Places to Visit near Kedarnath Temple

 Kedarnath Temple is one of the most prominent and well-known pilgrimage spots. Being a part of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Panch Kedar, and Chota Char Dham, this temple holds great importance for devotees of Lord Shiva. Every year, millions of tourists come to the Kedarnath Yatra to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. It's a strong belief that taking blessings at Kedarnath temple can free you from the cycle of birth and death. You can visit this temple on your own, or you can book a Kedarnath tour package from any reputed company to complete your yatra. In addition to Kedarnath Temple, there are thousands of other places that you can also visit or get included in your itinerary. Here we are going to list some of the most important places where you can visit, along with Kedarnath Temple. Some of them are very famous, but all of the places listed below are very beautiful and worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Snow covered path of Kedarnth temple


Dhari Devi Temple: 

A well-known temple en route to Kedarnath is Dhari Devi Temple. She is also considered the protector god of the Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand. She is considered the living deity of Uttarakhand, as you can see the change in her face with time. In the morning, you will see a childish face; in the afternoon, she will turn into a young lady; and in the evening, you will get to see an old lady. It is also believed that the 2013 flood in the Kedarnath area occurred because the government had planned to replace Dhari Devi's statue in her original location. Dhari Devi temple is located in the middle of the Mandakini River, and it is believed that Dhari Devi controls the level of water in the river Mandakini, and its water never touches Dhari Devi temple. Locals here in Uttarakhand have deep trust in Dhari Devi and worship her with great belief. It's a must to visit the temple en route to Kedarnath.

Triyuginarayan Temple:- 

Do you know that Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati got married in a place located in Uttarakhand, and the temple in which they got married is still standing and reciting the story of the first love marriage on this earth? Yes, you heard right. That temple is well known as Triyuginarayan Temple and is just 19 km from Sonprayag, the base camp of the Kedarnath Yatra. It got its name from Triyuginarayan, as it has been standing at that location for the last three yugas. As per the holy scriptures, it is believed that Maa Parvati did penance for thousands of years to get married to Lord Shiva. Shiva was pleased with her penance and accepted Maa Parvati as his wife at Triyuginarayan temple in the presence of Lord Bhama, Vishnu, and other deities. This temple is also known as Akhand Dhuni Temple due to the perpetual fire in the compound of the temple, which is believed to have been burning since the marriage. Nowadays, Triyuginaryan Temple is developing as a favorite place for destination weddings, and it's believed that those who get married at Triyuginarayan Temple have a prosperous married life.

Tungnath Temple:-

 Another well-known Shiva temple and one among the panch kedars, Shree Tungnath Temple is also known as the highest Shiva temple on this earth. It is believed that when Lord Shiva disappeared from Kedarnath, he reappeared at five different places. Tungnath is one of those places, and the hands of Lord Shiva appeared at this place and were worshipped as Shivalinga. In addition to being a pilgrimage spot, Tungnath is also known for many other reasons, like birdwatching, trekking, and casual holidays. Chopta, which is also known as the mini-Switzerland of India, is just 5 km from Tungnath Temple. Travelers also visit this place for the Chopta Tungnath Chandrashila trek. Tungnath is about 50 km away from Kedarnath Temple, so if you are coming to Kedarnath Temple, then it's a must-visit place. If you are taking the Kedarnath yatra package with any reputed company, then you can ask them to add Chopta Tungnath to your itinerary with no or minimal addition to your Kedarnath yatra cost.

Omkareshwar Temple: -

Another well-known temple in this region is Omkareshwar Temple, located in Ukimath. This temple is also known as the winter seat of Lord Shiva, as Lord Kedar Palquin stayed here for six months after the closure of Kedarnath temple during the winter season due to heavy snowfall. So if you missed taking a blessing from Lord Shiva at Kedarnath during the months of May to October, then you can also visit Omkareshwar temple during the winter season to see him. Not only in the winter season but also during the summer, pilgrims visit this place during their Kedarnath yatra to admire the beauty of the temple and seek the blessing of Lord Kedar.

Kalimath Temple:- 

You must have heard of the 52 Shaktipeeths located in different parts of India. But do you know that one such Shaktipeeth is located near Kedarnath temple? Yes, this is known as Kalimath Temple. As per the holy scriptures and folklore, it is believed that this is the place where Maa Kali killed the Demon Rakt Beej and went inside the earth after Lord Shiva lay down and Maa Kali stepped on her. As per the locals, you can still see the blood on the rock on which it is believed that Maa Kali killed the demon. This temple stays overcrowded during Navratra, and the locals worship her with great love and respect. This temple is located just 16 km from Guptkashi Market, which is en route to Kedarnath Temple.

Conclusion:-


Uttarakhand is known as Dev Bhoomi, as there are millions of temples in this state. But if you are going to Kedarnath this season, don't forget to cover some or all of these spots. It will give you a sense of fulfillment or a complete trip. 

Post a Comment

0 Comments