Hindus have been engaged in religious journeys since the primitive age. Every year, they visit many pilgrimage places to wash their sins away, declutter from the ifs and buts of everyday life, and have mental peace. Shri Kedarnath Mandir is one of the most prominent pilgrimage centers in Uttarakhand. Many Hindus visit here for a divine sight. Let’s get detailed knowledge about Kedarnath Mahadev Mandir and go through its rich history and importance.
A Brief Introduction About Shri Kedarnath Mandir
It is assumed that one person can abolish their sins and attain Moksha by visiting the Kedarnath Temple. So, a large number of Hindus embark on this difficult journey to have a pleasant life. They have to travel nearly 22 KM from the nearest road and climb to the Mandir at 3,538 meters. This trip tests their devotion, courage, and commitment rigorously.
You will be surprised to know that Kedarnath Mahadev Mandir was built using big stone slabs that are interlocked with the help of iron clamps. It protects the temple from unpredictable weather—heavy rain and snowfall. While visiting its premises, you can see fine details on the wall, featuring Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Draupadi, Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle, & Virbhadra, one of Shiva’s guards. A big statue of Nandi attracts people’s attention.
You will be surprised to know that Kedarnath Mahadev Mandir was built using big stone slabs that are interlocked with the help of iron clamps. It protects the temple from unpredictable weather—heavy rain and snowfall. While visiting its premises, you can see fine details on the wall, featuring Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Draupadi, Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle, & Virbhadra, one of Shiva’s guards. A big statue of Nandi attracts people’s attention.
Shri Kedarnath Mandir History
Remember, the word “Kedarnath” comes from the Sanskrit language, which means “the lord of the field.” Its history often takes us to Mahabharata times. Per the perception, the Pandavas built this temple by laying the foundation for Lord Shiva. But, with time, it got destroyed. In the 8th century, Adi Guru Shankaracharya rebuilt this temple, popularly known as Kedarnath Mandir.
As we know, the Pandavas registered a victory over the Kauravas with violence and a series of wars. When the fighting ended, they looked for forgiveness from Lord Shiva. He refused to do so, but the Pandavas remained adamant. So, he changed his appearance into a bull to avoid them.
They started for Lord Shiva aggressively. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found him while he was on a pilgrimage to Guptkashi. He immediately identified the animal as Lord Shiva and tried to hold it by its tail and hind legs. But the bull vanished into the crowd. It resurfaced in 5 different forms:
As we know, the Pandavas registered a victory over the Kauravas with violence and a series of wars. When the fighting ended, they looked for forgiveness from Lord Shiva. He refused to do so, but the Pandavas remained adamant. So, he changed his appearance into a bull to avoid them.
They started for Lord Shiva aggressively. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found him while he was on a pilgrimage to Guptkashi. He immediately identified the animal as Lord Shiva and tried to hold it by its tail and hind legs. But the bull vanished into the crowd. It resurfaced in 5 different forms:
- The hump appeared in Kedarnath,
- The arms in Tungnath,
- The face in Rudranath,
- The navel and stomach in Madhyamaheshwar, and
- Hair in Kalpeshwar.
All these formed the Panch-Kedar. After this incident, the Pandavas established a jyotirlinga. Lord Shiva appeared and forgave them, saying he would live in the triangle-shaped lingam.
When Can I See Shri Kedarnath Mandir?
Remember, for the convenience of devotees, the doors of the Kedarnath Mandir are opened at sunrise and closed in the evening. Have a look at the temple darshan timings-
Morning Darshan- From 6:00 AM to afternoon. Priests take a brief break generally from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM & to prepare for the evening activities.
Evening Darshan- From 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM.
Morning Darshan- From 6:00 AM to afternoon. Priests take a brief break generally from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM & to prepare for the evening activities.
Evening Darshan- From 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM.
What is The Best Time To Visit Kedarnath Mandir?
Remember, the best time to visit Kedarnath Mandir is from April to June. At this time, the sky remains clear, and the temperature is very cold. See the following list and plan your religious trip accordingly-
Summer (April to June)- Less rainfall, clear sky, and temperature remain between 0.5° to 17.1° Celsius.
Monsoon (July to September)- Heavy rainfall, high chances of landslides and roadblocks, temperate- 16.5° Celcius- 8° Celsius.
Autumn (October to November)- Extremely cold temperatures & high chances of heavy snowfall.
Summer (April to June)- Less rainfall, clear sky, and temperature remain between 0.5° to 17.1° Celsius.
Monsoon (July to September)- Heavy rainfall, high chances of landslides and roadblocks, temperate- 16.5° Celcius- 8° Celsius.
Autumn (October to November)- Extremely cold temperatures & high chances of heavy snowfall.
Kedarnath Opening & Closing Dates in 2025 (Estimated)
Opening date- 2nd of May, 2025
Closing date- 5th of November, 2025
Closing date- 5th of November, 2025
Reasons Why Most People Visit Kedarnath Mandir
Being a part of the Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage to the Kedarnath Mahadev Mandir holds great significance for Hindus. Here are some important reasons why a large number of consider visiting this pious temple at least once or more
Historical Importance
As explained above, this temple is the place where the worship took place, and the hump of the lord Shiva resurfaced after the shaking of the ocean. So, people consider the pilgrimage one of the most important days in their lives.
