Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand – Inside Travel Guide
Kedarnath Temple, the one among the 12 Jyotirlingas stands magnificently at a height of 3580mts. This temple is fully surrounded by the mighty Garhwal Himalayas. Kedarnath is one of the 4 sites of the Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage. Devoted to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is placed among the 275 temples of Paadal Petra Sthalams which means the most powerful Shiva temples around the world. Kedarnath also holds the first position in the list of Panch Kedars.
The Mandakini River flows along the side of Kedarnath offering fresh air and beautiful views to the tourists. Every year, a large number of Hindus travel to Kedarnath Temple to get the Lord Shiva blessings. This temple has become a favorite spot for adventure seekers and religious people.
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Location of Kedarnath Temple
The holy town of Kedarnath lies in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is regarded as one of the most important Dhams in the group of Panch Kedars. The Kedarnath town is held close to Chorabari glacier which is the head of Mandakini River. This town is also covered by the snow-capped peaks. Gaurikund, the nearest road head is at a distance of 18 to 19 km from the city.
Darshan Timing Kedarnath Temple
Every day, the temple remains open from 4.00 am to 9.00 pm. There is a break in between 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm wherein no one can take temple Darshan. Because of extreme climatic conditions, the Kedarnath Temple is open only for six months per year.
Entry Ticket Kedarnath Temple
There is no entry fee for the devotees to enter the Kedarnath Temple.
Dress of the Temple Kedarnath
There is no special clothing to have Darshan at Kedarnath Temple. All you have to wear simple clothes which is ideal for religious places. It is better to wear white lungis for men.
How to reach Kedarnath Temple
Through Air – The nearest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant airport held on Rishikesh-Dehradun road. Then, hire a cab to Gaurikund or till Haridwar or Rishikesh.
Through Train – There are regular trains from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun at all times of the year. On reaching there, you can hire a cab or bus to reach the temple.
Through Bus – Gaurikund has good road-network connecting important places like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Uttarkashi and Tehri, Pauri, and Chameli.
Best Time to Visit Kedarnath Temple
Summer months are best to visit Kedarnath Temple as the minimum temperature remains 5 degrees and the maximum is around 18 degrees. This season is perfect for exploring temples and sightseeing. During the monsoon season lasting from July to August, there are heavy rains that lead to floods and landslides. This time is not good for traveling.
Some Other Interesting Facts about Kedarnath
It is believed that the Pandavas erected the Kedarnath Temple. Later on, this temple was revived and rebuilt by theologian Adi Shankara in the 18th century.
The white marble used at the outer portion of Kedarnath Temple symbolizes peace and harmony.
The conical statue of Kedarnath Ji lies in the Garba Griha (sanctum sanatorium) while the leading deity lies at the Mandapa (assembly hall).
The Kedarnath Temple consists of sculptures of five Pandavas with their queen, Parvati, Lord Krishna, Nandi, Virabhadra, among other deities, including the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
In this temple, the mantras are chanted in Kannada. The puja rituals like Rudrabhishek, Maha Abhishek, Shodashopachar Puja, and Laghu Rudrabhishek take place in the day time. Shiv Mahimnastrota path, Shiva Saharanamam path, and Shiva Tandav Stotra path took place in the evening. Maha Abhishekam puja takes place between 4 to 7 am.
The Kedarnath Temple is under the control of the Kedarnath Temple Committee made under Shri Kedarnath Mandir Act of UP government.
