Location : In the
north Indian state of Uttaranchal in the
Garhwal Himalayas.
Tourist Attractions :
Kedarnath Temple, Vasuki Tal, Gaurikund,
Bhairav temple, Samadhi of Adi
Shankaracharya, Gandhi Sarovar,
Chorabari Tal, Son Prayag,
Trijuginarayan, Madmaheswar, Ukhimath,
Anusuya Devi temple.
Best Activity :
Trekking, nature walk
Best Hangout : Son
Prayag
Nearby Tourist
Destinations : Badrinath, Yamunotri,
Gangotri, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun.
When to Visit : The
shrine is closed on the first day of
Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopened in
Vaishakh (Apr-May). During 9 months of
closure the shrine is submerged in snow
and worship is performed at Ukhimath.
May to October is the best time to
visit.
About Kedarnath
There are more than 200 shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli
district itself, the most important one
is Kedarnath. The shrine of Kedarnath is
very scenically located amidst the
majestic mountainscape of the Gharwal
Hills, and is surrounded by high snow
covered mountains and grassy meadows
covering the valleys. Kedarnath at the
head of the Mandakini river, is a very
sacred pilgrimage of the Hindus. It is
located at the height of 11,742 ft (3580
m), is a famous pilgrim site for Lord
Shiva devotees. The legend says,
Lord
Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas and
took refuge in Kedarnath. The Kedarnath
shrine, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of
Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated,
against the backdrop of the majestic
Kedarnath range. At an altitude of 3,580
m. it is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.
Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the
protector and the destroyer. At the
entrance of the temple is the statue of
‘Nandi’, the divine bull of Shiva. The
wall inside the temple is exquisitely
carved with images.
Major Tourist Attractions
in Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple
Built in the 8th century A.D., The
temple at Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord
Shiva. The temple was renovated and
refurbished by the religious reformer
and saint, Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th
century. Outside the temple door a large
statue of Nandi the bull, stands as the
guardian deity.
Vasuki Tal
Situated at a distance of 6 kms at an
altitude of 14,200 ft, Vasuki Tal is on
the right side of the valley. It is a
crystal clear lake with awesome scenic
surroundings. However, the climb is so
long and arduous that it is advisable to
take a guide along.
Son Prayag
About 20 kms from Kedarnath, Son Prayag
is located at the confluence of the
Mandakini and the Sone-Ganga. This
quaint little village is known for its
picturesque beauty.
Gaurikund
This about 15 km away. At Gaurikund
there is an ancient temple dedicated to
the Goddess Gauri or Parvati and it
houses the metallic idols of Gauri and
Shiva.
Ukhimath
Down Guptkashi, a little away from the
main route is Ukhimath, on Chamoli road.
Ukhimath is the winter home of the deity
of Kedarnath temple.
Bhairav Nath Temple
To
the south of the main temple stands the
temple of God Bhairav, the deity who
guards the Kedarnath Temple in winter,
when it is closed due to severe winter
conditions.
Samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya
Located behind the Kedarnath Temple is
the Samadhi or the final resting place
where the saint gave up his life.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is
jolly Grant Airport about 1 8 kms. from
Rishikesh connected to Delhi via
Vayudoot Flights.
Rail : The nearest convenient
railway station is Haridwar on a branch
line well connected to Delhi, Bombay and
Calcutta.
Road : Rishikesh is the starting
point for the hilly regions of Garhwal
and the four holy shrines of Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri
besides Hemkund Sahib.
Accommodation
Tourist Rest House, GMVN from UP Tourism
Accommodation are available. There are
also Private Hotels and Dharamshala and
Temple Committee Guest House. Local
eateries/dhabas which offer only
vegetarian food. Non-vegetarian food and
alcoholic drinks are prohibited.