A Rigorous Test of Your Physical & Mental Strength
Remember, you need to be physically or mentally strong to reach the temple. If the journey is completed, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and fill your mind with positive emotions.
Spiritual Importance
Remember, Kedarnath represents Lord Shiva in the most auspicious form and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Char Dham Yatra
A visit to the Kedarnath Mandir is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, which includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. You can see the Mandakini River, snow-packed mountains, forests, and greenery during the religious trip.
Historical Importance
As explained above, this temple is the place where the worship took place, and the hump of the lord Shiva resurfaced after the shaking of the ocean. So, people consider the pilgrimage one of the most important days in their lives.
A Rigorous Test of Your Physical & Mental Strength
Remember, you need to be physically or mentally strong to reach the temple. If the journey is completed, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and fill your mind with positive emotions.
Spiritual Importance
Remember, Kedarnath represents Lord Shiva in the most auspicious form and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Char Dham Yatra
A visit to the Kedarnath Mandir is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, which includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. You can see the Mandakini River, snow-packed mountains, forests, and greenery during the religious trip.
How Can I Reach The Kedarnath Mahadev Mandir?
Depending on your preferences, you can reach the temple by different means as detailed below-
By Train-
By Train-
- Reach the Rishikesh railway station from your place of residence,
- Hire a taxi from Rishikesh to Kedarnath. It's a 3-hour journey,
- Take a bus or taxi from Rishikesh to Gaurikund,
- From Gaurikund, you can continue your trip to Kedarnath.
By Bus-
- Take a bus from Dehradun to Sonprayag,
- From Sonprayag, advance towards Kedarnath.
By Flight-
For this, you need to see the availability of seats in airplanes or helicopters & book them in advance.
For this, you need to see the availability of seats in airplanes or helicopters & book them in advance.
By Aeroplane-
- Reach Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun from your place,
- Move towards Guptkashi via road. It would take around 8 hours,
- Move towards Sonprayag from Guptkashi & hire a taxi to reach Gaurikund. From here, reach towards Kedarnath, which is around 16 KM away.
By Helicopter
Book your helicopter trip to Kedarnath from Guptkashi, Fata, or Sirsi.
By Foot
Advance from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. It will take around 4-5 hours to complete the journey.
By Horse or Palki
Book a horse or palki from Gaurikund to Kedarnath & proceed ahead as planned.
Book your helicopter trip to Kedarnath from Guptkashi, Fata, or Sirsi.
By Foot
Advance from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. It will take around 4-5 hours to complete the journey.
By Horse or Palki
Book a horse or palki from Gaurikund to Kedarnath & proceed ahead as planned.
What Are The Important Things You Need To Keep in Mind During Kedarnath Mandir Yatra?
Every year, numerous people travel to Kedarnath temple. Therefore, You should follow these recommendations to keep yourself safe during the religious trip, have a pleasant experience, and return safely.
- Kedarnath Mandir Yatra is very challenging as you have to climb the high mountain. Check your physical and mental fitness to determine whether you are ready for the upcoming challenge or not. Never plan for the trip if you have any serious illness,
- Pack your travel bag with essential items such as woolen clothes, footwear, a first aid box, water bottles, dry fruits, etc. It will help you to easily navigate complicated or unexpected living conditions during Kedarnath Mandir yatra and keep yourself in good condition,
- Carry essential documents (such as identity proof, permission for Kedarnath yatra, etc) during the trip,
- Enquire about the weather conditions before starting your journey. Remember, climate changes fast in mountains and you can land in troublesome situations if not prepared for all weather conditions,
- Show respect for local customs and dressing. It will help complete your journey smoothly.
- Book your accommodation in advance in peak seasons. Don't hesitate to use a horse, palki, or other means of transportation if you can’t continue your trip physically.
- Seek emergency medical help immediately in case of altitude sickness and follow the doctor’s instructions to prevent the situation from taking a serious turn.
What Are Some Tourist Places Near Kedarnath Mahadev Temple?
Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi, Gauri Kund Chopta, Panch Kedar, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Bhairav Nath Temple, Kedar Giri Pind, Vasuki Tal, Agastya Muni Ashram, Gandhi Sarovar, & Moon Rock/Chandra Shila. Plan your trip and visit these places for an unforgettable experience.
Important To Know Kedarnath Tragedy 2013
In 2013, during the peak of the Kedarnath yatra, a series of flash floods and landslides caused large-scale destruction. More than 6000 people were killed. Heavy rainfall, sudden cloudbursts, and melting glaciers were responsible for the tragic incident. Be careful while visiting Kedarnath temple and pay attention to the weather forecast before advancing further in your journey. Seek a safe shelter whenever the climate takes an ugly turn.
Concluding Remarks
Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand is one of the most important religious spots in the Hindu religion. As outlined above, it has a rich history and cultural legacy that holds great significance for all religious Hindus. Enhance your knowledge about the Kedarnath Mandir as far as possible, plan for your upcoming trip, and pay a visit to the holy place along with all your relatives and friends. Worshiping Kedarnath Shivling is a long-awaited dream for many people. Following these recommendations will help you embark on your journey appropriately and return home with an unforgettable memory.
