Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath, a popular Hindu temple, tucked away in the lap of Garhwal Himalayas, some 221 km from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. Lying against the backdrop of the magnificent Kedarnath Mandir Range, at an altitude of 3580 meters, the splendid Kedarnath Dham is where the devotees come seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Mandir is said to have been constructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century A.D. The nearby flowing Mandakini River, mesmerizing vistas and splendid sceneries in the form of the snow-clad mountains, rhododendron forests, and salubrious environment make Kedarnath Dham Yatra, a tranquil and picturesque place to be at.

The devotees experience immense peace of mind while undertaking a Kedanath temple spiritual tour. The temple and nature’s milieu is so divine that it always rekindles human beings’ faith in the Almighty. The temple has survived one of the worst flash floods in 2013 of all time in the state, hence enhancing its sacredness and the mystique in the eyes of the devotees. Devotees flock to Kedarnath pilgrimage tour site every year,as a part of Chardham Yatra circuit. Indeed, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is one of the most prominent pilgrimages, particularly for the Hindus and spiritual seekers.

History of Kedarnath
The history behind Kedarnath Temple is very interesting as it is associated with mythical tales of Mahabharat. Pandavas, after the battle of Kurukshetra, felt guilty for killing their Kaurava cousins. So, they wanted Lord Shiva to absolve their sins but, Lord Shiva was annoyed with them. The Pandavas first went to Kashi to meet Shiva where they learnt that he was in the Himalayas. They proceeded for the Himalayas too but miffed Shiva did not want to absolve their sins easily. Therefore, he disguised himself as a buffalo and went to Guptakashi. The Pandavas reached Guptakashi too and spotted a unique looking buffalo. Bheema, one of the Pandavas, grabbed its tail and the buffalo was disintegrated in different directions.

It is believed that its hump fell in Kedarnath and hence, the Kedarnath Temple was born. The other parts of the buffalo's body fell places such as Tungnath, Rudranath, Kalpeshwar and Madhyamaheshwar. These four places along with Kedarnath came to be known as the holy 'Panch Kedars'. Later, Lord Shiva forgave Pandavas' sins and decided to reside in Kedarnath as a Jyotirlingam.

It is also believed that Nar and Narayana, who were the two famed Lord Vishnu incarnations, gave a performance before an earthen Shiv lingam at Bharat Khand Badrikashrama. Lord Shiva was pleased and appeared before them. He requested them to make a wish. So, they asked the Lord to reside permanently at Kedarnath in the form of a Jyotirlingam. The Lord agreed to their wish and thus enshrined himself in the Kedarnath temple.

Best Time To Visit Kedarnath Temple
The most suitable time to visit the Kedarnath Temple is in the months of May to July. It is better to head out early in the morning for the temple since it is closed between 3 to 5 pm.

How To Reach Kedarnath Temple
Unfortunately, vehicles are not allowed till the Kedarnath Temple. All the buses or cars are permitted till Gaurikund after which devotees have to trek around 16 km to reach the temple. The trekking route for the first 7 km is gradual, but it gets quite steep after Rambara for the next 7 km. The last 3 km are undulating and go up and down gradually. It takes around 7 hours to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund. Medical facilities, tea stalls, washrooms and police stations at every checkpoint. Ponies and horses are also available on this trek and you can make a booking before you start the trek. The cost for the same is around INR 3200 for a round trip and takes 4-6 hours to reach Kedarnath. Gaurikund is connected via road through major cities like Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh.