kedarnath temple

Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest and most revered Hindu shrines, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalayas, at an altitude of about 3,583 meters (11,755 feet) above sea level, near the head of the Mandakini River. The temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas—sacred representations of Lord Shiva—and also forms a crucial part of the Char Dham Yatra and Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. Surrounded by majestic snow-covered peaks, including the towering Kedarnath range, the temple stands as a symbol of faith, endurance, and divine power.

According to Hindu mythology, the temple’s origin is linked to the great epic Mahabharata. It is believed that after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva’s forgiveness for the sins of war. Shiva, avoiding them, took the form of a bull (Nandi) and dived into the ground. His hump appeared at Kedarnath, while other parts of his body appeared at different locations, forming the Panch Kedar temples. The hump at Kedarnath came to be worshipped as the main deity in the temple. The current stone structure is believed to have been built by the Pandavas themselves and later revived by the great philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE, who is said to have attained samadhi near the temple.

Architecturally, Kedarnath Temple is a masterpiece of ancient Indian stone construction. Made from massive interlocking grey stone slabs, it has withstood centuries of natural calamities, including the devastating 2013 floods that destroyed much of the surrounding town but left the temple almost untouched. The temple consists of a Garbha Griha (inner sanctum) that houses the irregular-shaped Shivlinga, representing the divine form of Lord Shiva, and a large Mandapa (hall) where devotees gather for prayers and rituals.

Due to its high-altitude location, the temple remains open only for six months a year—usually from April to November. During the winter, the deity is moved to Ukhimath, where prayers continue until the temple reopens in summer. Pilgrims undertake a challenging 16-kilometer trek from Gaurikund to reach the shrine, which tests both physical endurance and spiritual devotion. Despite the hardships, millions of devotees visit Kedarnath every year, believing that a pilgrimage here washes away sins and brings one closer to salvation. The serene Himalayan landscape, the sound of temple bells, and the divine aura make Kedarnath one of the most spiritually uplifting places in India.