Kedarnath Temple of Shiva in Uttarakhand India
Built in the 8th century by Jagat Guru Adi Shankaracharya, this famous Chardham pilgrimage site is situated next to a temple built by the Pandavas of Mahabharat. Kedarnath Temple opens for only 6 months in a year from the last week of April to the first week of November due to the heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions.
In Kedarnath Temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a swayambhu Linga. The lingam is conical in shape which is an unusual feature. The statue of Nandi – the celestial bull, stands at the entrance of the temple. The interiors of Kedarnath temple are decorated with carved images from mythology. Inside the first hall are the statues of Lord Krishna, Pancha Pandavas, and Virabhadra (Veerabhadra), one of the greatest guards of Lord Shiv. Kedarnath Temple is said to be more than 1000 years old and is built of evenly cut gray slabs of stones. There is a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap for pilgrims and visitors. Kedarnath Temple lies close to the Indo-Chinese border and is bordered by snow covered peaks.
The Samadhi Mandir of Jagadguru Adi Shankara is situated behind the Kedarnath Temple.
Temple Timings
The temple opens only 6 months a year (April – November) when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio. Then the idol is taken to Ukhimath, where the worship is continued during the winter season.
How to Reach Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath is about 234 km from Rishikesh and 250 km from Dehradun. Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun. Nearest railheads are Rishikesh and Kotdwar (260 km). The motor-able road to Kedarnath Temple ends at Gaurikund and from there pilgrims have to trek 14 km to reach Kedarnath Shrine. Gaurikund is connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.
Read More Details about How to Reach Gaurikund Here
Tourist Spots near Kedarnath
Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar) is a small lake situated about 2 km from Kedarnath. Vasuki Tal, another charming lake is about 6 km. Gaurikund (14 km) is the trekking base to Kedarnath and has a temple dedicated to Gauri. Sonprayag (20 km) is the confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers.
Triyuginarayan (25 km) is a 5 km trek from Sonprayag. It is the mythological venue of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Guptkashi (49 km) with temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath are noteworthy sites. Besides, Ukhimath (60 km), Agastyamuni (73 km), Chandrashila Peak (93 km), Deoria Tal (68 km) are also worth visiting.
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