Kedarnath Dham : Tour Highlights

The Char Dham Yatra as its commonly called or more accurately the chota char dham yatra is a very important Hindu pilgrimage destination in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

The four destinations in Chota Char Dham are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is a spiritual journey which people undertake for cleansing one’s soul, attaining liberation and getting moksha.

The Char dham yatra begins from Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district and from their it goes to other three places namely Kedarnath, Gangotri and finally ends at Badrinath which is at the highest altitude. The total distance covered by this yatra is about 2500 kms and can be done on foot which was what people did and still do traditionally or on horsebacks and now helicopter services have also started. 

The yatra begins from the auspicious day of Akshay Tritya which falls either in April or May and ends during Diwali. Maximum tourists do the yatra in the first two months itself before the monsoon to avoid being stuck in landslides. In winter months the yatra is closed due to snowfall in the region.

Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun city in Uttarakhand becomes the starting point of Char Dham yatra.

Traditionally, people start the pilgrimage from Yamunotri followed by Gangotri and Kedarnath ending the yatra at Badrinath.

KEDARNATH

Kedarnath is one of the four pilgrim temple of char dham yatra and one of the 12 Jyotirlings in India.  The temple at Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

It is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and is at an altitude of about 3,583 m (11,755 ft) from sea level on the bank of Mandakini River near Chorabari Glacier.

 A cone shaped rock is worshiped inside the temple as Lord Shiva. It is said that it is his Sadashiv form.  

The temple opens on Akshay Tritya in April or May till Diwali after which the idol is kept at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath near Guptakashi from November to April in peak winter season.

KEDARNATH – HOW IT ORIGINATED - LEGENDS & MYTHS

According to Hindu legends, after the War of Kurkushetra (Mahabharat), the Pandavas after their victory against the Kauravas wanted to seek blessings from Lord Shiva and atone the guilt of killing their kins in the war. 

They searched for him but Lord Shiva had taken the form of ‘Nandi’ to elude them but later as he was spotted, he tried to bury himself in the ground and later his body was divided into 5 parts and was later discovered all over with hump like structure appearing at Kedarnath, the face appeared at Rudranath, arms at Tungnath, stomach at Madhyamaheshwar and hair at Kalpeshwar. 

The Pandavas on seeing this built Shivas temple at all these 5 places and these 5 places are together known as Panch Kedar. A cone shaped rock is worshiped inside Kedarnath temple as Lord Shiva. It is said that this is his Sadashiv form.

BEST TIME TO VISIT KEDARNATH

The best time to visit Kedarnath is from April/ May after Akshay Tritya when the temple first opens to June where the temperatures are very comfortable, they range between 10- 20-degree C. It is also peak season hence we see a lot of tourists during this time owing to summers and vacations in schools and colleges.

The months of September till second day of Diwali are relatively less crowded as the temperatures can drop very low with a high possibility of snowfall in latter months making the journey on foot difficult.

The months of June to September are months of monsoon season which is not a typical time to travel due to frequent occurrence of landslides and road blockages due to heavy rainfall in the region and the temple can remain shut during this time.

From after Diwali till April the temple is shut due to extreme snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.

PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND KEDARNATH

• KEDARNATH TEMPLE – Believed to have been built by Pandavas for Lord Shiva. It is one of the four places visited during char dham yatra and one of the 12 jyotirlingas spread all over India. A statue of Nandi bull which was the vehicle of Lord Shiva sits facing the entrance of the temple.
• BHAIRAV NATH TEMPLE – situated 500 mts from Kedarnath temple, this temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairavnath an incarnation of Lord Shiva and protector of Kedarnath temple.
• GANDHI SAROVAR OR CHORABARI LAKE – this is a permanent waterbody and it was here in 1948 that Gandhiji’s ashes were immersed. The path leading to this place is absolutely beautiful with magifiacent mountain peaks in the backdrop, grassy landscape and a stunning waterfall called Madhu Ganga.
• VASUKI TAL – the shape of this lake is that of the serpent king Vasuki which was coiled around Lord Shivas neck, hence its name. it is located at a height of 4135 mts and 8kms from Kedarnath temple and offers spectacular views of the Chaukhamba Peaks.
• UKHIMATH – 30 kms from Kedarnath is Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath near Guptakashi where the idol at Kedarnath is brought down and worshipped from November to April in peak winter season. Another legend states that it is here that Lord Krishna’s grandson Anirudh got married.
• RUDRA MEDITATION CAVE – popularly known as Modi cave as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi underwent 17 hrs of meditation in this newly built underground cave in 2019. It is located 2 kms away from Kedarnath temple.
• SONPRAYAG – located at the confluence of Basuki and Mandakini river, 20 kms away from enroute to Kedarnath is a beautiful town of Sonprayag known for its views of valleys and majestic mountains.
  
