| Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest pilgrimages for | | | | believed to have visited the Kedarnath several times |
| the Hindus. Located in the picturesque surroundings of | | | | for repentance for killing their kith and kin, in the battle |
| Rudra Himalayan range, at a height of 12000 feet, on a | | | | of Kurukshetra. |
| mountain named Kedar; Kedarnath dham is one of the | | | | Significance of Kedarnath Temple |
| sites of Chardham Yatra and also one of the Panch | | | | Located in the mighty Himalayas, the Kedarnath |
| Kedars. Near Kedarnath flows the Mandakini River | | | | Temple is one of the most famous Shivasthalams in |
| that joins another river named Alakananda at | | | | India. It is also considered to be one of the most |
| Rudraprayag. This place is around 150 miles away | | | | sacred pilgrimage sites of the country. It is a common |
| from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Rishikesh. | | | | belief that if you want to get all your desires fulfilled |
| You can travel to Kedarnath only between April to | | | | you should offer a praying to Kedareshwar. |
| November. Enshrining the Jyotirlingam of Shiva, this | | | | Even the spiritual leader Adi Sankaracharya is closely |
| temple opens only for 6 months in a year; from the | | | | related to Kedarnath. Behind the Kedarnath Dham is |
| time when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries until | | | | the Samadhi of this great Hindu spiritual leader. |
| when the sun enters Scorpio. During the winter season | | | | Structure of Kedarnath Temple |
| the priests go to Ukhimath, where they worship | | | | The Kedarnath Shrine is located amidst the lofty & |
| Kedareshwara. | | | | snow-covered Himalayan Mountains. Just behind the |
| Tradition has it that while you are on a Kedarnath | | | | temple you can sight the high Keadardome peak |
| Yatra, you must first visit the Yamunotri and the | | | | situated at a great distance. |
| Gangotri to take holy waters from the Yamuna and | | | | It is believed that the Kedarnath temple was built by |
| Ganga River to offer prayer to the Kedareshwara. | | | | the Pandavas. At the entrance of the temple you will |
| Legend Behind Kedarnath Temple | | | | find the statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva. The |
| Legend has it that Nara and Narayana, the two | | | | inside walls of the temple are intrinsically carved with |
| incarnations of Lord Vishnu performed severe | | | | images. The revered Lingam of Lord Shiva housed in |
| repentance in front of a Shivalingam formed out of | | | | the Kedarnath temple is in the unusual pyramidal |
| earth. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva is | | | | shape. |
| believed to have appeared in front of them to present | | | | Though the traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar - |
| them with a boon. Nar and Narayan then requested | | | | Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri |
| Lord Shiva to take up a permanent abode at | | | | - Uttar Kashi - Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund |
| Kedarnath as a Jyotirlingam so that all those who | | | | and Kedarnath, you can also take the alternative route |
| want to perform penance can worship Shiva here and | | | | to Kedar from Rishikesh via Devprayag, Srinagar, |
| get freed from their miseries. | | | | Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. |
| According to another popular belief, the Pandavas are | | | | |