Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, at about 3,580 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, beneath snow peaks beside the Mandakini. It is one of the Chota Char Dham shrines and the chief of the five Kedar temples (Panch Kedar). The temple is reached only on foot (a trek of about 16 to 18 km from Gaurikund), by pony or palki, or by helicopter, and it is open only in the summer season.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, worshipped as a rounded rock
- See the stone temple and the Nandi statue in the courtyard
- Visit the shrine of Adi Shankaracharya behind the temple
- Walk up to the Bhairavnath Temple above the village, if the weather allows
- Take in the snow peaks around the valley, best in the early morning
Ideal for
- Devotees on the Do Dham or Char Dham yatra
- Pilgrims who want a Jyotirlinga in the Himalayas
- Fit travellers and those who go by helicopter
Good to know
- Registration is mandatory, and guests must carry a valid photo ID
- The trek is about 16 to 18 km (7 to 8 hours for a fit person), so start before dawn, carry rain gear and warm clothes, and go at your own pace
- The air is thin at this height: drink water, avoid rushing, and tell your guide if you feel unwell
- Weather changes quickly, and the shrine is open from about late April or May to early November
- Temple timings and aarti times vary, so confirm locally; crowds are largest in May, June and October
Spiritual significance
Tradition links Kedarnath with the Pandavas, who sought Shiva to atone for the war. He is said to have taken the form of a bull and appeared here as the hump. It is a Jyotirlinga and a Panch Kedar shrine.
Why it matters
- A Jyotirlinga in the Himalayas: one of the twelve, and the highest of them
- The first of the Panch Kedar: the other four are in the same region
- Adi Shankaracharya's connection: a shrine behind the temple remembers him
- A pilgrimage you earn by walking: the climb is part of the offering