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of Lord
Shiva, in pyramidal shape. In summers, the temperature
is very cool during the day and cold at night and in
winters, it is very cold during the day and chilly at
night and below zero. During the winters, the shrine is
submerged in the snow and closed. The ideal time to
visit this place is between May and October. Hindi,
Garhwali and English are the main languages which are
spoken here.
History of Kedarnath
The origin of the Kedarnath temple can be found in the
great epic, Mahabharata. According to legend, the
Pandavas sought the blessings of the Lord Shiva to atone
their sins after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva
eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at
Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he
dived into the ground, leaving behind his hump on the
surface. This conical form is worshipped as the idol in
the shrine. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are
worshipped at four places-the arms (bahu) at Tungnath,
mouth (mukha) at Rudranath, naval (nabhi) at
Madmaheshwar and hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar. Together
with Kedarnath, these places are known as the Panch
Kedar.
Tourist Attractions in
Kedarnath
The main tourist attraction in Kedarnath is the
Kedarnath Temple. Besides this temple, the
Shankaracharya Samadhi and Gandhi Sarovar are the other
worth visiting places.
Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This
temple is believed to be about more than 1000 years old
and more impressive than the Badrinath temple. The
temple was built in the 8th century AD by Adi Guru
Shankaracharya and lies adjacent to the site of an
ancient temple built by Pandavas. This temple is built
of large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones and
unpainted. The walls of the temple are embellished with
the figures of deities and scenes from mythology. This
temple comprises of a simple, squat, curved tower, a
garbha griha with the pyramidal lingam and a wooden
roofed mandapa (hall) for seating of pilgrims and
visitors. A large statue of the Nandi, the bull is
situated outside the temple door. From Gaurikund, the
pilgrims have to trek for 14 kms to reach the temple.
Shankaracharya Samadhi
The Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi or the final resting
place is situated behind the Kedarnath Temple. It is
believed that after establishing the four dhams in
India, he went for his Samadhi at an early age of 32
years.
Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar)
Gandhi Sarovar is a small lake from where Yudhishthir,
the eldest of the Pandavas is believed to have departed
to heaven. The floating ice on the sparkling waters of
the lake is a fascinating sight.
Excursion from Kedarnath
Vasuki Tal
Vasuki Tal is a picturesque lake, situated about 4135
meters above sea level, encircled by the lofty mountains
and offers a commanding view of the Chaukumbha peaks.
Gaurikund
Gaurikund is the main trekking base to reach Kedarnath.
From Gaurikund, the pilgrims have to either walk or ride
a mule for 14 kms to reach the temple. The ascent is
reasonably steep and over 1,500 m. A temple dedicated to
Gauri amd thermal springs of medicinal value are worth
visiting places.
Sonprayag
Sonprayag is the confluence of the Son Ganga and
Mandakini rivers. The road to Triyuginarayan diverts
from here.
Triyuginarayan
Triyuginarayan is situated about 5 kms. trek from
Sonprayag. It is the mythological venue of the marriage
of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. An eternal flame,
which is said to have been a witness to the marriage,
burns in front of the temple, even today. |
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How to reach
Kedarnath
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, about
251 kms. from Kedarnath.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is located in Rishikesh,
about 234 kms.
By Road:
Kedarnath is well approachable by foot or ponies from
Gaurikund, which is situated about 14 kms. Gaurikund is
connected by road to Rishikesh, Dehradun, Kotdwar,
Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal
and Kumaon. |
