Kedarnath is a holy town nestled in the Himalayas. Located in Uttarakhand, it is one of the most sacred pilgrimages of Lord Shiva and is one of the famous Char Dham sites. This scenic city offers a tranquil ambiance with its snow-white peaks, luscious landscapes, green forests, and vibrant rhododendrons. Renowned for the Kedarnath Temple, the city is both a religious center and an idyllic holiday destination. It is not just the devout, but also the people who love to conquer the rough terrain of Garhwal, who visit this hilly land.
The historical name of this region is "Kedar Khand" and legend says, the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata, after having defeated the Kauravas, felt guilty of having killed so many people and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. The Lord eluded them repeatedly and took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. The Lord dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations.
Best time to visit
Summers from April to June are the best time to visit the Kedarnath temple. These months are also the best time to visit the Badrinath temple. Gangotri and Yamunotri lie at a higher altitude, so summer starts a little later there, almost at the end of April.
Kedarnath has the lengthiest trek. It takes around 10-12 days to visit all the temples. However, it's now possible to cover all the temples in two days by helicopter. To help ensure the safety of pilgrims, a medical checkup has been introduced for those trekking to the Kedarnath temple. Also Char Dham Biometric registration is a compulsory document for those who are planning to visit Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri temples, or Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand. ... The government is providing both offline and online options for a pilgrimage to do char Dham registration.
Some places to visit
Yamunotri
Yamunotri is located at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level, in the Garhwal Himalaya about 40 km away from Barkot.
Gangotri
Gangotri temple opens on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya which is fall in May and closes on Bhai Duj
Shri Badarinath Dhaam
It is one the most important Dham and the only temple which is part of both "Char Dhaam of India" and "Char Dham Yatra"
Shri Kedarnath Dhaam
Kedarnath temple is one of the Holiest Pilgrimage Center in northern India, located on the head of the Mandakini river.
HOW TO REACH KEDARNATH
By Air. The nearest domestic airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 239 km from Kedarnath, and operates daily flights to Delhi.
By Train. The nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 221 km away.
By Road. Visitors can board regular buses from Rishikesh and Kotdwar to Kedarnath.
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