Kedarnath Dham, Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Dham, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. The air appears to be reverberating with the name of Lord Shiva amid the mighty snow-clad peaks, enchanting meadows, and forests of the lower mountain range of the Himalayas. Situated in a breathtaking location, near the source of Mandakini River and at the height of 3,584 meters, Kedarnath Dham celebrates the greatness of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingams and is also the most important temple among the Panch Kedars (a group of 5 Shiva temples in Garhwal Himalayas). It is also one of the significant temples of the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, raising the glory of the place to further heights.
Accessible from major destinations of Uttarakhand, the motorable road towards Kedarnath temple stretches till Gauri Kund. After that one needs to take a 14 km trek towards the Kedarnath temple. Ponies and palanquins (doli) are easily available; one can also avail of helicopter services during the peak season of the yatra.
The hard journey till the great shrine of Shiva is well compensated with the spiritual atmosphere which is created by the unruffled, tranquil and splendid beauty of the region. The majestic Kedarnath peak (6,940 meters) stands behind the temple along with other peaks, forming a perfect setting for the holy land of the supreme deity. The conical-shaped Shiva lingam in the Kedarnath temple is a unique feature of the temple among all Shiva shrines.
WHAT TO SEE IN KEDARNATH DHAM?
KEDARNATH TEMPLE
The grand and impressive structure of Lord Shiva's shrine is made of grey stone. Steep climb stretching to 14 km from Gauri Kund brims with the abundant beauty of nature. The paved and steep path gifts the pilgrims the fantastic views of snowy-peaks, alpine meadows, and delightful forests of rhododendrons. A large stone statue of Nandi Bull stares at the shrine, guarding it, sitting right opposite it.
There is one Garbha Griha which houses the primary idol (pyramid-shaped rock) of Lord Shiva. The idols of Lord Krishna, Pandavas, Draupadi, and Kunti find a space in the Mandapa section of the shrine. The temple has withstood natural calamities like avalanches, earthquakes, and floods for over a thousand years and still stands as strong and elegant as it must have originally been.
With the onset of winters, the portals of the temple are closed on the 1st day of Karthik (Oct/Nov) amid elaborate rituals, and a moveable idol of Shiva is shifted to Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district). The Shiva idol is welcomed back and the temple is opened again after 6 months in the Vaisakh (Apr/May) period of the Hindu calendar.
GAURIKUND
It is the starting point of the trek towards the temple of Kedarnath. As per a legend, Goddess Parvati (also known as Gauri) meditated over here to marry Lord Shiva. It consists of natural thermal springs and offers a refreshing bath to pilgrims before they embark for the holy darshan of Kedareshwar (the Lord of Kedar, Shiva).
There is also an ancient Gauri Devi temple over here, honoring the goddess. Half Kilometre from Gauri Kund is the temple of Sirkata (headless) Ganesha. According to Skanda Purana, this was the place where Shiva beheaded Ganesha and then attached the head of an elephant on his headless body.
CHORABARI TAL
Fed by the Chorabari glacier, the serene and pristine Chorabari Lake can be reached after undertaking a trek of less than 4 km from the Kedarnath town. It is also known as Gandhi Sarovar as some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed in its waters. On the way, there is a waterfall which one needs to cross. It looks amusing but care should be taken while going across it.
BHAIRAV TEMPLE
In the temple complex, to the south side, there is another ancient and important temple. It is dedicated to Bhairav Nath, who is believed to be the one who guards the temple compound when the shrine is closed in the winter season.
VASUKI TAL
Located at 3,135 meters, the crystal clear blue-water lake of Vasuki is about 8 km from Kedarnath. It is quite a difficult trek and involves going across glaciers, but the walk among the untouched Himalayas is worth every bit of effort.
History
One of the most important stories about the creation of Kedarnath Dham tells a story about how the Pandava brothers had made their way here in search of Shivji. The story starts from the time when the Pandava brothers had won the Mahabharat war by killing all their kin and committed a horrible sin. According to the advice from their chief saint and philosopher, the Pandava siblings were advised on going to the Himalayas on a lookout for the lord. They made this pilgrimage via Haridwar and searching for the lord they made their way to Guptkashi where the lord had himself in the form of a bull, however, Bheem recognized him and at that very moment, this bull started to sink inside. Bheem then went ahead and grabbed the bull by its tail and in this tug of war, the face of this bull emerged in Nepal with its rear end in Kedar. When this happened a jyotirlinga was established and the Pandavas were graced by the presence of the Lord himself. The Pandavas then asked for forgiveness and they were also granted the same. The Lord told them that he would now reside inside the triangular-shaped lingam. Ever since then the devotees make their way to the temple in search of piety.
