Kedarnath Temple- Uttarakhand Char Dham

the ultimate salvation of the cycles of birth and death.

In this blog I will talk about the Shri Kedarnath Temple situated in the beautiful Kedarnath valley of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The temple has once again opened for devotees after being closed for a long time due to the Corona lockdown. The Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of our country and is also one of the 5 Panch Kedars of Uttarakhand. Out of more than 100 Shiva temples situated in the state of Uttarakhand, this is the most important one and is considered to be the most sacred temple. The temple is situated at a height of about 3400 metre and is closed for most of the winter months due to extreme cold and snowfall. The minimum temperatures even in the summer months stays under 10 to 15 degree Celsius.

How to reach Kedarnath

Kedarnath is about 235 kms from Rishikesh.The National Highway from Rishikesh takes one up to Gaurikund, after which the road is not motorable. The Kedarnath temple can only be reached only after a long trek of 22 kms through the valley. This distance can also be covered by ponies or by a helicopter. Helicopter services are available from Guptakashi and Sonprayag for the 20-22 kms trek and the prices range from Rs 2500- Rs 4500 per person. The helicopters can be booked in advance or after visiting Guptakashi. The helicopter ride does not take more than 10-15 minutes but is dependent on the weather and the availability of helicopters. The trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple can easily take 6-8 hours on foot and is of moderate difficulty. Most people prefer to walk the distance or take a horse.

Why Kedarnath is famous

Kedarnath is considered as a very sacred temple of Lord Shiva and is situated at one of the most beautiful places one can imagine. The place has a lot of legends associated with it and most devout Hindus wish to visit here at least once in their life time. It is situated at a small valley surrounded by mountains. The snow covered Himalayas (Meru Sumere and Kedarnath Dome) are just behind the temple and can be easily seen. The Mandakini River flows to the left of the temple. According to legends this temple was built by Pandavas and this is where the hump of the bull appeared while Lord Shiva was escaping from the Pandavas. But most people believe that the present day structure was built by Adi Shankaracharya, more than 1000 years ago.

Read Our New Blog- Madmaheshwar Temple- the Geography of my peace- Click Here

Such is the construction of the temple that even during the ravaging floods of 2013 , when the entire Kedarnath valley was destroyed, the temple was left unharmed. A huge rock which fell from the top of the mountain, stopped just behind the temple. This rock is supposed to have protected the temple from the gushing waters and debris coming from the mountain top. The rock is now called as Bhim Shila and is also worshiped. The temple is itself an architectural wonder considering how it would have been built then and at such a height without the assistance of modern machines.

Opening and closing dates of Kedarnath temple

During the winter months when the temple is closed, the Doli of Lord Kedarnath is taken to Ukhimath with a lot of enthusiasm and fanfare. One can be present to witness the Doli if one visits Kedarnath at the opening or closing of the temple. The opening date of the temple is decided on the day of Shiv Ratri and the closing date is on the day of Bhaiya Dooj, 2 days after Diwali. The temple can be visted any time during this period.

Char Dham Opening & Closing Dates 2022

Yamunotri Temple

Gangotri Temple

Kedarnath Temple

Badrinath Temple

Yamunotri Temple

Gangotri Temple

Kedarnath Temple

Badrinath Temple

How is this temple a source of employment for the local people?

The temple is an important destination for a large number of national as well as international tourists. People from far off places visit Kedarnath temple as a part of the Char Dham yatra or as a part of the Panch Kedar yatra. Many adventure lovers also visit the temple for Trekking. Some foreigners also visit the temple to experience the spirituality and religious traditions of Indians. Some prefer just to come here and meditate as it is believed that this place is blessed by the Gods. Because of this huge inflow of people, the locals find many sources of employment to cater to the tourists. Most hotels, restaurants, porters and other locals have no work during the winter months. The place becomes a ghost town in the winters due to the cold and snow. But as soon as the temple opens the place is buzz with activity.

Read the Blog- Chopta Valley- My Love My Home- Click Here

The Yatra season comes as a welcome gift for most of the locals from the deadly winter and poverty. There is nothing much to do here for the people even in agriculture and most lead very tough lives. The money that the locals earn during the Yatra season ensures that they can survive the tough 5-6 months of harsh winter. The work that they do during the season is usually the only source of employment for most of them. Because the economy of the region is completely dependent on tourism, the people have been under a lot of financial stress in recent times due to the suspension of Char Dham Yatra in the Covid lockdown. We all are keeping our fingers crossed for this season.

Why should visit here once in a lifetime

The Kedarnath temple being one of the 12 Jyotirlings and a part of the Char Dham Yatra and the Panch Kedar circuit holds a special place in the heart of most Hindus. The Jyotirlings and the Char Dham temples are considered a must visit if one wishes to attain Moksha – the ultimate salvation and freedom of the cycles of birth and death. It is also said that all our sins are washed away after doing the Char Dham Yatra. But apart from the religious beliefs, I feel that this place should be on the must visit list of every Indian. As the beauty and wonder of the place can only be admired by visiting it and the spiritual connect one feels by being there can never be described in words.

Other attractions near Kedarnath temple

You can also visit any or all of these 5 places on your Kedarnath trip –

1)Bhairav Temple –

This temple is situated at a distance of only 1 km from the Kedarnath temple on a small nearby hill . Bhairava is considered the most fearsome form of Shiva and belief is that he protects his devotees from all their enemies. The Bhairav at Kedarnath is believed to be the one protecting the temple and the Kedarnath valley when everything gets closed for the winter months. That is why he is also called as the “Kshetrapal”.

2)Vasuki Tal –

It is a beautiful lake with crystal clear water and is situated at a height of 4300 metres. It can be reached after trekking for 8 kms from Kedarnath. According to legends , Lord Vishnu took a holy bath in this lake. One can also spot the rare Bramha Kamal in this lake. One gets clear and close views of Kedarnath Dome and other Himalayan snow covered peaks from here.

3)Rudra Cave –

Situated about 1.5 kms to the left of Kedarnath temple, this cave is where our Prime Minister Shri Modi ji stayed and meditated. It is also called the Dhyan Gufa. This has recently been constructed by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute and is operated by GMVN. It has all the basic facilities and all caves are for single occupants only. Bookings need to be made in advance for a stay here.

4)Omkareshwar Temple –

This is located in Ukhimath, some 35 kms from Kedarnath . This is the place where the Lord of Kedarnath and Lord of Madmaheshwar temple are brought for resting during the long winter months when the temples close.

5)Triyuginarayan Temple -

This temple situated in Triyugi village near Sonprayag is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati married. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it is believed that Lord Vishnu acted as a brother of Goddess Parvati while Lord Bramha acted as a priest for the wedding. Even today many couples get married at this temple and it has become a popular destination for weddings. There is a fire burning constantly outside the temple and that is why it is also called the Akhand Dhuni temple.

Contact for planning your trip -

So when are you planning your trip for the divine Darshan of Shiva at Kedarnath? You can comment below for your queries or feedback. You can also tell me what you like about this post and which other treks you would like me to write about in future.

Hope a visit here is in your bucket list.

Thanks.

-Neeraj Tiwari

Welcome to Uttarakhand
Himalaya Resort, Pangair, Baniyakund Ukhimath-Gopeshwar Road Chopta,Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. (246419) Mob- 8006101054,8006101055