Shri Kedarnath Temple

It is one of the holiest temples for Hindus and Jyotirlingam is located in the glacial
surroundings of rudra Himalayan range at a height of 12000 feet at the source of Mandakini
River in Kedarnath, the river Mandakini joins Alaknanda at Rudra Pyrag.

During the winters weather conditions are extreme and the temple at Kedarnath enshrining
the Jyotirlingam of lord Shiva is open between may till the end of October. The historical
name of the region is Kedarkhand, it is believed that lord Shiva worshipped here as
Kedarnath. Traditional way of doing this pilgrimage to Kedarnath, one has to visit, first
Yamunotri, Gangotri, and bring with them the holy waters from the source of river Yamuna
and Ganga and offer it at Kedarnath to Kedareshwar. The temple is not directly accessible by
road and has to be reached by a 14 km uphill trek from Gauri Kund.

The temple is believed to have built by Adi-Shankracharya, who during his journeys, length
and breadth of India, reviving the Sanatan dharma, established one of the 12 Jyotirlingam, the
holiest Hindu shrine of lord Shiva. The older temple existed from the times of Mahabharata,
when the Pandavas were supposed to have pleased lord Shiva by doing penance in
Kedarnath. The temple is one of the four major sites in India’s char dhaam yatra pilgrimage
of northern Himalayas. At the entrance of the temple, is the statue of Nandi the divine bull of
lord Shiva.

Located in the high Himalayas, Kedarnath temple is one of the best known Shiva sthalams
and is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage centres of the country. It is believed
that by praying at Kedareshwar, one can get all his desires fulfilled. The importance of the
shrine can be further understood of the belief that in dwapar yug, the Pandavas, worshipped
lord Shiva here. The spiritual leader, Adi-Shankracharya, took the Samadhi, at Kedarnath.