Kedarnath Temple: One of the holiest Hindu shrines in India!
There are many Shiva temples all around the world. Amongst these, Kedarnath holds special sacred importance. Kedarnath Temple, situated at a height of 3,583 metres, is one of the most prestigious and sacred Hindu Temples in the World.
It is located on the Garhwal Himalayan Range in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand. Kedarnath Temple holds a very important religious significance with the Mandakini River flowing in front of it.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath Temple covers the mesmerising view and is made up of grey stones. The most striking fact about Kedarnath Temple is that it consists of a “lingam” with a cylindrical pedestal of 3.6 m (12 ft) in circumference and 3.6 m (12 ft) in height.
Kedarnath Temple is the first temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar circuit, followed by Tunghnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. This temple can only be reached by trekking 16-17 kilometres from Gaurikund.
History of Kedarnath Temple
It Is said that the Kedarnath Temple was originally constructed by the Pandavas about a thousand years ago. It was later re-structured by Adi Shankara. Kedarnath means “lord of the field”.
It is said that Kedarnath Temple is the place where Lord Shiva released the Holy water from his hair. Pandavas travelled to Kashi in search of Lord Shiva after the war of Kurukshetra.
Kedarnath is one of the most famous Hindu Char Dham Yatra temple places. Called the Shiv-Lok on Earth, this Jyotirlinga is considered the most important among the 12 revered Jyotirlingam sites across India.
How to Reach Kedarnath Temple?
Kedarnath Temple can only be reached by trek as the nearest road to reach there is at Gaurikund which is almost 18-19kms away.
Nearest Airport
At a distance of 238kms, Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Kedarnath. From Jolly Grant Airport, you can easily find taxis to reach Gaurikund.
Nearest Railway Station
To reach Kedarnath, the nearest temple is situated in Rishikesh. Rishikesh Railway Station is 216 KMS away from Kedarnath. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh to reach Gaurikund.
By Road
The roadway to reach Kedarnath is not accessible and thus the only way to reach there is to trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Buses and Taxis are easily available from the major tourist destinations like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar etc.
Best time to visit Kedarnath temple
May to July is the best time to visit the Kedarnath temple. It is closed between 3-5 pm so the best time is early morning.
Major Cities Near the Kedarnath Temple
| Dehradun | 254 Kms |
| Haridwar | 123 Kms |
| Rishikesh | 216 Kms |
| Delhi | 452 Kms |
| Chandigarh | 218 Kms |
There are many places to visit near the Kedarnath Temple like Triyuginarayan, Chopta, Vasuki Tal. It is also said that the devotees who visit Kedarnath Temple are also required to visit the Bhairon Baba ka Mandir as Lord Bhairon Nath Ji protects the temple.
