Overview & Info
The Kedarnath Trek is a meandering trail deep in the Garhwal Himalayas that takes you to the ancient Kedarnath Temple. Located in the Rudrapryag district of Uttarakhand the trek covers a distance of 16 KM in total and starts from the small town of Gaurikund, from here the pilgrims climb up to reach the temple sitting at a height of 3,583 meters from sea level.
Ancient mythology associated with the temple along with the faith of millions of devotees, makes the trek not just an alpine adventure but also a deeply spiritual journey. The Kedarnath means “lord of fields” ; its name is derived from two Sanskrit words “Kedara” which means ‘fields’ and “Natha” which means ‘Lord’.
The Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham. This revered temple said to have been established by the Pandavas attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Lord Shiva’s Temple Kedarnath : Myths and Legends
The myth of Kedarnath is rooted in the tales of Mahabharata, it is said that after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas went to seek Lord Shiva to forgive them of their sins. Lord Shiva, displeased by the actions of Pandavas turned himself into Nandi and fled to the Himalayas, the Pandavas followed him. Bhim on finally finding Nandi the bull tried to catch him but Nandi vanished into the ground. Afterwards parts of Shiva emerged from different places, forming the Panch Kedars.
- Kedarnath – Hump
- Tungnath – Arms
- Rudranath – Face
- Madhyamaheshwar – Navel
- Kalpeshwar – Hair
The hump of Nandi emerged at Kedarnath and Pandavas built a temple there. Shiva forgave them.
Where is Lord Kedarnath Worshipped ?
The Idol of Lord Kedarnath is worshipped for six months in the Kedarnath Temple and for another six months in the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. This wonderful tradition is beautiful to witness and one can attend and see the procession of Lord Kedarnath from Ukhimath to Kedarnath and vice versa, during the first and the last day of the opening and closing of temple doors of Kedarnath.
Highlights of The Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple trek is a steep climb to reach the ancient temple of Kedarnath. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva delights the pilgrims who are re-energised after seeing the beautiful spot. Here some of the highlights of Kedarnath Temple: Architecture:
The Ancient temple of Kedarnath is built by massive stone slabs standing over a large rectangular platform. It is believed that the temple was built by Pandavas and later revived by Adi Shnkaracharya in the 8th century. Inside the temple is an irregular-shaped lingam that is said to be the hump of Lord Shiva in nandi form. Mandakini River The Mandakini river flows right next to the Kedarnath temple and holds great significance in Hinduism The river originates from the Chorabari Glacier which is also known as Gandhi Sarovar, this is about 4 KM from the temple. The river is serene and a symbol of purity, its icy cold water is crystal clear. Samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya
The samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya is where Shankaracharya is believed to have attained Mahasamadhi (conscious exit from the body). This is located right behind the Kedarnath Temple. In November 2021, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a 12 foot tall statue of Shankaracharya near the samadhi site. The samadhi site offers a place to sit down and meditate. The feeling of being in the same spot where the great Shankaracharya once was is truly surreal.