Feel Freedom in the Heart of the Himalayas Resting in the bed of Himalayas, Kedarnath is a mesmerizingly enticing town. As a pilgrimage centre, it draws in thousands of Hindu devouts throughout the whole year. The Kedarnath temple nearly 1,200 years old, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This heritage site is also part of the holy pilgrimage, the Char Dham Yatra. The Yatra also includes visits to shrines like Gangotri, Yamunotri and Badrinath. One of the holiest destinations of Hindu pilgrimage, the present temple is known to be designed by the great propagator of Vedic philosophy, Adi Shankracharya. Widely known for its cultural and religious significance, the temple stands at a height of 3584 meters near the source of Mandakini River, being the highest among the 12 most revered Jyotirlingas in India.
If you’re a Lord Shiva devotee and readily fall in love with chirpy birds, fresh air, heart-warming weather and a little bit of adventure, Kedarnath is the place for you. It’s true; the best view comes after the hardest climb and trekking is the most common yet the most exciting form of adventure gracing the life of the ones visiting Kedarnath. The 15-16km long trek is a beautiful journey that helps you catch sight of wondrous views of the mountains and breathtaking landscapes, making it one of the most worthwhile treks of your life. Though physically strenuous, the high dose of beauty and spirituality makes it truly worthwhile.
The temple is one of the five holy sites, the Panch Kedar dedicated to Shiva, the Supreme. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, the Panch Kedars have to be visited in a particular chronological error, if you are planning a pilgrimage. Another interesting fact about Kedarnath is that even today, the rituals in the temple are performed in Kannada nearly in the same manner as earlier in the 10th century. However, they are not performed by the Head Priest called the Rawal but by his assistants delegated by him. There are 5 head priests who take charge by rotation. In winters, as the main deity is shifted to Ukhimath, the Rawal also shifts his base.
You will be truly impressed by another interesting feature of the temple that is its engineering. Built on a 6ft rectangular platform by interlocking slabs of stone, the technique is a real marvel. The mythological deities engraved on the inner walls will leave you spellbound.
Get ready to be intrigued by the historical significance of this holy temple. The historical stories and the tales will not just give you the chills but would also lure you to explore the magic that resides here. The legendary tale of the temples origin goes that Nar Narayan, avatars of Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva here for thousands of years by standing on one leg before a Shivling, they had constructed. Moved by their unfazed devotion, Lord Shiva granted them the wish of staying here permanently as jyotirlingam in a place known as Kedar, so the name Kedarnath. The temple’s location is also significant with a mystic charm. The temple originated at the spot where Pandavas came to seek Lord Shiva’s forgiveness for killing their relatives in the battle at Kurukshetra. Shiva, however refused to give His blessings and hid in the form of a bull. The Pandavas searched for Him, when eventually they saw the bull trying to bury itself in the ground. Bheema tried to pull the tail of the bull. During this tug-of-war the head of the bull went to Nepal as Doleswar Mahadev in Sipatol, Bhaktapur while the other parts were scattered in five places. The hump was in Kedarnath where the temple stands today. The vicinity of the temple has signs of Pandavas presence that corroborate the facts. The temple is protected by Bhaironathji whose temple is located just a short distance away from the Kedarnath temple. The temple is visited ceremoniously when Kedarnath is opened and closed.
Paying special tribute and seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva, who is referred to as the ‘Lord of KedarKhand’, in this sacred town is a dream for every Shiva worshipper. The sacred journey to Kedarnath will fill you with beautiful surprises and mystery, leaving you wanderlust and short of words.
.jpg)
