Sacred Shiva Temple at 3583 Metres – One of the Four Char Dhams
Kedarnath Temple is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in India and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Situated at 3583 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, it is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — the self-manifested sacred shrines of Lord Shiva. The temple is dedicated to Lord Kedarnath (Shiva) and is surrounded by the majestic Himalayan peaks.
The original temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas and later restored by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. The current structure dates to the 8th century. The temple survived the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods, protected by a massive boulder that deflected the floodwaters behind the shrine.
Kedarnath is open May to October. The opening ceremony (usually Akshaya Tritiya, May) and closing day are auspicious. June (post-June rains) and September offer the best weather and fewer crowds than peak May.
Haridwar / Kathgodam / Rishikesh is the nearest major railhead. Taxi / bus to Rudraprayag from there.
UPSRTC and private buses from Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh to Rudraprayag. Local transport within area.
Private cabs from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Delhi available. Tour Venture India arranges private taxis.