Kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Shiva. The temple is situated near the Mandakini River and is one of the four major sites in India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage of Northern Himalayas.

History

The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE, although the original temple is said to have been constructed by the Pandavas from the Mahabharata. The temple has been a site of pilgrimage for centuries and is revered as one of the most important Shiva temples in India.

Architecture

Kedarnath Temple is built in the traditional Hindu temple architecture style, featuring a large stone edifice with a conical roof. The temple is constructed from large, heavy, and evenly cut grey slabs of stones. The inner walls of the temple are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology.

Pilgrimage

Kedarnath is part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which also includes Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The temple is open to the public only between the months of April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima, the autumn full moon), due to extreme weather conditions in the region.

Access

The temple is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters (11,755 ft) and is accessible by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund. During the winter months, the temple is closed, and the idol of Shiva is moved to Ukhimath, where it is worshipped for the next six months.

Significance

Kedarnath is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is believed that a visit to Kedarnath can help one attain moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). The temple is also part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, which includes four other temples dedicated to Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas.

See also

• Badrinath Temple
• Char Dham
• Hindu pilgrimage sites

External links

• Official website of Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath gallery

• 
  Majestic view of Kedarnath
• 
  Temple in the aftermath of the flood
• 
  Ukhimath Temple, near Kedarnath, Uttarakhand