About Kedarnath
Kedarnath is the holiest of all holy temples in India, perched at 3,584 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas near the source of the river Mandakini. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a key Char Dham destination, the temple was reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 AD) adjacent to the original shrine built by the Pandavas. The deity is a massive hump-shaped rock — the manifestation of Lord Shiva as the hind of a bull (Nandi).
The Legend of Lord Shiva and the Pandavas
After the fratricidal Kurukshetra War, the five Pandava brothers sought Lord Shiva's darshan to expiate their sins. The Lord, testing their devotion, fled from Kashi to Guptakashi and finally to Kedarnath, where he metamorphosed into a bull and grazed among cattle. Bhim, the second Pandava, stretched his mighty leg across the hills, trapping the bull that could not pass under a mortal's legs. When Bhim caught the bull's tail, Lord Shiva thrust himself into the earth, appearing in five different manifestations across the Panch Kedar: hair at Kalpeshwar, face at Rudranath, hump at Kedarnath, stomach at Madhyamaheshwar and front legs at Tungnath.
The Temple and the Jyotirlinga
The present temple, built by Adi Shankaracharya, is a spectacular stone edifice in the middle of snow-peaks. The sanctum houses the Jyotirlinga — a burning torch of divine light symbolising the formless reality of the Almighty. Devotees anoint the rock mound with milk, ghee, white flowers, bel leaves and kumkum during worship. The Nanda Deepak (eternal ghee lamp) burns throughout the six-month winter closure, and is found still burning when the temple reopens — marvelling devotees who feel blessed. The temple is one of only twelve Jyotirlingas and the only one in a snowy mountain setting.
The Temple Calendar
Kedarnath Temple opens from late April (Vaishakha) to early November (Ashwin). During the winter month of Kartik, Lord Shiva's idol is shifted to Ukhimath, where daily worship continues at Urvi Math. The Nanda Deepak burns continuously in the sealed temple. Worship here follows no specific clan of priests — a unique distinction among major Hindu temples.
How to Reach Kedarnath
- Normal route: Rishikesh → Devprayag → Sonprayag → Gaurikund → 14 km trek
- Motorable journey possible till Gaurikund
- Mules, dolis (palanquins) and walking sticks available
- Hot springs at Gaurikund for bath before trekking
- By helicopter: Saffron Chariot's dedicated shuttle service
Nearby Attractions
- Bhairav Temple (5 min from main temple)
- Shankaracharya Samadhi
- Gandhi Sarovar / Chorabari (2 km — floating ice chunks)
- Vasuki Tal (6 km trek, 4,135m)
- Triyugi Narayan Temple (12 km from Sonprayag)
- Guptakashi (45 km south)
- Ukhimath (62 km — winter worship site)
Related Reading
- Kedarnath helicopter booking guide - IRCTC shuttle process, prices and helipad comparison for solo Kedarnath trips
- Kedarnath VIP darshan - how to skip the 3-hour queue at the temple
- Badrinath + Kedarnath in one day - the same-day Do Dham helicopter option from Dehradun
Char Dham Helicopter Connection
Kedarnath is the crown jewel of the Char Dham circuit. With Saffron Chariot's helicopter service, bypass the gruelling 14 km trek — fly directly to the Sersi helipad with shuttle service to the temple. VIP darshan in 20–40 minutes instead of a 3–6 hour queue. Book from ₹2,20,000.
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