Kedarnath - The Unalloyed Devotion

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.

The holy Hindu town of Kedarnath is located in the Indian state of Uttaranchal. It lies on the bank of the Mandakini River between Gangotri and Badrinath. This pilgrimage site is just 42 km from Badrinath and hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples. Kedar is the other name of Lord Shiva, who is considered as the embodiment of all passions love, hatred, fear and mysticism. More than 100,000 pilgrims come here each year. It is believed that Sankaracharya attained samadhi at this place in about 820 A.D. Kedarnath Shrine is accessible only by a 14 Km trek from Gaurikund. The horses of palanquins are available on rent to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund.

Kedarnath Temple : This Lord Shiva temple at Kedarnath is said to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins procured during the Kurukshetra war. It is believed that this temple was originally constructed by the Pandavas and the present temple was reconstructed by Sankaracharya in the 8th century. One of the 12 jyotirlingas is in this temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sada Siva and is considered to be one of the major Shiva temples in India. The temple is built of very large , heavy and evenly cut gray slab of stones and is an architectural masterpiece. The temple faces south, which is an unique feature, as most temples faces east. This temple is very solidly built. The temple opens the first week of May and closes either the last week of October or the first week of November.
Scoop
Place - Uttaranchal
Area - 3 sq .km
Population - 479
Altitude - 3584
Best Season To Visit - May to October
Languages Spoken - Hindi, Garhwali and English
Local Transport - Horses, Dandies
STD Code - 01372 -86

Climate
In winters ( September to November ), it is cold during the day and its chilly in the night, with minimum temperature of 8 degree C. On the other hand during summers it is cool in the day time and cold at night with the maximum temperature of 15 degree C.

Accommodation Options
There is lots of dharamsalas, lodges and guest houses in Kedarnath. The Nigam Tourist Bungalow has rooms for Rs. 265, but you have to book in advance. The Bharat Seva Ashram, a large red building left of the temple, is a nice clean place with rooms for Rs. 135. There are also a number of private no-name lodges.

Dining Delight
Hotel Pavan Hansh Restaurant, next to Gaurikund, is a well-managed, good vegetarian place.
Gauri’s Grand restaurant is a good place with an extensive menu.

Major Highlights
Badri Kedar Festival
Held in the month of June, nothing could be a perfect manifestation of Hindu religion and culture. The Badri Kedar festival is held in the sacred shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the month of June. The festivities go on for a stretch of eight days. The festival makes an attempt to bring under one platform, the greatest artists of the country. What could be a more apt tribute to the rich Indian culture?

Kedarnath Times
http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050214030500.htm

Map Of Kedarnath
http://kumaonindia.com/images/rudara-map.gif
Getting There
Kedarnath is well accessible by Air, Rail and Road.
Airport : Jolly Grant, Dehradun (251 kms.)
Railhead : Rishikesh (234 kms.) Kotdwar (260 kms.)
Road : Approachable on foot from Gaurikund, which is connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.