Kedarnath Temple | One of the Top 12 Jyotirlingas of India
Kedarnath, you read it as a single word, but I see the whole world in this single word. You heard me right, “Kedarnath” means “a lord on the field”. The definition is derived from Sanskrit. The whole world follows this single word. Kedarnath temple is a sacred pilgrimage center in Northern India. It is a divine temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. This temple is located in the Garhwal region of the river Mandakini, in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India dedicated to Lord Shiva and also a part of the Char Dham of India. Kedarnath temple is situated at a height of 11700 feet above sea level. It is one of those temples from India that is open only for six months due to the bad weather in the surrounding area. The base village to reach here is Gauri Kund near Sonprayag in Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand state.
What is the History behind the Kedarnath Shrine?
In epic Maharashtra, after the Pandavas defeated the
Kauravas, they sought forgiveness for killing their own family members,
as their enemies also happened to be their cousins. Lord Shiva refused them,
Pandavas continued their quest for absolution from lord Shiva. Later, Lord Shiva
dove into the ground in the form of a bull to elude them. He left his hump behind
at Kedarnath below Mandakini River, where a magnificent stone temple was built in the 8th
century by Guru Shankara. Another portion of lord Shiva's bull form is worshiped
at other Kedar Shrines.
How to reach Kedarnath Temple?
Kedarnath temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of
Uttarakhand state, India. Kedarnath is an uphill trek of 18 km long that starts
from the village of Gauri Kund. To reach Gauri Kund, you first need to reach the village of Sonprayag and then share a taxi to Gauri Kund village. (Distance from Sonprayag to Gauri Kund
is 4 km). This can be reached by following different modes of transportation.
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun,
Uttarakhand. From the airport, the distance to Kedarnath temple is 240 km to Kedarnath temple. Daily
flights are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai to Jolly Grant
Airport.
By Train
There is no direct railway station to Kedarnath. The nearest
railhead is either Rishikesh or Haridwar in Uttarakhand, India. These
two major railway stations are accessible from different states of India. After
getting down at the railway station, take a local bus or shared taxi to reach
Sonprayag. There are different shared taxis from Sonprayag to Gauri Kund.
By Road
Kedarnath is well connected to New Delhi and Dehradun by a bus
network by a private vehicle. If you get down at Delhi, then take a direct bus to
reach Dehradun or Haridwar, or Rishikesh. From here, plenty of options are
available to reach further to Sonprayag and Gauri Kund. One can also hire a self-driving cab from Delhi or Dehradun. Shared taxis are also an option to reach
Kedarnath.
Private and GMOU
buses are available from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun to reach Sonprayag.
Private bus fare is
500 to 600
GMOU bus fare is 400
to 500
AC or Volvo buses are
not available for Sonprayag.
All the buses running towards Sonprayag leave early in the morning between 3am to 7am.
Gauri Kund to Kedarnath Trek
Reaching Kedarnath temple is not a difficult task;
however, the trek that starts from Gauri Kund and ends at Kedarnath summit point is a little tiring. But if you are an adventurer, then you will definitely love it.
Many Devotees flock to Kedarnath to pay a visit to the ancient shrine of Lord Shiva.
Before one starts for the Kedarnath trek, do prepare your small traveling bag and leave early morning from Sonprayag. Though you find it only an 18 km trek, due to the high altitude, one may find it difficult and tiring. The trek level is moderate to difficult. The route goes exactly parallel to the river Mandakini, which offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding Himalayan Mountains. The road goes through the market area of the Gauri Kund village. Those who are allergists to trekking, horses, and Pittu's are available that take you to the summit point.
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| Gauri Kund village, parallel to the Mandakini River, is the starting point of the trek. The |
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| Mandakini River looks so attractive. |
The initial road starts with crossing the Ghoda Padav place near
Gauri Kund. Ghoda Padav is the place from where you can take a horse to reach the Kedarnath temple. The old trek routes from Rambara village to Kedarnath temple had
been completely demolished in the flood of 2013. The new trek route begins from
Gauri Kund. The trek route is very easy and offers different scenery to the
trekkers. The route is zig-zag and offers a view of ample waterfalls along the route. One has to follow the foot track towards the temple. The route is not steep, but yes, due to low oxygen levels, you will feel dehydrated throughout
the trek. You may find many trekkers on the route, including the elderly; this will
motivate you towards your destination. After a walk for a few hours, you cross
the Bridge of the Mandakini River. The view from this bridge is astonishing, and it
will amaze you.
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| Kedarnath temple trekking route |
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| Mandakini River crossing bridge |
As you cross the Bhimbali area on the route to Kedarnath, you
will get the first glimpse of the snow-capped mountain. This view will energize
you. While trekking in high-altitude areas, do not take a long break. Once your body loses heat then you will find it tougher to restart the trek. Do not be overconfident while trekking. Keep your eyes on the trekking route because most of the time, the horses coming from the back can hit
you or can also cause some injury. Keep drinking water even if you don’t feel
thirsty. As you get closer to the temple, the route becomes more slippery due
to the glacier. You may slip while walking on the hardened ice; one has to be careful.
