The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3584m (11759 Ft.) above sea level near Corabari Glacier, the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks.
Kedarnath is named in honor of King Kedar, who ruled in the Satya Yuga. He had a daughter named Vrinda who was a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She performed austerities for 60000 years. In honour of her, the land is named Vrindavan. However, Kedarnath and its temple exist from the Mahabharata Era when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Lord Shiva by doing penance there. The temple opens on Akshya Tritiya (April end or first week of May) and closes on Bhai Duj (October end or 1st week of November) due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold weather during winter. Kedarnath is difficult to reach.
There are 2 ways to reach the town: By foot for a steep 19 km trek through a paved path (horses or palanquins are available for rent) from Sonprayang. Kedarnath is one of the Cha Dham in Uttarakhand and the most pilgrimage site amount Panch Kedar is dedicated to lord Shiva the protector and destroyer and considered the embodiment of all passions – love, fear , death and mysticism which are expressed thought the various forms.
Places to visit in Kedarnath:
Bhairavnath Temple: It is the temple of Lord Bhairav who is believed to shield the Kedarnath Dham during the winter season. People from various corners of the world throng this place and pay homage to the Lord. Bhairavnath is also known by different other names such as the Kaal Bhairav and Kshetrapal. The main weapon of the Lord is Trishula and his vahan is a dog.
Adi-Shankaracharya Samadhi: The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is nestled next to the Kedarnath Temple. Legends have it that he took Samadhi here at the very young age of 32 after establishing the divine Char Dham – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. The resting place of Shankaracharya provides a blissful and secluded location for the visitors where they can get a complete peace of mind and shrug off all their worries. The devotees can also find the hot water spring that is believed to be created by the Saint himself to minimize the stress of his followers suffering from the harsh climatic conditions.
The Kedar Massif:- It is a beautiful Massif (group of mountains) formed by three peaks – Kedarnath, Kedar Dome and Bharatekuntha. The Kedarnath Mountain is nestled at an elevation of 6830 m and is a very challenging hike. It is important to note that the oxygen level is very low here and the visitors can take the route from Kedarnath Temple to Bharatekuntha to avoid breathing-related problems.
Gauri Kund: – It is situated at an altitude of more than 6000 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas. Gauri Kund is connected with Shiva’s wife Parvati, also known as Gauri. In Hindu folklore, Gauri committed to penance involving many ascetic and yogic practices to win over Shiva’s affections. Local tradition claims that Gauri Kund is the spot where Gauri lived while carrying out these practices and it was here that Shiva finally admitted His love for Her.
This place is also associated with the legend of how Ganesha acquired his elephant head. While bathing in the kund, Goddess Parvati fashioned Ganesha from the soap suds on her body, breathed life into Him and placed Him at the entrance as Her guard. Lord Shiva happened to arrive at the spot and He was stopped by Ganesha. Indignant at this affront, Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head and Parvati was inconsolable. She insisted that the boy be brought back to life and Shiva took the head of a wandering elephant and placed it on Ganesha’s body.
Weather: In summer there is cool climate to visit, however in month of May and Jun you can find a chance to see fresh snowfall at the famous Himalayan shrine Kedarnath. Till then you have to stay near-by hill station for the weather to clear up when the pilgrimage yatra be resumed.
Kedarnath has a cold climate for the most Part of the year the best month for visit is May, Jun September and October.
New Trekking Route: Old trek of 14 Kms was from Gourikund to Kedarnath via rambada but now you have to start you journey from the Sonprayag to Gaurikund and new Rambara and Garud Chatti then Kedarnath which is By foot for a steep 19 km moderate trek. The trek is a bit difficult for Senior Citizens.
Helicopter Service: PAWAN HANS helicopter service was started from Guptkashi to Linchauli and onward 6 km trek steep in climb is to be done with same day return to Linchauli.