Kedarnath Dham Yatra

The major Jyotirlinga out of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and one aspect of the Chota Chardham Yatra, Kedarnath Temple, is a majestic architecture standing tall at approximately 3580 metres above the sea level in the laps of the Himalayan Range and at the start of the River Mandakini. Located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal region of majestic mountains, Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the toughest temple to visit in the Chardham Yatra. Although the Kedarnath Temple is the major shrine of the area, there are more than 200 other small temples – all dedicated to Lord Shiva in this area. A lot of pilgrims visit this temple and enjoy the scenic beauty of nature from here along with blessings received in the temple. It is believed that the Kedarnath Temple was built by the Pandava brothers and was rebuilt by Sage Adi in the 8th Century. Since then, this powerful structure has faced and won against the threat of nature for over 1000 years. After the flash flood of 2013, Kedarnath Temple had to be refurbished, and this time the Government took a step ahead to build helipads, better accommodation spaces, and other amenities for the betterment of the tourists. With the age of technology, Kedarnath Temple started online booking of rituals to be performed without the need of the pilgrims being physically available at the temple.

Kedarnath Temple

The Kedarnath Temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, making it the strongest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Let’s take a look at the interiors of the Kedarnath Temple. When you enter the temple, there is a small hall that has pictures of Goddess Parvati and the five Pandava brothers. During the re-fabrication of the temple after 2013, there are idols of Lord Krishna, Draupadi, the Pandava brothers, Nandi, Virbhadra along with many other Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Religion. At the entrance of the main temple area, there is an idol of Shiva’s vehicle, Nandi. As you proceed further, you can see the linga, a cylindrical shaped rock which is also known as Sadashiva. There is a separate place for worship and a specially built canopy for the pilgrims built inside the temple premises. Speaking of the architecture of this temple, it is built by using huge grey stone blocks which are inter-linked amongst each other with the help of iron clamps. It is important to note that there is no mortar used anywhere in the erection of this magnificent temple. The linga inside the temple is the most striking feature with 12 feet in circumference and 12 feet in height.

Hotel In Kedarnath

Before the 2013 flash flood at Kedarnath, there were various options of cheap stay at Kedarnath along with ashrams and lodges. But all these were washed away during the flash flood leaving everyone troubled. While touring to Kedarnath, tourists and pilgrims prefer to stay at accommodations available anywhere between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath. Also, it is a mandate to stay only at places approved by the GMVN. The trek to Kedarnath is a dangerous one especially the 18-kilometre trek from Gaurikund, the helicopter facilities are made available now. For convenience, the GMVN has started Tent and Camp facilities near all such helipads. Here is a list of the top 5 hotels you can choose in Guptkashi, Phata Helipad, and Kedarnath: Guptkashi:

Camp Nirvana
Camp Dham Camp
Rawat Tourist Lodge
Hotel Himalayan
Hotel Tridev

Phata Helipad:

Yatra Hill Resort
Himalayan Villa
Hotel Paradise
Ghughuti Resort
Madhu Tourist Lodge

Kedarnath:

Madmaheshwar Home Stay
Kedar Valley Resort
Shivalik Valley Resort
Behl Ashram Hotel
Kedar River Retreat

Tour Packages of Kedarnath

Kedarnath is one of the four important temples to be visited in the Chardham Yatra, a lot of tour packages are available for the comfort and luxury of the pilgrims. For the other tourists too, who have a slight inclination towards spirituality and at the same time want to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature and have an adventurous tour, these Kedarnath Packages come in handy. Mostly the starting point of a Kedarnath Tour is Delhi, Haridwar, or Rishikesh. The tour packages also include your transportation and accommodation with food charges in Kedarnath. There are lots of options to choose from according to your budget and requirement. Here is a list of a few tour packages which can be availed to visit Kedarnath:

2/4 Nights Package from Haridwar/Delhi
Chardham Yatra Package from Delhi in Innova
Dodham Yatra Package from Delhi in Innova
Helicopter from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath
Chardham Yatra Bike Tour Package

And many more.

