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Kedarnath, Of Mountains and Mysteries

By Manoj

Kedarnath, situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is a major tourist sightseeing place. Nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas at an elevation of 3,584 mt above sea level, it is considered as one of the holiest destinations in Hinduism. During summers, this pilgrimage site is flocked by the tourists who come to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

One of the major tourist place here is the Kedarnath temple, which is about 1000 years old and constructed using large stone slabs over a rectangular base. The place which is situated at an altitude of 3,584 mt above sea level, is the toughest to reach of all the Char Dhams.

Other places to visit in Kedarnath include; Agastya Muni, Bhairav Nath Temple, Chorabhari Tal, Gauri Kund, Kedar Massif, Mandakini River, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Vasuki Tal and more.

How to Reach Kedarnath

How to Reach Kedarnath

By Air: The nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is located at a distance of 239 km. This airport is directly linked to the Delhi Airport, which is connected to all the major cities of India.

By Train: Rishikesh railway station, situated at a distance of 221 km from Kedarnath is the nearest railhead. It is well connected with all the major cities in India.

By Road: Kedarnath is connected by road. You can avail a bus or hire a jeep to reach here. Due to the roads being bad, travellers are required to cover around 14 km on foot to reach Kedarnath.

Photo Courtesy:ASIM CHAUDHURI

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple

A major tourist sightseeing place in Kedarnath is the Kedarnath Temple, which is also a prominent Hindu pilgrimage centre. Located at an altitude of 3,584 mt above sea level, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a statue of Nandi Bull, the mount of Lord Shiva, placed outside the temple. It is believed that this temple was constructed nearly 1000 years back.

Photo Courtesy:Shaq774

Agastya Muni

Agastya Muni

Another tourist place in Kedarnath is Agastya Muni which is situated at an altitude of 1000 mt above sea level and on the banks of River Mandakini. It is believed to have been the home of the Hindu sage Agstya Rishi. There is a temple here called Agasteshwar Mahadev Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. You can see the images of other Hindu deities carved on the stone walls here.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Bhairav Nath Temple

Bhairav Nath Temple

A major sightseeing place in Kedarnath is the Bhairav Nath Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, also known as God of Souls. It is believed that during Shivratri there is the presence of many souls in the vicinity of the temple. This is also the place where a scene in the bollywood movie Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani was shot.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Chorabhari Tal

Chorabhari Tal

Chorabhari Tal, situated at an altitude of 3,900 mt above sea level, offers a magnificent view of the Himalayan Peaks. This lake is also referred to as Gandhi Sarovar, as a part of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in this lake. It is a great place to go trekking as well.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Gauri Kund

Gauri Kund

One of the places to visit in Kedarnath is Gauri Kund. It serves as a trekking base for Kedarnath. There is an old temple here, which is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Also the place gets its name from a hot water spring called Gauri Kund, whose water is said to have medicinal value and is believed to wash off the sins of the devotees who come here.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Guptkashi

Guptkashi

Guptkashi is a tourist place in Kedarnath, which is known for an old Vishwanath Temple, Manikarnik Kund and Ardhnareswar Temple. The Vishwanath Temple and Ardhnareswar Temple are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees come here to pray to the Lord, asking him to forgive their sins.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Kedar Massif

Kedar Massif

Kedar Massif is a sightseeing place in Kedarnath formed by three mountains namely; Kedarnath, Kedar dome and Bharatekuntha. It is located at an altitude of 6,000 mt above sea level. It is a major trekking area although trekkers are asked to keep in mind that as they climb higher the level of oxygen gets low and therefore to be well prepared before the trek.

Photo Courtesy:Paul Hamilton

Mandakini River

Mandakini River

A major tourist palce in Kedarnath is the Mandakini River which is a tributary of Alaknanda river. The river joins the Vasukiganga river at Sonprayag, Alaknanda river at Rudraprayag and Bhagirathi at Devprayag before becoming a part of the Holy Ganga. It is a major water sports centre whith kayaking and rafting being the major activities.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

Shankaracharya Samadhi

Shankaracharya Samadhi

Shankaracharya Samadhi or the grave of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is situated in proximity to the Kedarnath Temple. Sri Shankaracharya was a noted Hindu Sage, who travelled far and wide to spread the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta. Travellers can also find a hot water spring in the region, which was supposedly created by Shankaracharya to wear off the pain of his disciples, who were suffering from the adversities of the climate.

Photo Courtesy:Priyanath

Vasuki Tal

Vasuki Tal

Another place to visit in Kedarnath is the Vasuki Tal, which is situated at an altitude of 4,135 mt above sea level. It is situated amid the Himalayan Ranges and is a major tourist place here. It is a hub for nature lovers, who can take in the breathtaking view of this region. Tourists are advised to visit this place between the months of June and October as during these months the temperature of the place is quite pleasant.

Photo Courtesy:Kumar Chitrang

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