Overview
One of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Northern India is the Kedarnath Temple, which is 3584 meters above sea level and situated on the banks of the Mandakini River. “Kedar Khand” is the area’s historical name. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India, Kedarnath Temple is located in Uttarakhand and is a component of the Char Dhams and Panch Kedar.
It’s like opening the door of redemption to see the majestic snow-capped Garhwal Himalayan ranges, fabled temple walls, and one of Lord Shiva’s 12 Jyotirlingas. As you travel over the powerful Himalayas to the head of the stunning Mandakini River, Kedarnath exudes a sense of spirituality and adventure. Numerous tourists and pilgrims travel there each year in their hundreds to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings, making it one of the most well-known pilgrimage sites.
One can also visit the Bhairav Temple, the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, nestled south of the Kedarnath Temple, approximately one kilometer uphill. The scenic views on the way to the Kedarnath Temple will make you spellbound and the divinity that roams in the air will make your every second worthwhile.
In addition, one can travel about a kilometer uphill to the south of the Kedarnath Temple to the terrible manifestation of Lord Shiva, the Bhairav Temple. You will be mesmerized by the beautiful scenery as you go to the Kedarnath Temple, and the spirituality that permeates the air will make every moment worthwhile.
In Uttarakhand alone, there are more than 200 Shiva shrines, with Kedarnath is the most significant. Legend has it that after defeating the Kauravas in the Battle of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas felt sorry for killing their own family and sought Lord Shiva’s forgiveness. He managed to escape them several times before seeking sanctuary at Kedarnath as a buffalo.
When he saw he was being pursued, the Lord dove into the earth, leaving Kedarnath with just his hump visible. Lord Shiva’s remaining components made their appearances in four further locations, where they are revered as his incarnations. At Tungnath, the Lord’s limbs could be seen; at Rudranath, his face; at Madmaheshwar, his belly; and at Kalpeshwar, his locks (hair) and head could be seen. The Kedarnath shrine and the four others are referred to as Panch Kedar (Panch means Five in Sanskrit).
Standing in the middle of a broad plateau surrounded by steep snow-capped peaks, the Temple at Kedarnath is a stunning sight. The temple was initially constructed by Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century A.D., and it is located close to the location of an even older temple constructed by the Pandavas. The assembly hall’s inside walls are ornamented with representations of numerous deities and mythological settings. A huge Nandi statue guards the entrance to the shrine.
The Kedarnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, features beautiful architecture. It makes one wonder how such massive, hefty, and neatly cut gray stone slabs were moved and handled in prior years because it is made of them. The temple contains a Mandap that is suitable for gatherings of pilgrims and guests and a Garbha Griha for worship. Within the temple, a conical rock formation is revered as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form