Kedarnath is also called the Land of the Gods. It is a place with snow-covered Himalayan mountains that take your breath away, a 1000-year-old temple that makes you feel deep, and holy air surrounding you. Look at this list of the 15 best places to visit in Kedarnath before you go.
Kedarnath is 3584 meters high and close to where the holy Mandakini river starts. Kedarnath is one of the four Chota char Dham.
It was named after King Kedar from the Satya Yuga. The other three are Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Everyone must visit this one of the holiest places on earth at least once.
Places To Visit In Kedarnath
1. Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath Temple is the most important place to see when you are in Kedarnath. This temple is about a thousand years old and has been here since Mahabharat.
This temple has one of the 12 jyotirlingas and one of the five Kedars. It is a shrine to Lord Shiva and is found 3,584 m above sea level in the Garhwal area of the Himalayas.
People believe the Pandavas constructed the original temple, and Adi Shankaracharya, the best teacher and spiritual leader, erected the new temple adjacent to it. Lord Shiva changed into a bull and followed the Pandavas at this temple.
People can visit the temple from the end of April to the beginning of November. After that, it stays closed for the last six months of the year because cold weather in the area is hard to predict.
2. Bhairavnath Temple
This beautiful temple of God Bhairav is close to the Kedarnath Temple. Bhairav is the main Gana of Lord Shiva.
It is a great place to go to in Kedarnath. It is on top of a hill.
People say that the god in this temple protects the god in the Kedarnath temple. People think Lord Bhairav, also known as Kshetrapal, watches over the temple and all of Kedarnath when it is closed during the brutal winters.
Visit this temple not just for the darshan but also to see the beautiful views of the valley.
3. Vasuki Tal – Places To Visit In Kedarnath
Vasuki Tal is one of the top attractions in Kedarnath. This beautiful lake is at an elevation of 4135 m on the Kedarnath hills.
From up here, you can see many peaks in a beautiful and close way. Because of the lake’s crystal-clear water, it is simple to see the rocks at the bottom.
Around the lake, there are also magical flowers that grow. One of these is the well-known Brahma Kamal.
To get to the lake, you must climb a long, narrow road from Kedarnath and cross glaciers in deep ravines.
4. Sonprayag
Sonprayag is the place where the holy rivers Basuki and Mandakini meet. Therefore, people think that bathing in rivers that encounter is a way to get clean.
Sonprayag is in the Uttarakhand district of Rudraprayag and is 1829 m above sea level. Mountains with snow on top and rivers that flow slowly and calmly give the area a magnetic charm.
5. Shankaracharya Samadhi
Adi Shankaracharya, a saint and great teacher from the eighth century, went to Kedarnath at the end of his trip worldwide. He had gone to different parts of the world to spread his Advaita theory.
He went to Kedarnath as his last stop before leaving his body behind. The Shankaracharya Samadhi built on the spot where he died and reached a peace.
The spatika lingam inside the shrine is thought to rid people who visit it of harmful energies and the effects of significant illnesses. This place also has a hot spring that Adi Shankaracharya made himself. The idea behind it was to make the devotee tourists’ lives better.
6. Chandrashila
Chandrashila Hill, which is 4000 m above sea level, is one of the most famous places to visit in Kedarnath. People think that after killing Ravana, Lord Rama went to this spot to pray to Lord Shiva.
After Ram killed Ravana and ended the Rakshasa family, he came to this holy land to eliminate his sins. There is also a story that says Moon God, also called Chandradev, repentance for his sins here for many years.
From Chopta, the hill with the highest Shiva temple, hikers must cover 4.5 m to get to Chandrashila, a steep hike. From Chandrashila, you can see the Himalayan range and well-known peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Peak, and Chaukhamba from all directions.
7. Gaurikund
Legends say that Goddess Parvati meditated or did Tapa for many years to get married to Lord Shiva. And she did the tapa in a place called Gaurikund in the Garhwal Himalayas.
There was also something else that happened here. Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha’s human head and replaced it with an elephant’s head.
When you go to this holy place, you can feel the power of the Gods. Dip in the nearby hot spring, and you’ll feel blessed and clean.
8. Triyuginarayan Temple
What happened after Goddess Parvati finished doing her tapa? Lord Shiva said he loved her, and they got married. The location of their wedding is also in Kedarnath.
The God and Goddess married at Triyuginarayan Temple, 13 meters from Gaurikund. There is a specific spot where the divine union happened.
It’s called Brahma Shila, in front of the temple. A fire is burning in front of the building.
People think this fire has been burning since the wedding! However, this fire gave the temple a new name: Akhand Dhuni temple.