There are small huts available on the trekking route that sell Parathas, snacks,
tea, and some cold drinks. Once you reach your final destination, the glimpse of the Kedarnath temple will leave you speechless. The craze of Lord Shankar among the youth
is worth praise. The area surrounding the temple was
completely destroyed in the 2013 flood. Now, there is a lot of improvement in the trek
route to the Kedarnath temple. The surrounding mountain of the temple is completely
immersed in the snow, and this is the peculiarity of the Kedarnath temple. There
is a statue of Nandi (Lord Shiva's Bull) in front of the temple, and one is inside
the temple. The architecture of the temple looks exquisite. The temple walls
look amazing with the carving of statues of Parvati, Krishna, Draupadi, and the 5
Pandavas. The inside of the temple has beautiful Shivlinga that represent the
hump of the bull. Trekking doesn’t stop here; you can also extend your trek
further to Charobali Tall, Vasu ki Tall, and Bhairav Temple, situated a few km
away from Kedarnath Temple.
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| First glimpse of the Kedarnath temple with the snow-capped mountain in the background |
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| Trekking route covered in deep snow |
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| Kedarnath Dham view from the top |
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| Helicopter landing site near Kedarnath temple |
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| Kedarnath temple is incomplete without visiting the Bhairav temple. |
Ideal Time to Visit Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple is situated at a height of 11500 feet, is open only for 6 months in the year. Temple normally closes in the first week
of November, and it opens in April or May months depending on the
Shubh date. The same timing is applicable to the other three Dhammas also.
Spending your summer in a snow-capped area is preferable.
April to June is the ideal time to do the Char Dham yatra, including the Kedarnath temple. This
is the time when the weather is soothing and warm, unlike the chilling temperature
of winter, and you can also explore the surrounding place as per your
comfort level.
The monsoon is unpredicted in the Himalayan Mountains; you
may witness very heavy showers from July to September. When this area
receives rain then it can lead to several landslides in this area, resulting
in the blockage of the roads. This roadblock can sometimes ruin your entire
plan. Always take proper information if you’re planning to visit during monsoon
time.
Winter, from October to November, brings freezing temperatures in
the Himalayas. It will test your endurance level and leave you breathless. No
doubt you will get to see one of the best views this month, but be prepared
to face a minus temperature at the summit point. Due to this weather condition, the temple closes in November. The area surrounding the temple gets
covered with heavy snow. No one is allowed to visit here once the temple gets
close.
Stay Option at Kedarnath Temple
There are many stay options available at Sonprayag,
Gauri Kund, and near the Kedarnath temple.
Hall Stay
A common hall is available for stay in the Sonprayag and Gauri Kund area. You will be charged 300 per person per bed, and this is also
budget-friendly for those who want to do this trip at nominal charges.
Room Stay
Rooms are available at Sonprayag, Gauri Kund, and near the Kedarnath temple. A decent room with a geezer facility will cost you around 3000
to 6000 per room. If you are a solo traveler or in a small group, then it is better
to join a big group to contribute to a larger room.
Tent Stay
Tent stays are available at the base camp, 1 km before the temple. You can also pitch your own tent at any place. No one is going to take
objection. You will get a stay at your convenience.
An in-season stay near the temple will not be available due to the large crowd and due to the unavailability of rooms. It is always better to go with proper details.
What Food is Available at Kedarnath?
Being situated in the Pahadi area, there are many huts
available that sell the Parathas, Dal Rice, Rajma Rice, and Maggy with some
nominal charges. You may get tea and cold drinks also. Don’t expect continental
food in the Pahadi area. Sometimes you have to make adjustments for the food, no
doubt, food is very tasty, and people who cook food are so kind.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Plan Your Kedarnath Trip
- If you are not a regular trekker, then please avoid trekking to Kedarnath, as you will suffer a lot if you are not a regular trekker.
- Helicopters, Horses, and pithu’s rides are available to reach the Kedarnath temple. Charges for these range from 2300 INR to 2800 INR per person for a single way.
- Carry your own food like dry fruits, chocolates, glucose to keep you energized throughout the trek.
- Portable washrooms are available every 1 or 2 km, so no worries
- Locker rooms are available at Sonprayag and Gauri Kund village. (50 INR per bag per day)
- Carry an Insulator bottle that will keep drinking water hot; you can refill this bottle at every food stall.
- Carry proper woolen/fleece clothes to keep you warm at night.
- An oxygen cylinder is available at the base point on a rental basis.
- Carry a normal first aid box with the mountain sickness medicine kit.
- Do not litter the area around the Kedarnath temple.
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Awesome:)
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