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Kedarnath Uttaranchal
Kedarnath General Information
Introduction :: Kedarnath is the most important Hindu shrine in Himalayas, and among the major Shiva temples, of the country. Located at the source of the river Mandakini, Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, of Lord Shiva, and one of the Panch Kedars. Mythology identifies the deity at Kedarnath temple, with the rump of a bull, a form assumed by Lord Shiva, when eluding the Pandavas, who had come for repentance for killing their kith and kin, in the great battle of Kurukshetra. It is believed that the temple of Kedarnath, was constructed by the Pandavas. 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, and the temple houses a shiva lingam, which is worshipped by hordes of pilgrims. At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from Garhwal (Kedarkhand) to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. Legends notwithstanding, the shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can be sighted from great distances. The sight of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snows is, simply, an enthralling sight.
Area
3 sq. km.
Altitude
3581 mtr. above sea level .
Temperature
Summer :- Max 18ºC, Min 10.5ºC.
Winter :- Max 4ºC, Min 0ºC (Snow Bound).
Rainfall
1475 mm.
Languages spoken
Hindi, Garwali.
Clothes
Summer :- Light Woollens.
Winter :- Very heavy Woollens.
Season:
May-October.
STD Code
01372-86
Kedarnath Sightseeing
Kedarnath Temple :: Kedarnath TempleBuilt 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.
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.
Vasuki Tal :: 6 km. At 4135 mtr. Above sea level, this lake is extraordinary, surrounded by high mountains and offering an excellent view of the Chaukhamba peaks.
Gandhi Sarovar :: 1.5 km. A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven.
Gaurikund :: An ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Gauri or Parvati, the Gaurikund houses the metallic idols of Gauri and Shiva. According to legend, Parvati meditated here for a long time, to win Shiva as her consort. Ultimately, she succeeded, and the cosmic couple were wed at Trijuginarayan.
Shankaracharya 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.
Kedarnath Excursions
Son Prayag :: Son Prayag, Kedarnath ExcursionLocated at the confluence of the Mandakini and the Sone-Ganga, this quaint village is known for its picturesque beauty.
Trijuginarayan :: According to legend, this was the place where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnised. In front of the Shiva Temple is an eternal flame, which is said to be a witness to the marriage. It can be reached by a 12 km drive from Sonprayag.
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 northeast of Guptkashi. There is a motorable road from Guptkashi 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 Madmaheshwar 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 3,680 mt, is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch Kedars but the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest roadhead.
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 snowcapped peaks, including Chaukhamba and Kedamath are clearly reflected on the lake waters. This lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.
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 distance is motorable and the rest 18 km 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.
Chandrashila :: The Chandrashila peak provides a rare panoramic view of innumerable snow-clad peaks.
Kedarnath Travel Information
Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehra Dun 239 km.
Rail : Railhead at Rishikesh, 221 km away. Railhead at Kotdwara, 250 km away.Road : Keadrnath is connected by road with rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwai and Kumaon Hills.
Some important cities distance from Kedarnath
Rishkesh 223 kms.
Deoprayag 70 kms.
Shrinagar 35 km.
Rudraprayag 34 kms.
Rampur 9 km.
Guptkashi 5 kms.
Fairs and Festivals
This holy town witnesses lot of fairs and festivals throughout the year. Being an important Hindu religious site, it joins in the celebration of almost all the major festivals. Some of the major festivals celebrated in Kedarnath are Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchmi, Shivaratri, Holi, Deepawali etc. Badri Kedar festival held in the month of June is a popular local festival. This festival is celebrated for eight days and many artists from all over the country take part in it.
BADRI KEDAR FESTIVAL :: Held in the month of June, nothing could be a perfect manifestation of Hindu religion and culture. The Badri Kedar festival is held in the sacred shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the month of June. The festivities go on for a stretch of eight days. The festival makes an attempt to bring under one platform, the greatest artists of the country.
Yatra :: The trek to Kedarnath commences at Gaurikund. From here to Rambara, the trek goes along the River Mandakini through the forests. While this walk is a little steep, from Rambara onward the trek is much easier.