The Saraswati kund in the temple is thought to have water from Lord Vishnu’s belly. The Triyuginarayan Temple is only 10 km from Sonprayag.
You can also walk to the temple from Sitapur village, which is 7 kilometers away.
9. Guptakashi
You should plan to visit this small town in the Rudraprayag area when you are in Kedarnath. On the way to Kedarnath, it is on the Mandakini river bank.
Bhagwan Shiva hid in Gupta Kashi, also known as “hidden Kashi,” when the Pandavas arrived to seek his blessings after the Mahabharata battle. Guptakashi is near the Vishwanath and Ardhnarishwar Temples.
Both shrines, dedicated to different types of Lord Shiva, are on the list of must-see places in and around Kedarnath. If for nothing else, you should go to this town to shop. It has some of the best shops with idols, drawings, artifacts, and more.
10. Chorabari Tal
Chorabari Tal is a beautiful lake made by the Chorabari Bamak glacier. It is 3,900 m above sea level.
At the base of Kedarnath Hill is this lake. Some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were put in this lake, also called Gandhi Sarovar.
People also think that this lake is where Lord Shiva taught the Saptrishis how to do yoga. The easiest trip is to Chorabari Tal, which is reached by walking 3 km through beautiful grassy fields.
On the way to the lake, you can see a beautiful waterfall called Madhu Ganga and some mysterious mountains in the distance.
11. Tungnath Temple
The Tungnath temple is one of the five Panch Kedar temples. It is 3,680 feet above sea level.
This temple is 3 km away from Chopta. It is known for being the highest Shiva temple in the world.
This is one of the most popular places to visit in Kedarnath, and many people come here yearly. People respect and honor Lord Shiva in this place, which is thought to be around 1000 years old.
The Nagara style is used to build the building; only ten people can fit inside the center. So people think that Adi Shankaracharya found this temple.
Mythology says that the Pandavas built this temple to ask Lord Shiva for forgiveness and a gift for killing their cousins. People think that Lord Shiva dressed up as a bull, and the places where bull parts were found are now well-known Shiva shrines.
12. Rudranath Temple
This old temple is in the Chamoli area and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Rudranath temple is in the Garhwal Himalayas at 2286 m.
It is thought that the Pandavas built it. The Panch Kedar Yatra takes people to five temples.
This is the third one. Mythology says that the head of Lord Shiva took the shape of a bull and showed up at this temple.
The Neelkanth Mahadeva is the name of the place where people worship the head of Lord Shiva. Thick woods surround it.
Suryakund, Chandra-Kund, Tara-Kund, Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti are some of the holy water tanks found around the temple. This temple opens in April or May and closes in mid-November every year.
13. Madhyamaheshwar Temple
The Madhyamaheshwar temple is at the base of Chaukhamba Hill in Garhwal. It is regarded as being among the earliest Hindu temples.
This temple is one of the most lovely places to visit in Kedarnath. It is 3,497 m above sea level. This temple is one of the Panch Kedar.
It was made in the Nagara style, and the mountains in the background make it look even more beautiful. Inside the temple, the bull’s navel is honored and seen as the holiest part of the animal.
There are also two small shrines in the same area, Parvati and Ardhanarishwara.
14. Mayali Pass Trek
The Mayali Pass is in the Bhilangana Valley and is 15 km from Kedarnath. It is at an altitude of 5300 m.
This pass is one of the best places to go in Kedarnath because it has a beautiful view of the Masar Tal and the Vasuki Tal. In the past, travelers used this path to go to Gangotri and Kedarnath.
It is now a popular place for hikers. This goes through the Gangi village, the Thalay Sagar peak, the Bhilangana river basin, and the Khatling glacier.
This gives you a great view of the beautiful Himalayan peaks.
15. Ukhimath
Ukhimath is a beautiful hill town in the state of Uttarakhand. It is in the Rudraprayag district.
This place, which is 1317m high, is also called Ushamat, which comes from Banasur’s daughter Usha’s name. The Omkareshwar temple, considered one of the oldest in the area, is the best thing about this place.
In the winter, this place also known as the home of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar. This place is about 59 kilometers from Kedarnath.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kedarnath is a beautiful and spiritual destination. With its picturesque landscape and religious significance, it attracts millions of visitors worldwide every year.
Kedarnath has something for everyone to explore, from the magnificent Himalayan mountain peaks to the historic temples and pilgrimage sites. Therefore, Kedarnath has something to offer everyone, whether they are seeking adventure or want to unwind.
Nayana is passionate about discovering the most magnificent places to visit in India! She also loves to uncover the most incredible sights and capture her experiences in her writing through TouristPanda.com.