KEDARNATH – THE MYSTICAL MOUNTAIN VALLEY IN THE HIMALAYAS OF INDIA

Kedarnath is the humble abode of Lord Shiva in the Garhwal region of Rudraprayag district, in the state Uttarkhand, India. It is one of the pilgrimages in the Panch Kedar Yatra and very famous Char Dham Yatra. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India.

With stone cladded peaks all round, Kedarnath temple is situated at an altitude of about 3553 meters above sea level. Nestled amidst the great Himalayan ranges is this mystical destination, Kedarnath is revered by one and all for its picturesque beauty and the metaphysical elements which one experiences when in this place.

BY AIR:
The nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is located at a distance of 239 kilometers from Kedarnath. This airport is directly linked to Delhi Airport, which is connected to all the major cities of India. From there one can either take a direct helicopter to Kedarnath from Dehradun or can travel to either Guptkashi or Phata to take cheaper helicopter rides.

BY TRAIN:
Rishikesh railway station, situated at a distance of 221 kilometers from Kedarnath is the nearest railway station. It is well connected to all the major cities in India. From there one will either have to travel via road till Sonprayag, take the shared jeep ride to Gaurikund & then reach Kedarnath via 16 kilometers trek or can take a helicopter ride from Guptkashi or Phata.

BY ROAD
Kedarnath is accessible by road only till Gaurikund. From there, one has to hike 16 kilometers uphill or hire a pony or dholis to reach the shrine.
From Rishikesh, there are TGMOU buses and taxis plying to Sonprayag.
In Sonprayag, one can park their private vehicles and take the shared jeeps to reach Gaurikund.

Kedarnath is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on the banks of the magnificent Mandakini river. The place is nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas at an elevation of 3553 meters above sea level.
Kedarnath Temple, considered as one of the holiest destinations in Hinduism (Char Dhams), is revered as the highest of all the 12 Jyotirlingas.
The temple, which is about 3000 years old, was constructed using large stone slabs over a rectangular base. Devotees can find different inscriptions written in Pali language on the steps leading to the sanctums.
Apart from Kedarnath temple there are many other temples situated around which one can find solace in; each having its own importance and mark in the history.
It is believed that the Kedarnath Yatra is incomplete without the visit to the temple of Bhairav which is situated a little away, approximately one kilometer from the Kedarnath temple. Bhairav is said to be protecting this land from the evil when Kedarnath is closed during winters. Hence, the devotees of Kedarnath pay their respects to the Bhairavnath while they are here.
Legend says Kedarnath temple was initially built by the Pandavas during their penance and later was renovated and reinstalled by Adi Shankaracharya.
During the floods of 2013, the temple had seen very minimal damages to its structure as the Bhima’s Rock behind the temple has protected the temple by being washed away almost like a miracle.
The place is the hardest to reach of all the char dhams. The temple stays open only six months in a year from the beginning of summer (May) till the end of spring (October) which is also the best season to visit as weather remains moderate, later the deity is moved to Ukhimath for worship during the winters.
While in summers this place remain flooded with number of tourists coming to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings, in the winters, the adventure cladded folks go for a winter trek to these mountains to enjoy the winter struck snowy beauty.

STAY
There are many lodging facilities at Phata, Sonprayag and Gaurikund where one can pre-book
or just walk-in to check for the room availability and food before starting for Kedarnath.
In Kedarnath there are simple accommodations provided as home stays, hostels and Dharamshalas where one can stay.
Even on the way, there are tent accommodations, one can stay in, as it is not advisable to hike in the night.

FOOD
In Sonprayag, Gaurikund and Kedarnath, there are small shacks or
Dhabas where one can have their simple vegetarian meal.
During the hike, there are shacks every 500 meters catering maggi, roti/rice and dal as meal or lemonade etc.

Kedarnath is surrounded by the gorgeous Himalayan plains and the natural lakes
& rivers.
Following are the places that can be visited around Kedarnath apart from the Kedarnath Temple
?? Rambara
?? Gaurikund temple and the hot spring near it
?? Sonprayag
?? Guptkashi
?? Vasuki Tal
?? Shankaracharya Samadhi
?? Kedarnath Helipad
?? Triyuginarayan Temple
?? Bhairav Temple
?? Rudra Cave
?? Gandhi Sarovar (Chorabhari Tal)
?? Kedarnath mountain
?? Kedarnath Massif

Travellers visiting Kedarnath should also visit the Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, which is situated in the vicinity of the Kedarnath Temple. Shankaracharya was a noted Hindu sage, who was acknowledged for spreading the awareness of Advaita Vedanta. He took Samadhi at an age of 32 years in this particular place, after he discovered the Char Dhams. Sonprayag is located 19 kilometers away from Kedarnath at an elevation of 1829 meters. It is the confluence of River Vasuki and Mandakini. This place is popular for its water, which is believed to have magical powers. According to legends, individuals who touch this water find a place in the Vaikunth Dham. Vasuki Tal, situated at an altitude of 4135 m above sea level is another prominent spot situated at a distance of 8 kilometers from Kedarnath. The lake is surrounded by the Himalayan ranges, which adds to its scenic beauty. The magnificent Chaukhamba Peaks are also situated close to this lake. One has to cross over the glaciers of Chaturangi and Vasuki, for visiting Vasuki Tal, and that commands enormous endurance. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, established in the year 1972, is located on the basin of River Alaknanda. The sanctuary sprawls across an area of 967 square kilometers. The sanctuary is densely covered with pine, oak, birch, bugyals and alpine trees. Wide variety of flora and fauna is found in the region, owing to diverse physical and geographical characteristics of the place. Animals like bharals, cats, gorals, jackals, black bears, snow leopards, sambhars, tahrs, and serows, are frequently spotted. The sanctuary also protects the endangered species of Kedarnath Musk Deer. Bird watchers can spot different kinds of birds like flycatchers, monals and grey-cheeked warblers. Moreover, visitors can also find different kinds of fishes in the River Mandakini, some of which include Schizothorax sp., Nemacheilus, Gara sp., Barilius sp. and mahseer Tor tor. Travellers visiting Kedarnath should also visit Guptkashi if time permits. There are 3 temples in the region, which includes the ancient Vishwanath Temple, the Manikarnik Kund and the Ardhnareswar Temple. Devotees can find the idol of the lord in the form of half-and-half woman in the Ardhnareshwar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. The Vishwanath Temple also enshrines the idol of Lord Shiva in many of his incarnations. Another popular temple of Kedarnath is the Bhairav Nath Temple, which is situated at a distance of 0.5 kilometer. The temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, who is supposedly the gana of Shiva. The idol of the deity was established in the temple by the first Rawal of Kedarnath named, Sh. Bhikund. Gaurikund, situated at an altitude of 1982 meters, is a noted tourist destination of Kedarnath. There is an ancient temple here, which is devoted to the Hindu deity Parvati. According to legends, Goddess Parvati meditated here to seek Lord Shiva as her husband. There is a hot water spring in Gaurikund, the water of which not only has medicinal value but also helps in washing away the sins of the individuals.

To sum it up, Kedarnath is one mystic location in the high Himalayas which has something to offer to everyone either you are a religious person or an adventurous soul looking for some ardent adventure and mind-blowing natural vistas.