• MAYALI PASS – just 15 kms from Kedarnath temple at a height of 5300 meters this moderate difficulty trek offers stunning views of Masar Tal, Vasuki Tal along with mesmerizing views of Himalayan peaks.
  

HOW TO REACH KEDARNATH

As Kedarnath is a major pilgrimage destination and part of Char Dham Yatra it is very well connected by major cities like Dehradun. From Dehradun till Gaurikund the base for Kedarnath its approximately 250 kms and another 16 kms to reach Kedarnath temple. From Dehradun the most preferred mode of transport is by road or Helicopter to reach Kedarnath.

• By Air - The nearest Airport to Kedarnath is Dehradun Airport or Jolly Grant airport which is just 250 kms away and the nearest International Airport is New Delhi International Airport which is more than 315 kms away. Connecting flights are available from Delhi to Dehradun.
  Helicopter services are also available from Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun till Kedarnath. Though its expensive but it’s the most popular option as the journey takes only about 40 mins but a helicopter booking needs to be done way in advance as it gets quickly booked.
  
• By Rail – Rishikesh and Dehradun railway stations are closest stations to Kedarnath and they are well connected with frequent trains from major destinations of India.
• By Road – one can take a road trip from either Dehradun or Rishikesh while taking in the scenic surroundings and visiting popular tourist destination along the way. The road trip will eventually lead to Gaurikund and from their either a 16 kms trek or on a pony ride to reach Kedarnath.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CARRY

1. CLOTHING – Travelling to Kedarnath one will require to be dressed in warm yet comfortable clothing as the weather is quite cold. Layering your clothes hence becomes important and practical.

• Wearing thermal tops and bottoms is a must esp. when travelling during winter months along with some woolen or thermal socks. Over the thermals one can wear layers of other clothing items to keep warm.
• A woolen cap or a beanie will keep one warm especially when winds are strong.
• As one has to undertake a trek to reach the temple comfortable and sturdy shoes are a must.
• A waterproof jacket, torch as it gets dark quite early and sunscreen should be carried too.
• Important thing to note is that shorts, miniskirts, night suits and torn jeans aren’t allowed inside some temple hence it would be better if they are avoided.

2. ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS – As a part of Char Dham Yatra prior registration is COMPULSORY on the official website or app.

A government id proof such as Aadhar card, passport or driving license is required at all hotels or guest houses while you check in. additionally some permits might be required while visiting some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

3. MEDICINES – if you are on any lifelong medicines definitely carry those. Along with it one can carry a few basic medicines for fever and pain relief and some basic first aid stuff like band aids, antiseptics and ointments. Since it’s a high altitude region acclimatization is very important and necessary medication and advise has to be followed.

4. MISCELLANEOUS – other items like torch, umbrella, raincoats, sturdy backpack to keep some raincoats etc and sunscreen can be carried too.

FAQs ABOUT KEDARNATH

Q1. - Is Helicopter Service Available To Visit Kedarnath?

Ans: Yes, helicopter services are available from Dehradun directly till Kedarnath temple. But prior booking is a must as during peak season the slots become full very easily.

Q2. What Is The Best Time To Visit Kedarnath?

Ans: The best time to visit is in April or May till June as the temple opens on Akshay Tritya in April or May as the temperatures are manageable 12 – 20-degree C. During monsoon the risk of landslide is quite high and during winter months the temple is closed due to heavy snowfall in the region.

Q3. Can One Do A Kedarnath Yatra Without Registration?

Ans: One cannot do Kedarnath or any char dham yatra without prior registration on the government website or app for safety concerns.

Read more: Gangotri Dham - Tour Highlights