Kedarnath is a holy Hindu town in India's Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the Char Dhams located in the Himalayas. Kedarnath is at an astonishing height of 3584 meters above sea level, near the head of the Mandakini River.
Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is believed to be the most powerful of the trinity of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma. Set amidst the snow-clad mountains near the Chorabari glacier and on the bank of the Mandakini River, Kedarnath Uttarakhand offers a fantastic spectacle of the surrounding mountainscape. The pilgrims can trek to the Kedarnath Temple or reach the temple by pony or palki from Gaurikund.
History and Legends of Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath Mandir is the abode of Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil and the protector of humankind. It is among the holiest places for Hindus. According to the legends, after the battle of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas were burdened with the guilt of killing their siblings, and they were looking for Lord Shiva to atone for their sins.
However, Lord Shiva or Kedar eluded them by disguising himself as a bull to roam into the Garhwal Himalayas. When the Pandavas discovered him, he dove into the ground, and Bhim tried to catch him but only got hold of the hump. Hence, the hump of the bull Nandi is worshiped at Kedarnath.
The celestial Bull Nandi statue guards the Kedarnath Mahadev Temple's entrance. Lord Shiva's body parts (in the form of the bull) fall in different places, such as the navel that emerged in Madhya Maheshwar, two forelegs that appeared at Tungnath, the face in Rudranath, and hairs at Kalpeshwar. Together, these sacred places are known as Panch Kedar.
Pandavas are believed to have built the Kedarnath Temple, and Adi Shankaracharya restored the present temple in the 8th century AD.
Kedarnath Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2023
Among the highly revered temples of Lord Shiva, lakhs of devotees visit Kedarnath Temple to seek blessings from the supreme being. If you want to do it too, book the Kedarnath Yatra 2023 through Indian Holiday. This year, Kedarnath Temple opening date is on April 25, 2023, and closes on November 14, 2023 (tentatively).
On the closing day of the temple, the deities and the priests shift the idol of the Kedarnath Temple to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. Pilgrims can visit there to seek blessings.
Kedarnath Temple Aarti
The Pooja rituals of Baba Kedarnath Temple start in the early morning at 4:00 a.m. with the Maha Abhishek Aarti and end at 7:00 p.m. with the Shyan Aarti. The temple opens for darshan for pilgrims at 6:00. It closes for two hours, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, the kedarnath Shiv Mandir remains open to the public till 7:00 p.m.
Some pujas can be booked online by the devotees, and no physical presence of the pilgrims is needed. Here is the list of pujas that can be booked online:
Registration for Kedarnath Yatra
Pilgrims must obtain a registration slip for the Kedarnath Yatra. Both online and offline options are available for registration for the yatra. The online pass can be obtained from the official website of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board (UCDDMB).
For offline registration, you require photo ID proof, which can be obtained from the Haridwar railway station, Rishikesh bus stand, Janki Chatti, Guptkashi, Phata, Uttarkashi, and Sonprayag. In addition, carrying the registration slip with you for the Yatra is mandatory.
Places to visit in Kedarnath
There are a plethora of places to visit around Kedarnath Temple that have mythological connotations, especially from the Mahabharata epic. These places offer the finest views and let pilgrims immerse themselves in spiritual bliss. Everyone, once in their lifetime, must visit this one of the most sacred places on earth. Here are the places to visit near Kedarnath:
- Gandhi Sarovar
- Phata
- Sonprayag
- Gaurikund
- Vasuki Tal
- Shankaracharya Samadhi
- Triyuginarayan Temple
- Bhairav Temple
Things to do in Kedarnath
Breath-taking snow-covered Himalayan mountains, a 1,000-year-old temple invoking deep emotions, and an enveloping divine aura, is Kedarnath, the Land of the Gods. Here are the top things to do in Kedarnath on your next vacation to Uttarakhand, and have a great time away from the hustle and bustle.
- Kedarnath trekking
- Enveloped in the beauty of nature at Sunset Point
- Check the scenery at Kedarnath river
- Seek blessings at Kedarnath Temple
- Trek to Chorabari Tal
- Pray at Anusuya Devi Temple
- Enjoy Vasuki Tal Kedarnath
Best time to visit Kedarnath
The best time to visit Kedarnath is from April to June and September to October because it is the time when Kedarnath weather is comfortable and pleasant for the Yatra. During the summer season, the Kedarnath temperature remains balmy. However, avoiding the Yatra during the monsoon season is advisable as the region experiences heavy downpours, which cause landslides and floods in some areas.
The region experiences heavy snowfall in the winter, so temples remain closed for almost six months. The perfect kedarnath weather is under two seasons.
How to reach Kedarnath
Finding how to reach Kedarnath? Then, Gaurikund is the last point to which the vehicle can travel. After that, pilgrims have to travel to the shrine by road. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, 238 km from Gaurikund. Rishikesh railway station is the nearest railhead. Devotees can board a bus, catch a shared jeep, or hire a private taxi from the airport and railway station for Gaurikund. It is also well-connected to the major cities and towns of North India by road.
Accommodation in Kedarnath
There are a few options for accommodation available in Kedarnath. However, there are a plethora of options available at nearby places as well as in Gaurikund. GMVN camps, tents, and rest houses in Kedarnath and Gaurikund. They can be booked online through GMVN's official website. Some accommodations also offer night stay near kedarnath temple. In addition, many hotels, resorts, rest houses, lodges, and ashrams are available in Gaurikund, Phata, Guptkashi, and Sonprayag. Some of them are Camp Nirvana, Guptkashi, Rawat Tourist Lodge, Guptkashi, Hotel Madhuban, Guptkashi, Yatra Hill Resort, Phata, and more.
Where to eat in Kedarnath?
In Kedarnath, the options for eating are minimal, with only minor eating points. Therefore, one should expect small, well-lit restaurants. However, several small dhabas and small eateries are nestled in the area. Consequently, it is good to carry ready-to-eat food and drinks. Moreover, only vegetarian food is available and allowed in Kedarnath, and any alcoholic beverage and non-vegetarian food are prohibited in the vicinity of Kedarnath. Some best places to eat in kedarnath are Natraj Restaurant, TF Chatti, Umendra Bhatt Café, Hotel Sri Hari, and Restaurant.
How to get around in Kedarnath?
In Kedarnath, a pilgrimage site in India, the primary mode of transportation is by foot or by hiring a palanquin (a seat carried by porters). There are only motorable roads within Gaurikund, the nearest road head. As a result, trekking is the most common way to get around, and palanquin services are available for those who prefer not to walk.
Travel Tips
- The temple remained closed for six months due to heavy snowfall. It remains open from April to October.
- It is recommendable to avoid harsh winters and monsoon seasons. The region receives heavy snowfall in the winter and heavy downpours in the monsoon, which can cause landslides.
- Keep buffer days in case you are traveling in the monsoon season.
- Remember to carry heavy woolen in the winter season along with sunscreen and sunglasses to avoid sunburn.
- Carry light woolen in the summer season.
- In the monsoon, remember to carry an umbrella and raincoat.
- Always carry a first aid kit with painkillers and antiseptic creams. Tablets for fever, cold, cough, and altitude sickness are necessary.
- While trekking, wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.
- Carry a battery-operated torch, fully-charged power banks, and extra camera batteries.
