Located at a height of 3584 meters above sea level at the lower back of the Mandakini river, Kedarnath Temple is one of Northern India’s holiest pilgrimage sites. “Kedar Khand” is the district’s confirmed call sign. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India, Kedarnath Sanctuary is located in Uttarakhand and is part of the Char Dhams and Panch Kedar.
Lord Shiva, the protector and destroyer, uses the word “Kedar,” which means “strong,” as one of his higher calls. The sanctuary is a beautiful place to meditate because of the excellent weather, which makes it seem like a peaceful paradise. The Shiva Temple, a well-known Hindu holy site and journey that attracts tourists from all over the globe, is the main attraction in this area. Here, factors like consistent excellence and strict zing fortify the motion and the breadth of the travel business.
In Uttarakhand alone, there are more than 200 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, with Kedarnath being the most significant. Legend has it that after defeating the Kauravas at the Battle of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas felt guilty for having slain their own Kith and Kin and turned to Lord Shiva for atonement. He managed to evade them repeatedly while also seeking refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a cow.
The fabled Pandava brothers pleaded with Lord Shiva to absolve them of the sin of murdering their blood relations during the Battle of Kurukshetra. However, Lord Shiva refuses to grant their request and instead turns into a bull and roams the Himalayan Mountains. However, the fabled Pandava brother discovered him. After that, Lord Shiva went underground, but one of the Pandava brothers was able to capture the bull’s hump and other pieces, which were displayed in various locations throughout the Himalayas.
They discovered a bull’s crest in Kedarnath and two of its forelegs in a location called Tunganath. They discovered the bull’s visage in Rudranath and the hair in Kalpeshwar. They discovered the belly in Madhya-Maheswar. Later, all five of these locations became known as Panch Kedar, making them one of the most well-known chapters in Kedarnath’s past.
According to myth and Kedarnath history, the temple at Kedarnath is 1200 years old. One of the most well-known jyotirlingas in India is Kedarnath Dham. The Kedarnath Temple is 6950 meters high. Grey stone blocks that are hefty, big, and uniformly cut were used to construct the Kedarnath Dham Temple. The Lord Shive Temple Kedarnath Dham is a historical masterpiece in Kedarnath.
Temple
About Kedarnath Temple
The Temple at Kedarnath is a magnificent sight, standing in the centre of a huge stage surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks. The temple was first built implicitly in the 8th century A.D. by Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya, and it is located next to an even older temple constructed by the Pandavas. The get-together foyer’s interior partitions are embellished with images of numerous gods and folklore settings. A large Nandi sculpture remains outside the temple’s entrance as a watchman.
The Kedarnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has aspired to engineering It is made of incredibly large, heavy, and fairly cut dark stone pieces, and it makes you wonder how those heavy pieces were moved and cared for over the course of the previous loads of years. The temple contains a Garbha Griha for courtship and a Mandap, a cabin-like area for gatherings of pilgrims and visitors. The temple’s Sadashiva construction honours Lord Shiva as a cone-shaped rock formation.
After the Mahabharata, the Pandavas built the Kedarnath temple, according to legend. After killing the Kaurav brothers to atone for their transgressions, it is said that the Pandavas wished to seek Lord Shiva’s pardon. Nevertheless, Lord Shiva was no longer required to carry them out. Lord Shiva hid himself in Guptkashi because of this.
The temple has now survived under snow for more than 400 hundred years and has also avoided any serious harm from glacial advances and flash floods, though its effects may still be visible as yellow traces on the stones used to construct Kedarnath’s sacred site.
Open / Close
Kedarnath Opening & Closing Dates and times
According to estimates made by Omkareshwar priests, the date of Kedarnath Temple’s opening depends on the auspicious days of “Akshay Tritiya” and “Maha Shiva Ratri.”
On May 6, 2023 in the morning, a special Puja will be performed inside the Kedarnath temple to officially inaugurate it for the current year.
Moreover, Mahashivratri has been stated as the tentative date for Kedarnath Dham. The end date for Kedarnath has been established, and on the eve of Bhai Dooj (the day following Diwali in November), the temple may be closed after Puja Archana at the beginning of the day. A long-term traveller to Kedarnath from anywhere in the state or the world might take advantage of the Kedarnath Kapaat’s beginning. Every time Kedarnath Temple priests began Puja, visitors should have the opportunity to see it. Similar to the initial purpose, ending service is very impressive. Baba Kedar Doli is transported by Garhwal Bands to Kedarnath’s winter residence, the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.
