Kedarnath Dham, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath Dham is one of the most important and holy pilgrimages in India. It is a Shiva temple located in the Rudraprayag district of the Garhwal region. The Kedarnath temple height above sea level is around 3,584 metres. It is situated in the Himalayan mountains, reaching here is not easy due to the steep and rough path, but once you get there the experience is truly unforgettable.

It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, and many Lord Shiva devotees from all over the country come here. The temple opens in summer for Darshan and stays closed for the rest of the year due to heavy snowfall.

The Pandav story of Kedarnath is well known. It tells how the Pandava brothers, after the Kurukshetra war, followed sage Vyasa’s advice and came here to pray to Lord Shiva and ask for forgiveness for killing their cousins in battle. Inside the temple, you’ll find a lingam as the main idol, and the walls have images of the Pandavas.

You can reach Kedarnath by trekking, and the most common route is a 16 km trek from Gaurikund. If you don’t want to trek, Kedarnath helicopter service is also available for a quicker and easier option. This page is about complete Kedarnath travel guide with details about temple, its history, weather, trekking route, festivals and more.