Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple; Jyotirlinga Temple

Kedarnath Temple is a Lord Shiva Temple in the Garhwal Himalayan ranges in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand state, India. This temple is open only during Akshaya Tritiya day in April to Kartik Purnima (full moon day, usually November, due to the weather conditions. The main deity here is worshipped as the ‘Lord of Kedar Khand’, the region’s historical name. The deities from this temple are taken to Ukhimath in the Rudraprayag district (41 kilometers from Rudraprayag) and worshipped there during winter.

Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath Temple.

Ukhimath, where Kedarnath Temple’s deities are taken during winter, is a centrally located destination. There are many other picturesque places worth visiting near Ukhimath.

Kedarnath Temple is situated on the banks of the Mandakini River, a tributary of the holy river Ganga, at an altitude of 3,583 meters or 11,755 feet. Pandavas built this temple. Adi Sankaracharya visited and revived the temple. It is one among the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Kedarnath Mandir (mandir means temple in the Hindi language) is one of the four temples of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage package tour. It is also the first temple to be visited as part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage.

How Do I Go to Kedarnath Temple?

This temple is at a distance of 223 kilometers from Rishikesh. You need to trek uphill for around 14 kilometers from Gaurikund. Pony rides are also available.

The nearest airport, Dehra Dun Airport, is around 110 kilometers distance. Bhuntar Airport at Kullu is about 230 kilometers away. New Delhi, the capital of India, is about 300 kilometers from Kedarnath.

Harrawala railway station, with station code HRW, is the nearest one to Kedarnath temple, at around 107 kilometers distance. Dehra Dun airport is 11 kilometers from Harrawala railway station. Doiwala railway station, with station code DWO, is another nearby railway station 110 kilometers away. Dehra Dun airport is around six kilometers from Doiwala railway station. Both these railway stations are under the Moradabad railway division.