LOCATION
Kedarnath Dham Location
Rudraprayag District in the state of Uttarakhand is home to the Hindu pilgrimage site of Kedarnath. At a height of 3584 metres, the holy city and one of the Char Dhams are situated inside the Kedarnath Valley.
It can be accessed via helicopter, trek, dandi, or kandi. Kedarnath is accessible by road, air, and rail from all directions. From Haridwar, you can travel directly to Kedarnath, though it’s also doable to stay there for a day or two. The majority of the 240-kilometer journey takes place on ghat streets, with unique mountains serving as the backdrop and the Ganges River following you as far as it can.
The distance between Sonprayag, the Gaurika entrance, and the Gaurikund is only five kilometres. A fatak (entryway) is present to ensure that tourists are delivered to Sonprayag by vehicles and other means of transportation. There are available shared cabs, ensuring that gridlocks are kept to a minimum. The highest mountain on Earth, Kedarnath, is only accessible after a challenging 18-kilometer climb from Gaurikund to Kumaon in the Uttarakhand state.
REACH
How To Reach
By Road
By Train
By Flight
The route to Kedarnath comes to an end in Gaurikund, where a straightforward 14-kilometer trek begins. The northern Indian provinces and Uttarakhand have raised significant concerns over Gaurikund's motorable street plans. From ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi, transportation is convenient to Rishikesh and Srinagar. Taxis and transportation to Gaurikund are readily available from major Uttarakhand cities such as Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar, Chamoli, and others. On National Highway 109, which connects Rudraprayag and Kedarnath, is the town of Gaurikund.
Rishikesh is the station that is most convenient to Kedarnath. Located on NH58, Rishikesh Railway Station is constructed 216 kilometres before Kedarnath. Rishikesh is generally associated with railway networks, however India has strong opposition. There are successive trains to Rishikesh. Gaurikund may be closely tied to Rishikesh's motorable roadways. Taxis and transportation are readily available between Rishikesh and Gaurikund.
The nearest airport, Jolly Grant, is 238 kilometres away and is extremely well operated. With daily flights, Jolly Grant Airport is connected to Delhi from all directions. Jolly Grant Airport and Gaurikund are connected with motorable streets on both sides. From Gaurikund to Jolly Grant Airport, taxis are really convenient.
Tourist
Tourist Places Near Kedarnath
Deoria Tal
At an elevation of 1829 metres, Pandukeshwar is a holy site that is on the route to Lord Vishnu’s residence, “Badrinath.” King Pandu, the father of the great Pandavas from the Mahabharata, adored Lord Shiva in Pandukeshwar, which is located 18 kilometres from Joshimath.
Triyuginarayan Temple
The source of the Alaknanda River is Alkapuri. It is held at the foot of Balakun Top, 4,600 metres above sea level, close to Badrinath, in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand.
Vasuki Tal Lake
One of the most fascinating places to visit in Uttarakhand is the nectar-sweet Vasudhara Falls, which is located close to the holy town of Badrinath. This mysterious cascade descends from a stage that is 400 feet, or 120 metres, above sea level.
Guptkashi
Only three kilometres separate Gurson Bugyal (Gorso Bugyal), which is at an elevation of 3,519 metres (11,545 feet), from Auli. It is a sizable area with green fields that are encircled by oak trees and coniferous woods.
Packages
Kedarnath Dham Yatra Packages
Package for Kedarnath from Delhi
4.8/5
Duration : 5 days and 4 nights. Price: Starting at INR 10,929 Starts From : Delhi Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.
Duration : 5 days and 4 nights. Price: Starting at INR 95,000 Starts From : Dehradun Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.
Duration: 12 Days Price: On Your request. Starts from: Delhi Transport: Innova Cab Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.
Package For Kedarnath And Tungnath Temple From Haridwar
4.8/5
Duration: 4 Days and 3 nights Price: Starting at INR 9,999 Starts from: Haridwar Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.
Duration: 3 Days and 2 Nights Price: On Your Request Starts from: Haridwar Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.
Duration: 5 Days and 4 Nights Price: Starting at INR 10,589 Starts from: Haridwar Inclusions: To receive a detailed list of the Chardham package inclusions, fill out the form below.