Destination
Kedarnath Dham
Kedarnath temple is nestled in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state. It is dedicated to Bhagwaan Shankar and is part of 12 Jyortirling, Char Dham of Uttarakhand, and Paanch Kedar Circuits. The place holds a significant place in the hearts of Hindus because of its religious importance, as mentioned in Hindu scriptures.
As per Hindu religious literature, the Pandavas built Panch Kedar in the holy land of Garhwal Himalayas to please Bhagwaan Shankar. It is the third Dham among the Char Dham of Uttarakhand and first among the Panch Kedar circuit of Uttarakhand.
Ancient Hindu literature like Mahabharat and Skand Puran describe Uttarakhand as the ‘Land of Bhagwaan Shiv.’ The word Kedar means’ a small piece of land’ in Hindi. Hence, Bhagwaan Shankar is known as the master of the entire lands of Uttarakhand. Many legends related to the story of the Kedarnath temple strengthen people’s beliefs.
The holy river Mandakini flows through the Chorabari Glacier, situated in the background of Kedarnath Dham. There is a trek of 22 km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Dham. The entire trek is full of scenic beauty and highly blessed by the gift of nature.
The head priest of Kedarnath is called ‘Raval.’ He belongs to the Veerashaiva community from Karnataka. The Raval performs all the rituals and homage offered to the lingam at Kedarnath.
Extreme weather in the Himalayas made opening Kedarnath for the entire year impossible. Hence, it is kept closed during the winter. The closing ceremony of the shrine is held after Diwali in October or November. The doors of Kedarnath Dham are reopened in April or May every year.
Nearby sightseeing attractions in Kedarnath Dham include Bhairav Mandir and Vasuki Taal. A statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is also installed on the premises of the Kedarnath temple.
The sacred visit to Kedarnath temple starts from Haridwar, where one can bathe in the river Ganga. From Haridwar, one can reach the shrine by traveling via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Guptkashi.
Kedarnath Dham
On day three, we will commence our journey from Barkot to Uttarkashi.