Kedarnath

Kedarnath

Blessed with picturesque beauty of snow-clad mountains and lavish green forests, the holy town of Kedarnath is home to Kedarnath Temple, revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple is visited as a part of the world-famous Chota Char Dham Yatra which covers four important pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand, the other three being Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Located at the height of about 11,755 ft. on the bank of sacred River Mandaikini, the temple houses a conical-shaped stone Shiva Lingam which is believed to be thousands of years old. According to the popular legends, the temple was built by the five Pandavas of Mahabharata who performed tough penance here to please Lord Shiva. The present day temple was reconstructed in the 8th century by the eminent saint Adi Shankaracharya who also has his Samadhi near to the temple. The shrine is nestled amidst snow-covered peaks of Himalayas and the whole place is filled with inimitable mysticism. Many popular treks from the temple let the adventurers explore lakes, glaciers and other stunning sights. One must be physically fit to trek the 14 km. long route to reach the temple. Kedarnath was the worst hit area during the 2013 flash floods. It is recommended to have complete weather information before starting the trip to this divine place.