Kedarnath | Location, Weather, Guide, Hotels

Kedarnath Dham is a sacred Hindu temple located in the Rudraprayag district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is one of the four major shrines in the Chota Char Dham Yatra, along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, near the Mandakini River. Kedarnath is a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus and attracts millions of visitors every year. The temple has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Mahabharata era. According to legend, the Pandavas, a group of five brothers, wanted to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva for the war they had fought. However, Lord Shiva, unwilling to forgive them, disguised himself as a bull and fled to Kedarnath. The Pandavas followed him, and after catching him, the temple was established at the same spot. The temple was later renovated by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Kedarnath Dham is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters above sea level and is open to visitors from April to November. The temple can be reached by foot, horse, or helicopter. The trek to Kedarnath is considered one of the most challenging in the Chota Char Dham Yatra, with a distance of 16 km from Gaurikund, the base camp. The temple complex consists of the Garbha Griha or sanctum sanctorum, the Mandap, and the Sabha Mandap. The Garbha Griha houses the idol of Lord Kedarnath, which is made of black stone and stands at a height of 3 feet. The idol is adorned with gold and silver ornaments and is surrounded by several other idols. The Mandap is the place where visitors can get a glimpse of the idol, while the Sabha Mandap is used for religious ceremonies.

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One of the most significant rituals performed at Kedarnath Dham is the Rudrabhishek, which is a prayer ceremony dedicated to Lord Shiva. The ceremony involves bathing the idol of Lord Shiva with milk, honey, and other sacred offerings. The ceremony is said to bring blessings and good fortune to the devotees. Apart from the temple, there are several other attractions in Kedarnath Dham that are worth visiting. The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, located near the temple, is home to several rare species of flora and fauna, including the Himalayan black bear and the snow leopard. The Vasuki Tal, a high-altitude lake situated at an altitude of 4,135 meters, is also a popular trekking destination. However, the devastating floods in 2013 caused massive damage to Kedarnath Dham and the surrounding area. The floods resulted in the loss of several lives, including many pilgrims visiting the temple. The temple complex was also severely damaged, with several buildings and structures washed away by the floods. Since then, the government and the local authorities have taken several measures to rebuild and restore Kedarnath Dham. The temple has been rebuilt, and new structures have been constructed to improve the infrastructure and facilities for the visitors. The local authorities have also taken measures to prevent such disasters from occurring in the future, including the construction of a new retaining wall to protect the temple from landslides and floods