Kedarnath, Uttarakhand India

Kedarnath, Uttarakhand India

Kedarnath is the seat of Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 m at the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage for the Hindus. It is no wonder that Adi Guru Shankaracharya - a great scholar & saint, chose to enshrine Lord Shiva in this land, where the unholy becomes oly and the holy becomes holier. Kedar meaning powerful is another name of Lord Shiva the protector and the destroyer.
Situated in the backdrop of the majestic Sri Kedarnath range, Kedarnath is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.
At Kedarnath there are several Kunds (pools, tanks) that are known for their religious significans - shivkund, Retkund, hanskund, Udakkund, Rudhirkund are the most important. A little away from Kedarnath is a temple dedicated to Bhaironathji who is ceremoniously worshipped at the opening & closing of Kedarnath. The belief is that Bhairavnathji protects this land from evil during the time when temple of Kedarnath is closed. There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Sri Kedarnath.
During the winters, the shrine is submerged in snow & hence is closed. Fortunate are those who have good weather, but twice blessed are those who are at Kedarnath on a moonlit night- the snow peak gleams like hundred silver pinnacles atop the glittering mountains.
The holiest of Shiva's shrines is linked to Gold among base metals so that every pilgrims finds peace here, and it is said that devotees who die here become one with Shiva himself. Beyond the temple is the highway to heaven, called Mahapanth.

Kedarnath Temple Guide

The opening of date of Kedarnath Temple is fixed and depends on the Shiva Ratri and decided by priests in Ukhimath. Normally Kedarnath temple opens on Mid May. The closing date of Kedarnath is fixed on Yama Dwitiya (second day after Diwali, November).
Kedarnath Temple is open for devotees from 6 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.
Shingar Darshan is from 5 pm onwards and Aarti is performed at 6:45 pm. Sharavani Annakoot Mela is celebrated on the day before Raksha Bandhan during August. Special Samadhi puja is help on the closing day of Kedarnath.
The Kedarnath Temple committee office organises booking for special pooja which is performed before the general darshan in the morning.

Places to visit in and around Kedarnath

Shandaracharya Samadhi

The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Chorbari (Gandhi Sarovar)

Only 1 km trek away from Kedarnath. Floating - ice on the crstal clear waters of the lake fascinates the visitors.

Vasuki Tal

Situated at a height of 4,150mt, the lake is surrounded by high mountains and offers an excellent view of Chaukhamba peaks.

Gaurikund

It is the base for a trek to Kedarnath and serves as a roadhead. The village has a temple dedicated to Gauri and hot water springs.

Trijuginarayan

According to legend,this was the place where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnised. In front of the Shiva Temple.

Ukhimath

Winter home of the deity at Kedarnath temple and the seat of the rawal of Kedarnath.Cinnected by bus services to Rudraprayag and other major centers.

Panch Kedar

Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpnath with Kedarnath form the Panch Kedar, the five most important temples of Lord Shiva in Garhwal Himalayas.

Madmaheshwar

One of Panch Kedars, the temple of Madmaheshwar is located at an altitude of 3,289 mt above sea-level, on the slope of a ridge, 25 km north-east of Guptkashi. There is a motorable road from Guptashi to Kalimath.
The best statue of Har Gauri in India measuring over a metre high is found in the kali temple. The trek from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar is distinguished by wild unparalleled scenic beauty and engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Gaundar at the confluence of Madmeshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last settlement before one reaches Madmaheshwar, the place where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of belly.

Tungnath

The arms of Lord Shiva came out as per the Kedarnath myth at Tungnath. He is worshipped here as one of the Panch Kedars. Tungnath Temple at an altitude of 3,680mt is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch kedars but the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest roadhead.

Rudranath

The face of Lord Shiva is worshipped at the Rudranath temple, at an elevation of 2,286 mt above sea-level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the has to be trekked. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque bugyals and involves trekking over high ridges (some times 4,000 mt). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of holy Kund near Rudranath temple namely - Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund etc. The entire area is utterly enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty.
Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3 km.

Kalpeshwar

The more hardy to tourist may like to trek about 35 km to Kalpeshwar, where the locks (hair) with head, of Lord Shiva are worshipped. Located in Urgam Valley at an altitude of 2,134 mt above sea-level, the temple is a further 10 k m trek from Rudranath to Helong, the motor head on Rishikesh- Badrinath route.

