Take me back to the heaven! Kedarnath, indeed is not less than heaven. A divine Hindu settlement which is situated in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. We visited Kedarnath which is one of the Char Dham located in the Himalayas. Kedarnath is a beautiful place situated at a height of 3584 metres above sea level near the head of Mandakini River.
The best thing about the temple is that it lies amidst the majestic snow-capped Garhwal Himalayan ranges and is thronged by thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year. The trek there is stunning and eclectic.
Kedarnath Journey
The journey to Kedarnath offers a calm atmosphere and is devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple has a beautifully painted backdrop due to the snow covered mountains and splendid sights of nature. The journey is full of devotion and adventure which makes it incomparable.
About Kedarnath
The meaning of Kedarnath is the Lord of the field and it is called so because the “crop of liberation” grows here. It is believed that the temple hs earliest references from 7th or 8th century when Adi Shankara died.
History & Mythology
Just after the battle of Kurukshetra, Pandavas headed towards Banaras in order to repent killing their own and seek blessings from the Lord. But, Lord Shiva didn’t want to meet them and thus took solace in Guptakashi.
Pandavas were firm on their decision and searched for the Lord. When they found him, Shivji decided to take the form of buffalo so that the brothers couldn’t recognize him. Now, when Shivji saw the Pandavas approaching closer, he wanted to hide even further. Thus he went underground, however, brother Bhima tried hard to stop him from leaving by holding on to the legs and tail of the bull. But, Lord Shiva evaporated at that place leaving behing his hump which is now worshipped at Kedarnath Temple.
The holy Kedarnath Temple
Enveloped in the mighty Garhwal Himalayas, the Kedarnath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is among the 275 temples of Paadal Petra Sthalams. On your visit, you are going to lose sense of time here with fresh air and stunning views. This place has been worshipped for more than thousands of years and the energy of the region is positive, hopeful and optimistic. Kedarnath has enough to explore so its better to keep some time handy to truly immerse in the beauty of the place.
Best time to visit Kedarnath
The season begins in April till the onset of monsoons. Kedarnath has a cold climate for most of the months of the year and the best time to travel are May, June, September and October. It is well connected with most of the important towns of Uttarakhand. The nearest road head to Kedarnath is about 18 KMs later, Gaurikund.
Food in Kedarnath
Unfortunately there are not much options to eat. The only options for decent food is food stalls and dhabas. You will get North Indian cuisine everywhere and alcohol and non-veg is strictly prohibited.
You will fall in love with the hills and lakes and the sheer power of belief. If you want to know more about it, feel free to ask in comments below.
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