The cost of these tour packages is decided on the amenities you choose. Kedarnath being heavily rushed during the yatra period of the year, booking a Kedarnath Package becomes helpful for a comfortable and hassle-free tour.

Some Kedarnath Packages

Kedarnath Location

To initiate in simple words, Kedarnath is based in Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3580 metres from sea level. The coordinates of Kedarnath are – 30.735491, 79.067059. How To Reach Kedarnath by Road

From Delhi/Haridwar

Located at a distance of 450 kilometres from Delhi, Kedarnath, you have to first travel to Haridwar from Delhi and then take the route from Haridwar to Kedarnath. Please remember that the route from Rishikesh to Gaurikund is closed every day from 8 pm to 4 am. Plan your journey accordingly. The distance from Haridwar to Kedarnath is roughly about 250 kilometres which takes an entire day to commute in case there are no incidences of landslide.

How To Reach Kedarnath by Air

The Dehradun or the Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Kedarnath located around 340 kilometres away from Gaurikund. You can also avail the facilities of Helicopter to reach Kedarnath from places like Dehradun, Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata.

How To Reach Kedarnath by Train

The Rishikesh Railway Station is at a distance of 210 kilometres, while the Haridwar Railway Station is 240 kilometres away from Kedarnath. You can travel from these places either by road or by opting for helicopter services according to your choice.

The Weather at Kedarnath

Being located in the Kedarnath Valley, the most desirable temperature is during the summer season. The winters and monsoons are pretty harsh in this terrain.

Kedarnath in Summers

The average temperature in Summers at Kedarnath is around 15°C which is a pretty pleasant and calm climate to observe at Kedarnath. Summer Season in Kedarnath is apt for visiting the temple and visiting other places in Kedarnath. The Summer in Kedarnath lasts for only two months of May and June.

Kedarnath in Monsoon

The average temperature in Kedarnath during Monsoon dips down to 12°C and lasts from July till early September. Landslides during Monsoon season is a common occurrence in Kedarnath and thus the tourists are requested to be extra careful in Kedarnath during this season.

Kedarnath in Winters

For six months in a year that is from November till April, Kedarnath is completely shut down. Even the locals are not permitted to stay at Kedarnath during this time because of the heavy snowfall experienced here. In Winters for the benefit of the devotees the idol of Lord Kedarnath is transferred to a place close to Guptakshi called Ukhimath and is bought back to its original temple at Kedarnath in the month of May.

The best time to tour Kedarnath is in the months of May, June, September, and October.

Places To Visit In Kedarnath

Kedarnath Dham Temple is the most important place every tourist wants to visit when they come to Kedarnath. Here is a list of other places you might think about going to when in Kedarnath.

Gandhi Sarovar : It is small lake in Kedarnath from where it is said that the Pandavas ascended their route to Heaven.

Sonprayag : The point of intersection where the River Mandakini and River Songanga meet is a wonderful sight to the eyes which can be seen in Sonprayag.

Vasuki Tai : A beautifully situated lake at a much higher altitude than Kedarnath, Vasuki Tai offers a magnificent view of the snow-clad mountain ranges.

Bhairavnath Temple : Situated close to the Kedarnath Temple, one can observe the entire valley of Kedarnath from here. It is a mythological belief that the deity in this temple protects the Kedarnath temple during the winters.

Gaurikund : Gaurikund is often the base camp of the trek of 18 kilometres to reach the Kedarnath Temple. As a tourist, you can enjoy the hot springs which are in plenty at Gaurikund.

Opening And Closing Dates of Kedarnath Temple in 2023

The opening date of the Temple of Kedarnath is declared on the festival of Mahashivratri and is decided by the priests in Ukimath’s Omkareshwar Temple by taking the aid of Panchang in their calculations. This year the opening date of Kedarnath Temple is decided as the 7th May,2023.

The closing day of the Kedareshwar Temple is fixed. It is the day of Bhai-Dooj, a festival celebrated on the next day of Diwali. As far as 2023 is concerned, the Kedareshwar Temple will be closed for winters from 26th October, 2023.