Kedarnath – Bhole Ke Darshan
January 12, 2023Nestled in the majestic Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath village is one of India’s most respected temple attractions. Situated at an elevation of 3,580 meters, the town is centered around the hallowed Kedarnath temple and is close to the Chorabari glacier, the Mandakini river’s source. The old temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is made of incredibly big but uniformly shaped grey stone slabs and features superb architecture. Within the temple, a conical rock formation is revered as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” guise. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India, the Kedarnath temple is devoted to him and is a component of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The Kedar Dome, the Kedarnath mountain, and other Himalayan peaks are located behind the Kedarnath temple.
This area was formerly known as “Kedar Khand.” According to tradition, the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata felt bad for killing so many people and sought Lord Shiva’s forgiveness in order to atone for their sins. The Lord continually evaded them and sought safety at Kedarnath as a bull. At Kedarnath, the Lord dove beneath the earth, leaving his hump visible. The remaining parts of Lord Shiva are revered in four more locations where he made his appearances. At Tungnath, the Lord’s arms were visible, his face was at Rudranath, his belly was at Madmaheshwar, and his locks (hair) were at Kalpeshwar. The renowned Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit consists of Kedarnath and the four shrines previously mentioned.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When is the ideal season to visit Kedarnath? May to October. The town closes in the winter because of the amount of snowfall.
Where to Stay
There are numerous lodging options, including hotels, dorms, and camps. Certain assets, particularly the Camps and Dormitories, are under the ownership and management of GMVN and can be reserved via their website. There are shared bathrooms and attached dormitories as well as camps. Their homes are very clean and comfortable.
one can book GMVN Nandi base camp by official website of https://gmvnonline.com/
HOW TO REACH
By Flight
The closest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant, which is located 240 kilometers away. Jolly Grant Airport has regular flights to Delhi, making it well connected. Motorable roads link Gaurikund and Jolly Grant Airport well. To go to Gaurikund from Jolly Grant Airport, taxis are readily accessible.
By Train
Rishikesh is the closest train station to Kedarnath. The railway station at Rishikesh is located on NH58, 215 kilometers prior to Kedarnath. Major Indian cities are well-connected to Rishikesh by railway networks. To get to Rishikesh, trains run often. Motorable roads provide good connectivity between Gaurikund and Rishikesh. There are plenty of taxis and buses that go from Rishikesh to Gaurikund.
By Road
The road to Kedarnath terminates at Gaurikund, from where a short, easy 14km hike begins. Motorable highways connect Gaurikund to other important locations in Uttarakhand and the northern regions of India. From Delhi’s ISBT Kashmiri Gate, buses go to Rishikesh and Srinagar. Major Uttarakhand destinations such as Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar, Chamoli, etc. have easy access to buses and taxis that go to Gaurikund. Situated on National Highway 109, Gaurikund links Rudraprayag and Kedarnath.