Set amidst the stunning mountains cape of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath, at the head of the Mandakini River, is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, and took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. When the Pandavas followed him here, too, he dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol in the shrine.

The remaining parts of the body are worshipped at four other places-the arms(Bahul) at Tungnath, mouth(mukh) at Rudranath, navel(nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and hair(jata) at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath these places are known as the Panch Kedar.

General Information:
Area : 3 sq. km.
Population : 301 (1991 census)
Altitude : 3581 mtrs above sea level
Season : May-October
               September-October
Clothing (Summer) : Woolens
              (Winter) : Heavy Woolens
Language : Hindi, Garhwali
Local Transport : Horses/Dandies
Festivals : Badri-Kedar Utsav, Doli Yatra of Kedarnathji
Imp.:- The temple and the township remains closed between November and May.

Accessibility
Rail: Nearest railhead is Rishikesh : 221 kms, of which 207 kms is motorable upto Gaurikund. The remaining 14 kms has to be covered on foot or on ponies
Road: Regular and Yatra bus services are available from Rishikesh and Kotdwar. Private taxies are also available from Rishikesh. Some major road distances are: Rambara-6 kms on foot, gaurikund-14 kms on foot, Sonprayag-20 kms, Guptkashi-49 kms, Kund-54 kms, Agastmuni-73 kms, Tilwara-83 kms, Rudraprayag-89 kms, Ukhimath-59 kms, Dogalbhita-83 kms, Chopta-89 kms, Mandal-117 kms, Gopeshwar-128 kms, Chamoli-138 kms.

Places of Interest
Kedarnath Temple: Built in the 8th century A.D., the temple at kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a conical rock in its sanctum sanctorum is the idol. The temple was renovated and refurbished by the religious reformer and saint, Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Outside the temple door a large statue of nandi, the bull, stands as a guard.

Samadhi Of Adi Shankaracharya: Located behind the Kedarnath Temple is the samadhi or the final resting place where the saint gave up his life.

Bhairav Nath Tample: To the south of the main temple stands the temple of Lord Bhairav, the deity who guards the Kedarnath Temple in winter, when it is closed to worship.

Accommodation

• Hotel
• Dharamshalas
• Guest House

Shopping:
The pilgrim centre has shops with a variety of trinkets and ritual items for sale. Apart from these, framed pictures of Kedarnathji and religious books are also available.

Excursions
Gandhi Sarovar: 1.5 kms. A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven.

Vasuki Tal: 6 kms. At 4135 mtrs above sea level, this lake is extraordinary, surrounded by high mountains and offering an excellent view of the Chaikhamba peaks.

Gaurikund: 15 kms. The trekking base to kedarnath and the road head, this village has a temple dedicated to Gauri and also thermal springs of medicinal value.

Sonprayag: 20 kms. The confluence of the Son ganga and Mandakini rivers, where there is a diversion for Triyuginarayan.

Gupt Kashi: 49 kms. Famous for the temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanathji.

Ukhimath: 60 kms. Winter home of the deity of kedarnath temple, and the seat of the Rawal of kedarnath.

Agastmuni: 73 kms. There is a temple dedicated to the sage Agastya.

Chopta: Situated on the Gopeshwar Ukhimath road about 40 kms from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 mts above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the entire Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of Himalayan ranges surrounding it.