Deoria Tal

At an altitude of 2,440 mt, the beautiful lake of Deoria Tal is located on the Chopta - Ukhimath motor road about 3 km away from Sari. Another trek is from Ukhimath.
In the early morning, the snow Kedarnath are clearly refected on the lake waters. The lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.

The best time to visit Kedarnath is between May-October.

CLIMATE
Summer: Cool during the day and cold at night.
Winter: Snow-bound. Touching sub-zero.

Average Temperature in Badrinath
Month	Max Temp.	Min Temp
Apr	3 °C	0 °C
May	5 °C	0 °C
Jun	14.5 °C	5.9 °C
Jul	18.2 °C	10
Aug	18 °C	10.5
Sep	16 °C	8.5
Oct	12.5 °C	5.6 °C
Nov	5 °C	0 °C
Dec-Mar	Covered with snow

CLOTHING
Summer: Light Woollens.
Winter: Very Heavy Woollens.

How to reach Kedarnath

Kedarnath is well connected through road. The National Highway (NH 58, total length 538 km) from Delhi to Mana is accessible throughout the year.

Air: Jolly grant (Dehradun)-239 km away from Kedarnath of which 225 km is by road and rest 14 km is on foot.
Rail: Railhead at Rishikesh, 221 km away of which 207 km is by road and the rest 14 km is on foot.
Railhead at Kotdwara, 250 km away, of which 236 km is by road and rest 14 km is on foot.
Road: Kedarnath is approachable on footfrom Gaurikund, which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.
Bus This service is available at Rishikesh, Haridwar and Kotdwara for Gaurikund. During Yatra season, some special Yatra services are also arranged to Gaurikund.
Distance from Rishikesh to kedarnath 223 km, via Deoprayag 70 km, Shrinagar 35 km, Rudraprayag 34 km, Tilwara 9 km, Agastyamuni 10 km, Kund 15 km, Sonprayag 3 km Gaurikund 5 km, Rambara 7 km, Garurchatti 4 km, Sri Kedarnath 3 km.
Transport: Buess, private taxies and other light vehicles also ply between Rishikesh and Garikund-Badrinath and back. The charges are not fixed.
Horses, Dandies and Ponies are available at Gaurikund for going and carrying luggage to Kedarnath.
Kedarnath STD Codes

Rishikesh - 0135
Deoprayag - 01378
Srinagar - 01346
Rudraparyag - 01364
Guptkashi - 01364
Gaurikund - 01364
Kedarnath – 01364

Panch Kedar Information

Panch Kedar refers to the five temples of Lord Shiva popularly known as Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar. Panch Kedar is one the most difficult pilgrimages in India as routes are difficult to trek with few lodges and eating places.

Legend and Mythology of Panch Kedar

The five Kedar lies in the valleys between the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. The term Kedar itself means a natural rock formation or a glacial moraine. According to legend, himalayas Kedarnath, the chief seat of the Panch Kedar, come into being during the period when the five Pandava brothers were asked to seek Shiva's blessings, purging them off sin of fratricide, or killing their cousin brothers in the terrifying bettle of Kurukshetra. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to plunge underground when he was spotted by Pandavas. No wonder the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles the rump of bull. The other four places where Shiva is worshipped take their appearance from different part of his body - the navel at Madmaheshwar, the arm at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar.

List of Panch Kedar Temples

Kedarnath » Panch Kedar Travel Guide

The holiest of Shiva's shrines is likened to gold among base metals so that every pilgrim finds peace here, and it is said that devotees who die here become one with Shiva himself. The temple of Kedarnath, located at a height of 3,581 mts, stand at the head of the Mandakini river, with Kedarnath peak keeping vigil above it. The temple is dedicated to the Sadasiva or invisible form of Shiva, and is represented by a natural rock formation. Beyond the temple is the highway to heaven, called Mahapanth.

