Kedarnath Temple
Folktale & Sacred Story
After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas set out to find Shiva to atone for killing their own kin. Shiva, unwilling to grant them easy forgiveness, fled in the form of a bull and hid among herds near Guptakashi. Bhima spotted the unusual bull and seized it by the tail and hind legs; the bull tried to vanish into the ground, and its body separated, scattering across the Garhwal Himalayas -- its hump surfacing at Kedarnath, while its other parts appeared at the sites forming the Panch Kedar. In memory of Bhima wrestling and then remorsefully massaging the bull-form of Shiva with ghee, the triangular lingam at Kedarnath is still anointed with ghee during worship today.
Most Revered Practice
The central ritual is the daily ghee abhishek (anointing) of the naturally formed, three-sided lingam, echoing the Pandava legend; devotees are permitted to touch the lingam only until about 3:00 p.m. each day, after which darshan continues but touching is not allowed. Behind the temple stands the samadhi shrine of Adi Shankaracharya, credited with reviving the temple in the 8th century CE.
Prasadam & Offerings
Reported prasad items include amaranth (rajgira) laddus, mishri (sugar candy), dry fruits and bel patra leaves; confirm exact prasad offerings locally, as these can vary.
Temple Speciality
At 3,583 m, Kedarnath is the highest of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and reachable only via a roughly 16-18 km trek or helicopter from Gaurikund -- there is no road to the temple. The lingam is regarded as svayambhu (self-manifested), and the temple's stone structure famously survived the catastrophic 2013 Uttarakhand flash floods largely undamaged.
Why Pilgrims Visit
Kedarnath is one of the four sites of the Chota Char Dham and the first stop of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage, drawing devotees seeking Shiva's blessings at one of Hinduism's most sacred and remote shrines. The demanding Himalayan trek itself is treated as an act of devotion.
History & Legend
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham and Panch Kedar circuits, the stone temple's core structure is attributed to the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, built amid the high Himalayas at over 3,500 metres.
Divine Significance
Remarkably, the temple survived largely intact during the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods, an event many devotees regard as a testament to its sanctity.
Darshan Timings
Kedarnath Temple is open to the public only seasonally, roughly from Akshaya Tritiya in April/May to around Bhai Dooj/Kartik Purnima in November; during the open season, daily darshan is typically available from about 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (please confirm exact timings with the temple before visiting, as they vary by season and festival).
How To Reach
Nearest airport: Dehradun (Jolly Grant), then road to Sonprayag/Gaurikund followed by a ~16 km trek or helicopter/pony service. Nearest railway station: Rishikesh.
Where To Stay
GMVN guesthouses, dharamshalas and private lodges at Kedarnath and along the trek route; the temple is open only from around April/May to Diwali due to snow.
Local Food Nearby
Kedarnath is strictly vegetarian with no alcohol or meat permitted; small dhabas and pilgrim bhojanalayas serve simple fare like dal, rice and roti, alongside regional Garhwali dishes.
Contact & Official Info
Contact Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) / Uttarakhand Tourism.
Recommended Reading
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