Best places to visit in Kedarnath
Best places to visit in Kedarnath
Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the highest of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, sits at a staggering altitude of 3,583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, accessible only by an 18-kilometer trek through breathtaking Himalayan scenery. The ancient Kedarnath Temple, believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata and reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, stands surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped peaks — a setting of overwhelming natural grandeur and spiritual power. The temple is open only from May to November, and the annual opening ceremony with the Shiva idol's arrival is a profoundly moving experience.
Kedarnath Temple
→Kedarnath Temple at 3,583 m is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the most important of the Panch Kedar shrines in Uttarakhand — the highest Shiva temple in the Garhwal Himalayas. Part of the Char Dham Yatra, it is accessible by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter. The ancient stone temple, miraculously undamaged in the 2013 Kedarnath flood disaster, stands against the dramatic backdrop of the Kedarnath peak and Mandakini glaciers. Open May to November.
Bhairavnath Temple
→Bhairavnath Temple sits on a hilltop above Kedarnath at 3,700 m — home to Kshetrapal Bhairav, the fierce protector deity of the Kedarnath valley. According to tradition, this is the last temple visited by pilgrims before leaving Kedarnath — Bhairav protects the valley during the 6-month winter when the Kedarnath shrine is closed. The short but steep trek from the main temple offers stunning views of the Kedarnath peak and the snowbound Mandakini glacier basin.
Vasuki Tal
→Vasuki Tal is a pristine glacial lake at 4,135 m — a 7 km trek from Kedarnath Temple through rugged alpine terrain and snowfields. One of the most spectacular high-altitude lakes in Uttarakhand, its turquoise waters reflect Kedarnath peak and Chaukhamba massif in perfect stillness. A revered site associated with Lord Vishnu (Vasuki = the serpent he rests on), it is a top Kedarnath trekking destination for experienced trekkers seeking raw Himalayan wilderness.
Gaurikund
→Gaurikund is the road-head base camp and starting point for the Kedarnath trek at 1,982 m — a sacred hot spring site where Goddess Parvati (Gauri) meditated to win Lord Shiva's affection. Pilgrims take a ritual bath in the hot Gaurikund before beginning the 16 km trek to the Kedarnath shrine. The natural sulphur hot spring pool is soothing and spiritually significant. Well-connected by road from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Accommodation and ration points available.
Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar)
→Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar) is a sacred glacial lake 1.5 km above Kedarnath at 3,900 m — the source of the Mandakini River. Named Gandhi Sarovar after Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed here, it is a short but steep hike from Kedarnath. The lake offers breathtaking views of Kedarnath peak and the surrounding glacial cirque. A rewarding and relatively accessible trek for Kedarnath pilgrims wanting to extend their time in the high Himalayan landscape.