From over many years around, thousands of tourists visit the holy destination of Kedarnath Dham. The literal meaning of Kedarnath is “Powerful God,” and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The journey to the temple comes among the Char Dham yatra in Hinduism. The Kedarnath temple is located in the Himalayan range of Uttrakhand in the Garhwal region, close to the Mandakini River, a tributary of River Ganga.
The almighty Jyotirlinga at Kedarnath Dham is in the texture of a pyramid and counted among the 12 other Jyotirlingas manifestations of Lord Shiva located across various parts of India. Furthermore, In Hinduism, it is believed that if one can pray to the lingam with a clean heart and mind, then Lord Shiva will release them from all of their sins.
Who Build The Temple?
Well, who build the temple is still unknown. But, according to the Hindu legend, after the battle of Mahabharata. The Pandavas (Five Brothers) built this linga three thousand years ago. The Shrine is located at the vertical height of 3553 meters to the up.
Impact Of The 2013 Tragedy On Kedarnath Temple
The apocalyptic event of 2013 had a limited adverse effect on the temple. But the locality nearby was destroyed within seconds. The impact was so devastating that it killed nearly thousands of people and destroyed their property once and for all. The temple bore some cracks, which were caused by the incoming hard-hitting water stream mix with debris.
Best Time To Visit
From April to September is the best time to visit the Dham. As because of heavy snow, the track to the temple is closed at the time of winter. From November mid to the ending phase of winter (The Cooled Six Months), the Paliki with Utsava Murti of Lord Kedarnath has brought downhill to Guptkashi also, known as Ukhimath.
Whereas the ideal to plan a visit to Kedarnath is in summers during April to July. This month’s time is well warm and soothing, and the temperature remains between 15- 30 degrees Celsius.
The Legend Of Kedarnath
There are a lot of things beyond science surrounded the temple. What with many believing it was built hundreds of years back. Nobody knows the true origins of the temple. However, the holy temple is considered to be one of the 4 columns of the Char Dham Yatra. As indicated by Hindu folklore, there are numerous legends and stories about Jyotirlinga and different parts of the Kedarnath temple.
Let’s take a look at one legend features the tale about Narayana and Nara that is the two manifestations of Lord Vishnu. They performed austerity before Lord Shiva’s lingam in Badrikashram at Bharat Khand. Satisfied with the commitment, retribution, and dedication of Narayana and Nara, Lord Shiva gave them a boon. The incarnation of Lord Vishnu asked Lord Shiva to stay forever in Kedarnath as a Jyotirlinga. So, that all the devotees seeking freedom will be free from their miseries.
The Second Legend Of Kedarnath
Another tale from the past says that Goddess Parvati worshipped Lord Shiva in Kedareshwar form to unite with him as Ardhanareeswara.
The Third Legend Of Kedarnath
One more legend states that the Pandava brothers went to Kashi looking for Lord Shiva for emancipation from their sins from the great war of Kurukshetra. At that point, Lord Shiva came to think about this. He transformed into a bull and escaped to Uttarakhand. Be that as it may, the Pandavas followed Lord Shiva to Uttarakhand and discovered him in Guptakashi in the form of a bull.
The Pandavas prayed to get the Lord Shiva’s blessings and finally managed to please him to reach absolution. However, the most common story is that Guru Adi Shankaracharya built the temple in the 8th-century.
After that, the five brothers prayed to Lord Shiva and granted his blessings. They succeeded in reaching the absolution. Nevertheless, the most well-known story is that Guru Adi Shankaracharya fabricated the temple in the eighth century.
The Three Ways of Reaching Kedarnath
Kedarnath is all around associated with Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun and from the public capital of New Delhi.
Road Journey
The street is very much associated with Gaurikund. You can take transport or a taxi from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. During the pinnacle seasons, transports leave from Delhi directly connected to Gaurikund.
