasuki Tal

Vasuki Tal which is surrounded by the magnificent Himalayas of Uttarkashi district is located at a height of 4,135 metres above sea level. The lake gets its name from the snake, Vasuki which is wrapped around Lord Shiva’s neck. According to mythological stories, it is believed that Lord Vishnu bathed in the lake on the occasion of the Raksha Bandhan festival.

Tungnath Temple

Tungnath Temple is a must visit during the Himalayan pilgrimage and is considered among the top Lord Shiva temples in the world and is also a part of Panch Kedar. Tungnath Temple is located in the region of Rudraprayag and attracts pilgrims from all over the world and is fascinated by its spiritual significance. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya is associated with the making of the Tungnath Temple.

Rudranath Temple

Rudranath Temple is another Shiva Temple which forms the Panch Kedar. The temple is located in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas and is 3,600 metres above sea level. The temple is a magnificent site where the bull face of Shiva can be seen inside. It is believed that the temple was built by the legendary Pancha Pandavas of Mahabharata during their journey to Kailash.

Madhyamaheshwar Temple

Madhyamaheshwar Temple is the place where it is believed that the navel of Shiva’s bull form appeared when he was trying to hide from the Pandavas. The Madhyamaheshwar Temple is also among the Panch Kedar. The temple is approximately 3,940 metres above sea level and covered with stunning mountains all around. The idol of Shiva’s navel appears as a black stone-like structure inside.

Kalimath Temple

Kalimath is a beautiful religious site among Hindu pilgrims located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Kalimath Temple is situated near the banks of River Saraswati and is considered among the 108 Shakti Peethas of Maa Kali. According to tales, it is believed that after killing Rakhtbeej Asur, Maa Kali went inside the ground and from then this place is worshipped by the people.

Omkareshwar Temple

Omkareshwar Temple is a beautiful shrine of Lord Shiva situated in Ukhimath, Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The temple is very important to the devotees because this temple becomes the abode for the idols of Shiva as the structures of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamahesh are placed here in the months of winter for worshipping. The temples of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar remain closed due to heavy snowfall and blocked roads.

Triyugi Narayan Temple

Triyuginarayan Temple is said to be a divine location where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married during the Satya Yuga period according to Hindu mythology. This temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayan region. Triyuginarayan is also believed to be the capital of Himavat and the holy fire that is still burning in front of the temple there is believed to be the Havan-kund or Agni-kund that was ignited during Lord Shiva’s marriage.

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is a holy temple of Lord Shiva as it is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva meditated on his way to Kedarnath. Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is in a cave.  This beautiful temple is located along the bank of the Alaknanda River near Rudraprayag town. The view of the Alaknanda River flowing between the twin mountains from the temple provides a mesmerising view to the tourists.

Dhari Devi Temple

The Dhari Devi Temple worships the incarnation of Goddess Kali as the temple is a famous site surrounded with legends and stories. The temple is located between the districts of Rudraprayag and Srinagar of Uttarakhand along the river banks of Alaknanda. The deity of Maa Dhari Devi was relocated from the 20 metres high rock to a man-made structure in the year 2013 during the catastrophic incident at Kedarnath.

Dev Prayag

DevPrayag is a holy town located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Devprayag is a blissful town which showcases traditions, myths, and spiritualism as this is a place where the gushing rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to become the holy River Ganga. According to tales, it is believed to be the spot where Lord Rama and King Dashratha (from Ramayan) used to meditate.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a popular pilgrimage destination among pilgrims and devotees as people come here from all over the world seeking peace and calm. The holy town is a major centre for yoga and meditation and hence named the “Yoga capital of the world” and also the “Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas.” The ashrams here are the soul of the city among which Parmarth Niketan Ashram is the ideal place to witness the breathtaking Ganga aarti.

Haridwar

Haridwar being a sacred city in Uttarakhand, is well-known for hosting the Kumbh Mela, a sacred event for Hindu pilgrims and devotees. Haridwar translates to “gateway to the gods,” for its numerous temples, shrines, and ghats. Haridwar is widely famous for its Ayurvedic and herbal products as the holy city is deeply connected to traditional Indian medicines ranging from aromatic oils to herbal skincare products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. At what time of the year, snowfall occurs in Kedarnath Dham?

Ans. Snowfall in Kedarnath Dham starts to occur usually from the first week of October.

Q. What is the status of mobile internet connectivity services at Kedarnath Temple?

Ans. One can get good mobile internet connectivity in Kedarnath because of BSNL and Airtel telecommunication services.

Q. What is the minimal number of days needed to visit the shrine at Kedarnath?

Ans. It takes at least five days from Delhi to visit the shrine of Kedarnath Temple.

Q. Is it possible to book an online puja slot for Kedarnath?

Ans. No, one can not book a slot for online puja at Kedarnath Temple.

Q. Is a Doli or Horse-riding facility available in Kedarnath? If yes, what are the charges?

Ans. Yes, pilgrims can enjoy the facility of a Doli or Horse-riding facility in Kedarnath. The charges are around INR 2500 from Sonprayag to Kedarnath and INR 1500 from Kedarnath to Sonprayag.

Q. When did a catastrophic flood happen at Kedarnath and how many casualties were reported?

Ans. The huge flood of Kedarnath happened in 2013, there were around 5748 confirmed casualties including locals and tourists. The Kedarnath Temple remained exceptionally unharmed because of the huge boulder presently named Bhim Shila.

Q. Is it possible to hire a personal priest/pandit for performing special pujas or rituals?

Ans. Yes, one can arrange a priest/pandit at Kedarnath Dham for performing a special puja.

Q. Can tourists touch Kedarnath Shrine and lay flowers on it?

Ans. Yes, one can touch the Kedarnath shrine and lay flowers after asking permission from the priest there.

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