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Kedarnath Dham, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. The air appears to be reverberating with the name of Lord Shiva amid the mighty snow-clad peaks, enchanting meadows and forests of the lower mountain range of Himalayas. Situated in a breathtaking location, near the source of Mandakini River and at the height of 3,584 meters, Kedarnath Dham celebrates the greatness of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingams and is also the most important temple among the Panch Kedars (group of 5 Shiva temples in Garhwal Himalayas). It is also one of the significant temples of the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, raising the glory of the place to further heights.
Accessible from major destinations of Uttarakhand, the motorable road towards Kedarnath temple stretches till Gauri Kund. After that one needs to take a 14 km trek towards Kedarnath temple. Ponies and palanquins (doli) are easily available; one can also avail helicopter services during peak season of yatra.
The hard journey till the great shrine of Shiva is well compensated with the spiritual atmosphere which is created by the unruffled, tranquil and splendid beauty of the region. The majestic Kedarnath peak (6,940 meters) stands behind the temple along with other peaks, forming a perfect setting for the holy land of the supreme deity. The conical-shaped Shiva lingam in the Kedarnath temple is a unique feature of the temple among all Shiva shrines.
History
According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, who had come to seek penitence for having killed their kin in the battle of Kurukshetra. He took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found Shiva amongst a herd of cattle. Having identified the meanest and most arrogant of the herd as Shiva, Bhima is said to have grabbed him by the hindquarters. What remains at the shrine in Kedarnath is the rear end of the bull, with the rest of its body scattered throughout the Garhwal. Shiva dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol. It is the main site of the Panch Kedar temples.
Places to See in Kedarnath
Here are the Kedarnath sightseeing options which you can cover in your Kedarnath Yatra.
Gandhi Sarovar: Gandhi Sarovar is a small lake located at the distance of 03 km from Kedarnath near to Chorabari Bamak glacier.
Shankaracharya Samadhi: It is believed that here Adiguru Shankaracharya took Samadhi.
Bhairavnath Temple: Bhairon Mandir is located 1 km from the Kedarnath Temple. It is believed that the deity in the form of bhairavnath protects the Kedarnath temple & entire valley.
Gaurikund: Base for a trek to Kedarnath. The village has hot springs & a temple dedicated to Gauri.
Vasuki Tal: It is a high glacial charming lake with iconic environs & majestic view of Chaukhamba peaks. This place has religious importance also, it is believed that Lord Vishnu took bath at this lake.
Sonprayag: At Sonprayag union of two rivers Basuki & Mankadini takes place. This place is believed to be offer salvation to those who take a bath in it.
How To Reach
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, at a distance of 251 km from Kedarnath. The nearest railheads are Rishikesh (234 km) and Kotdwar (260 km), from where one can find trains to Dehradun. Kedarnath is approachable by road from all important places of the Garhwal hills-Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar, Badrinath and Gangotri. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.
Uttaranchal Tourism When Uttarakhand was nick-named as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ meaning the Land of Gods, few would have doubted the christening. Uttarakhand tours are elaborate and full of places to see. Whether you are river rafting in Rishikesh or taking a holy bath in river Ganga in Divine Haridwar or scaling high Himalayan reaches, Uttarakhand ensures an exhilarating experience that is like none other. You can always go through any Uttarakhand tourism guide available online. Uttarakhand tourism packages will take you from most revered Hindu shrines to Tibetan monasteries to Holy Ghats on the River Ganga. Once you visit this state, it will keep you wanting more of this beautiful Indian state.