General Information Kedarnath

Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 251 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 237 Km.
Accommodation : Tourist Rest House, Temple Committee Guest, Private Hotels, lodges and DharamShalas are available.
Nearby Places : Sankaracharya Samadhi, Basuki Tal,
Kund, Bhukund Bhairav,
Chorabari Tal( Gandhi Sarovar )

Madhyamaheshwar » Panch Kedar Travel Guide

Madhmaheshwar (3289 m) - Shiva is worshipped at Madhyamaheshwar in the form of navel - shaped lingum. Located at base of Chaukhamba peak, at an altitude of 3,289 mts, the classic temple architecture belongs to the north - Indian style. So sanctified is the water here that even a few drops are considered sufficient for absolution. The natural scenery is dramatically wild, with deep gorges and himalayas valleys, mountainsides flung upwards towards the skies, and forests where the snow lies thick in winter, only to be replaced by a carpet of greenery in the summer.
Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are also visible from here, the entire ring of mountains associated with the life and times of shiva. The confluences of two streams at Gaundar just short of the temple, is one of the prettiest spots in the region.
The temple opens at 7 am and aarti is performed in the evening from 6 pm to 6:45 pm

Route to Madhyamaheshwar

Rishikesh – Shivpuri – DevPrayag – Srinagar – RudraPrayag – Agastyamuni – Suyal Saur – Ukhimath – Uniana – Ransi – Gaundhar – Bantoli – Madhyamaheshwar

General Information Madhmaheshwar

Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 244 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 227 Km.
Accommodation : Dharamshalas are available.

Tungnath » Panch Kedar Travel Guide

Tungnath (3810 m) - Tungnath is the place where the arm (Bahu) of Shiva appeared.. The sanctity of the region of Tungath is considered unsurpassed. The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that from the river Akashkamini. At this temple at 3,680 mts, Shiva's arm is worshipped. The highest hindu shrine in the Himalayas, 3kms uphill from Chopta, Tungath is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets. An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila with its panoromic views. The entire journey and the shrine are located in some of the finest, most picturesque pocket of the Himalaya.
The Tungnath temple opens from 6 am to 7 pm. And aarti is performed daily at 6:30 pm

Route to Tungnath

From Rishikesh: Rishikesh – Shivpuri – DevPrayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Agastyamuni – Suyal Saur – Kund – Ukhimath – Chopta – Tungnath
From Gopeshwar: Badrinath Kedarnath Road – Chamoli – Gopeshwar – Mandal – Chopta - Tungnath

General Information Tungnath

Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 232 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 215 Km.
Accommodation : Dharamshalas are available and hotels at Chopta.

Rudranath » Panch Kedar Travel Guide

Rudranath (2286 m) - Rudranath is where the face of Shiva (Mukh) is said to have appeared. Here there is a natural rock temple in which the Shiva Mukha is worshipped. Devotees come to Rudranath to offer ritual obeisance ti their ancestors, for it is here, at Vaitarani river that the soal of dead cross when entering another world. The temple of Rudranath at 2,286 mts, entails trekking through ridges at almost twice that height before reaching the meadow where it is located. Within the sanctum, Shiva's image is worshipped in the form of his face. The temple is surround by several pools - Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund, Manas Kund - while the great peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti rear overhead.
The Rudranath Temple opens at 7 am, there is special Shingaar Pooja takes place at 7:30 pm. Aarti is performed in the evening at 6:30 pm.

General Information Rudranath

Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 258 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 241 Km.
Accommodation : Dharamshalas are available.

Kalpeshwar » Panch Kedar Travel Guide

Kalpeshwar (2134 m) - situated in the beautiful valley of Urgam, here Shiva is worshipped in his matted hair form (Jata). A favorite spots for sages who come here to meditate, following the precedent of Arghya who performed austerities and created the celebrated nymph, Urvashi, here, and the irascible Durvasha who meditated under the wish fulfilling tree, Kalpavriksha, Pilgrims pray at the small rock temple at a height of 2,134 mts. before the matted tresses of Shiva enshrined in rock in the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a natural cave passage. Surrounded by thick forests and terraced fields in the Urgam valley, the temple is reached following a 10 km. long trek.
The Kalpeshwar Temple opens at 7 am and aarti is performed in the evening at 6 pm

General Information Kalpeshwar

Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 272 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 155 Km.
Accommodation : Dharamshalas are available.