Train Journey
From the Dham, the nearest railway station is in Rishikesh (Yog Nagri railway station Rishikesh). Rishikesh railway station convincingly shares the track with Delhi. You can take a taxi or a bus from Rishikesh to Gaurikund, the headquarters(base camp) of Kedarnath. The distance is around 216 km and would require 2.30-5 hours. If you want to travel fast, then take a taxi, which would take two and a half hours, or if you choose to be economical then take a bus, which takes around 5 hours.
Air Journey
Dehradun (Jolly Grant) is the nearest airport to the camp. The connectivity from Delhi to Jolly Grant is well. You can book a taxi or take a bus to Gaurikund. The distance would be 103 Km and would take around 2-2.30 hours.
The Temple’s Journey From The Base Camp ( Gaurikund)
The journey is a 16 km trek from Gaurikund to the temple. The journey is all on foot because the road is non-motorable. It is an all-around cleared street and is suggested by Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM).
If you are not comfortable with the foot, you can avail of the helicopter, palki, or horses, mule service. All the services are available on a return basis. The helicopter takes 6-7 minutes to reach the temple, and it costs around 5000-6000 pp round trip.
The service of a mule or pony would charge around Rs. 3000-4000 pp. You can take the pony ride from Gaurikund. It will save your time to a greater extent as compared to Sonprayag. For the palki, it would charge around Rs. 5000 – 10000 depending on your weight and distance.
The individuals who favor strolling; it would be a 5-hour journey and should be possible effectively with persistence. The initial segment of the journey is really simple and the trouble level continues to increment with stature. Be that as it may, you go through an eye-catching waterfall and the beautiful sigh scenes beyond explanation.
Some Useful Tips For Your Journey To Kedarnath
- First, say no to harsh winter and monsoon months. Choose the month of September to October, because that is the best time to be there.
- Pack your back with light winter wears, regardless of whether you intend to visit throughout the mid-year season.
- Rain is common in that area, so it is essential to carry your rain attire (Umbrella, raincoat, and rain shoes).
- If you want to save yourself from the harsh weather condition, then carry a windcheater, woolen socks, monkey caps, and a muffler. These will empower you to withstand the chill that accompanies the breeze in the upper Himalayan area.
- Presently, this is vital advice. Begin setting up your body for the yatra by beginning with preliminary activities much ahead of time.
- Carry creams and medical items for your journey to safeguard yourself from any sickness and skin roughness.
- It gets too tiring after long journeys, so convey dull chocolates, dry organic products, and glucose along for some instant energy.
- Convey battery-worked light (ideally solar powered), additional batteries for the camera, and completely charged power banks.
- And the last one is to book in advance to avoid a huge rush.
Timings
The timing of the temple is simple. It is closed from 3-5 pm. So, try to gain some momentum and reach before 3 pm. If somehow you arrived at 5 pm, then you are not allowed to get near to the idol. Whereas, before 3 pm, you can worship the lord without getting into any trouble.
Places To Visit Nearby
- Vasuki Tal– an 8 Km journey from Kedarnath will bring you to the gorgeous Vasuki Tal, which lies at an elevation of 4135m and has perfectly clear water.
- Bhairavnath Temple– The temple is one of the most well-recognized places to be and it’s only covered in a distance of 500 meters from Kedarnath.
- Gandhi Sarovar– at 3 km distance from Kedarnath, it is where Gandhi Ji’s remains were inundated.
Shiv Shankar Tirth Yatra- The Role
The role of our organization is quite simple here, and that is to make your journey better. Our group Shiv Shankar Tirth Yatra operates from the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh. We served thousands of customers over 5 decades. Our organization provides quality service at a great deal of price.
Our tourism group is one of the best in terms.
- Yatra packages,
- Inclusions,
- Experienced Staff,
- More than 50 years old organization.
You will get everything you want from food to trips. We always try to make your journey sober and rememberable. So, get ready with your family or friends and visit some of the finest pilgrim yatras of all time with Shiv Shankar Tirth Yatra Group.
Jai Baba Kedarnath…
For more information and to book your Mathura tour,
You can contact Shiv Shankar Tirth Yatra at +91-9412050868 / +91-135-2436468
Or can mail your queries to shivstyc@gmail.com. Happy Journey!