All About Kedarnath Dham - Travel Guides & Tips 2022 - TravelwithSD

All About Kedarnath Dham - Travel Guides & Tips !!

Kedarnath "temple of the lord of the field" is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. One of the holiest pilgrimages in north India, Kedarnath is situated in Uttarakhand. Located at an altitude of 3584 m above sea level, near the head of river Mandakini. Kedar means strong is another name of the protector and destroyer Lord Shiva. Kedarnath is the most remote of the four Char Dham sites and the most prominent Panchkedar Dham, in the lap of the majestic mountain tops. The majestic aura & the spirituality around the temple looks like harmony in the sky creating a perfect place to meditate. A trip to Kedarnath is an exhilarating experience like the others. 

Kedarnath History & Mythology:

The temple is said to be more than 1200 years old and amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Built with large, heavy, and grey slabs of stones, the structure is a masterpiece. The majestic Kedarnath peak 6940 m along with other peaks adds beautiful scenery to the area. The conical Shiva lingam is worshipped as the Lord in his Sadashiva form. 

The shrine is immersed in snow for about half a year when the Lord is shifted to Ukhimath. According to legends, the temple came into existence as a result of the Pandavas ' search for Lord Shiva to redeem their sins for killing their cousin brother Kauravas during the Kurukshetra war. Pandavas sought Lord Shiva to liberate themselves from their sins, but Lord Shiva didn't want to release Pandavas from their sins so easily, so he stopped at Kedarnath and took the form of a bull and started to force himself into the ground, leaving only his hump visible. But Bhim (one of the Pandavas ) steam up that and get himself in a giant form and stand between two mountains, all other animals walked under his feet, but Lord Shiva in the form of a bull didn't go from his feet and Bhim understand that and he tried to catch him but only able to get the hump. 

So it's said that the stone-like structure that is worshipped here is the hump of the bull. According to legends, different body parts of the bull appeared at different places and were revered by devotees as Panch Kedar. The hump of the bull was found in Kedarnath. The willpower and determination of the Pandavas impressed Lord Shiva and he forgave their sins, blessed them, and allowed them to worship at Kedarnath. 

Kedarnath Temple Opening Dates: 

Kedarnath closes on the first day of the Hindu month of Kartik (October - November) and reopens in Vaishakh (April - May) every year. On the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and the day is decided by the priests in Ukhtimath's Omkareshwar Temple. Kedarnath's opening time is announced by the priests on the Maha Shivaratri. 

Kedarnath Temple Timings: 4:00 AM To 9:00 PM 

Kedarnath Temple Aari: 

The Kedarnath Mandir darshan starts from 4:00 AM To 9:00 PM. In between, it closes from 3:00 PM To 5:00 PM. The temple is closed for 6 months of the year as the route is blocked due to heavy snowfall. 

Maha Abhishek Puja at Kedarnath: 4:00 AM To 7:00 AM. 

Kedarnath ji ki Aarti: 4:00 AM To 7:00 PM.

You can also go for Kedarnath VIP Darshan for INR 2500 per person. 

Best Time To Visit Kedarnath: 

The best time to visit the temple is between May - June & September - October. Avoid traveling in harsh monsoons and winters, as temperatures drop-top sub-zero levels and are chances of landslides and floods. 

How To Reach: 

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport to Kedarnath situated at a distance of 238 km. The airport is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. Taxis are easily available from the airport to Gaurikund. Gaurikund is also well connected by roads with Jolly Grant Airport. 

By Railway: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath, at a distance of 216 km before Kedarnath on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks from all over India. Taxis and buses are easily available from Rishikesh to Gaurikund. 

By Road: To reach Kedarnath the last stop is Gaurikund, from there you have to trek 16 km to reach the temple. Gaurikund is connected with major destinations in North India. From Sonprayag there is a shared cab facility offered by the government. Also, the buses and taxis are easily available to Gaurikund from major destinations of Uttarakhand. 

Helicopter Options: If you don't want to trek to reach the temple then you can go for a helicopter ride (It's costly ). The services are available from different helipads like Guptkashi, Sersi, Phata, etc. 

 Best Accommodation In Kedarnath: 

Kedarnath Temple is a major tourist attraction and pilgrims book their hotels in advance. Room availability is high during September and October. Dharamshalas and rooms are available under Rs. 500 and provide comfortable accommodation with basic necessities. The state-run guest houses are generally booked through the year, so don't try much there. Slightly better hotels, situated close to temple offers good facilities with internet, TV and etc. The price kept changing between RS. 1200 - RS 4000. 

Important Tips & Things You Must Know: 

• It's too risky to visit in harsh winters and monsoon months.
• It can rain anytime here, so please carry a raincoat or umbrella and some extra clothes with you.
• Most Imp Tip: Start doing exercise and prepare your body for the trek, so you can easily reach the temple.
• Some cold creams, moisturizers, and sunscreen creams are must.
• Carry battery torch, also get some extra batteries of cameras and fully charged power banks.
• A medical kit with painkillers, cough syrups, and tablets for cold and fever is also a must.
• There is no private SIM work in the Kedarnath region for safety purposes, only the BSNL network operates.
• Book your hotels in advance, because during peak seasons it has a huge rush.
• Get your all E-Cards, passports, and all necessary documents with you. 

So, are you all set to witness Kedarnath and want to get engrossed in Lord Shiva's devotion? Plan your trip with friends & families with help of our best Kedarnath Dham travel guides and tips.