Kedarnath Dham – The Spiritual Jewel of Char Dham Yatra

Engulfed in the soulful chants of “Om Namah Shivay”, the ringing sounds of the temple bells, and wrapped in a pious aura, Kedarnath Dham is an epitome of spirituality, peace and mysticism. The holy Hindu town, situated at a majestic height of 3584 metres above sea level near the head of the sacred Mandakini River in the state of Uttarakhand, is blessed with a bewitching scenery that makes the travellers lose sense of time. Every year, the place is thronged by millions of devotees seeking blessings of Lord Shiva at the ancient Kedarnath Temple, which happens to be the most important religious attraction and a focal point of all pilgrim activity in the town.

It is said that the temple was originally built by the Pandavas from the Mahabharata fame, but was consecrated in 8th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya on his excursion across the Garhwal Himalayas. Today, the temple is the most revered shrine of the enchanting Himalayan region and sits as an important part of the Chota Char Dham Pilgrim Circuit. Additionally, it’s the first of the sacred Panch Kedar shrines and also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva

Kedarnath Dham holds a special place in the heart of every Hindu devout and Shaivite who yearns to visit this pious destination at least once in their lifetime. If you too are someone planning a pilgrimage tour here, note that the town is connected to almost every major city of Uttarakhand via a motorable road which extends till Gaurikund. Further up Gaurikund, one has to cover a paved yet gruelling pathway uphill of about 14 km. To do so, one can either embark on a trekking expedition, hire a pony or rent a palanquin which can be pre-booked from the GMVN office. Helicopter services are also available to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath Temple Opening Date 2025- 2 May