A complete guide to the Kedarnath Yatra

Introduction

Kedarnath Temple is a holy pilgrimage site located in Dev Bhoomi, Uttarakhand. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites, with some mesmerizing views all around the temple. Located at an altitude of 3583 meters above sea level in the lap of the Himalayas on the bank of the Mandakini River, All these make a perfect holiday destination and perfect for anyone looking for spirituality and adventure in the same place. If you are also planning to visit this sacred land, then this article is going to explain everything and be one of your best friends during your trip. Go through this article to equip yourself with complete details about the Kedarnath temple.
Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter
There are mainly two options for the helicopter ride on the Kedarnath Yatra. One option is to take the complete package from Dehradun airport for ek Dham yatra , do dham yatra , or char dham yatra. In this package, everything will be completed by helicopter with a round trip to Haridwar. For this service, you need to pay INR 90000 for ek dham yatra, INR 1,20,000 for do Dham, and INR 1,70,000 per person for char dham yatra. You can book your Kedarnath helicopter ride from a private company, for which the package can be booked directly from their website. Another option is to reach Guptkashi, Phata, or Sersi by road and then take a helicopter ride from there. For this, you need to take a road journey of 220 km from Haridwar to reach here. From Guptkashi, a round trip to Kedarnath will cost you INR 7,000 per person, and from Sersi or Phata, it will cost you INR 6,000 per person. One side helicopter ride is 15 minutes, and a ticket for this can be booked online from the IRCTC website directly. No other website or company has been authorized to book tickets on its behalf.

Kedarnath Yatra by Road

Another way to reach Kedarnath is by road, which is the only way to reach here for everyone looking for a budget trip. The nearest railway station to Kedarnath temple is Rishikesh railway station, or you can also book your ticket for Haridwar or Dehradun. The nearest airport to Kedarnath Temple is Jolly Grant Airport, which is also known as Dehradun Airport. All these places are around 220 km away from Sonprayag. So basically, the road journey to Kedarnath Temple is 220 km from Rishikesh. The views after Rishikesh will turn magically beautiful. Lush green mountains, deep valleys, crystal-clear water in the river, and a soothing breeze will make your day. The road to Sonprayag will pass through Devrayag to Srinagar to Dhari Devi Rudraprayag Agastyamuni to Guptkashi to Sonprayag to Gaurikund, from where the actual trek for the Kedarnath yatra will start. Outside vehicles will not be allowed to ply ahead of Sonprayag. Ahead of Sonprayag, you need to take a government-operated bus per person, which will cost you INR 50. There are many options available for staying at Guptkashi, Sonprayag, Sitapur, and Gaurikund. For a luxury stay, you can stay at a resort or hotel in Guptkashi, but if you are looking for a budget stay, you can stay in Gaurikund or Sonprayag. You can go to Kedarnath on your own or you can book a Kedarnath tour package with Manchala Mushafir for your comfortable journey. The Kedarnath Yatra package cost here is 9500 per person from Haridwar to Haridwar.

Trekking route to Kedarnath Yatra

The trekking route for the Kedarnath yatra will start from Gaurikund, and the trekking route is 16 km.
Trekking routes are as follows:
From Sonprayag, take a jeep to reach Gaurikund. It is around 6 km and will take 30 minutes to reach Gaurikund.
Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti via Rambara Bridge (4 km)
Jungle Chatti to Bheembali (3 km)
Bheembali to Linchauli (4 km)
Linchauli to Kedarnath Base Camp (4 km)
Kedarnath base camp to Kedarnath Temple (1 km)
The trekking route to Kedarnath is picturesque. It's a 16-kilometer trek and is on very tough terrain. It's advisable to consult your doctor before planning for the Kedarnath yatra, as it is located at a very high altitude with challenging terrain that can cause serious trouble for you during the trek. Start your trek early in the morning so that it can reach the temple before getting dark. Trekking trails are very tough, and it is advisable not to exert more pressure on your body. If you feel uncomfortable, then please take mules or Pitthu. Bad health could turn out to be very severe. Carry a water bottle and keep seeping water at regular intervals. It will keep you hydrated and provide energy to trek.

Facilities on the trekking route to Kedarnath Temple

The Kedarnath Yatra is well-structured and is organized by Uttarakhand and the Kedarnath-Badrinath association. In addition to this, there are many other central and state machinery available there to help you during the Kedarnath yatra. Some of the main facilities available on the route are as follows:
Medical camps are available every two or three kilometers throughout the trekking trails, with experienced doctors and other supporting staff to help you in case of emergency. You can avail of these facilities free of charge, and you can also get medicines from these camps.
Free and paid washrooms are available throughout the trails. These are managed by the municipal corporation, Rudraprayag, and some private organizations. The toilets there are clean and hygienic.
Camps and dormitories are available throughout the trails, and you can book them on-site as well. These will be helpful if you feel exhausted and not able to trek anymore, or if you started late from Gaurikund and planned to take a halt on the way.
Food stalls and other small shops selling some of the essentials are available throughout the trails.
Kandi, Palquin, and Mules services are available from Gaurikund, but you can also book them on the way. But do remember that the government booking office is available in Gaurikund and some places along the way. You can deal with the mule's owner on your own, but you need to be the best bargainer, or else you may end up paying something extra.
Clean drinking water is available throughout the trek. You can refill your water bottle with natural water, or you can take advantage of the water kiosks available at regular intervals.

 Kedarnath is one of the most popular shrines in northern India. Every year, thousands of Lord Shiva devotees visit this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is situated at a height of 3583 meters above sea level in the lap of the Himalayas, in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This temple is an integral part of the famous 12 Jyotirlingas in India, the Chota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, and the Panch Kedar Circuit. You can book your Kedarnath tour package with Manchala Mushafir for your hassle-free journey to the land of salvation. Kedarnath yatra package costs you 9500 per person from Haridwar to Haridwar including transportation, meals, guide, registration, resort stay, river rafting, and many more.

Silent Features of Kedarnath Temple:

It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most famous pilgrimage spots for Hindus in India and abroad.

The Kedarnath temple is believed to have been built around 1200 years ago, in the 8th century, by Adi Shankaracharya.

As per the holy scriptures, it is said that the first time it was built was by Pandavas when they came here in search of Lord Shiva, and it was reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.

Evenly-shaped gray slab stones are used in the construction of the Kedarnath temple.

No mortar was used in the construction of the Kedarnath temple. The rocks of this temple are arranged using interlocking technology.

As Kedarnath temple was built 1200 years ago and is located in a very inaccessible region of the Himalayas, it can be predicted easily that no motors or any modern technology machines are used in its construction.

This is the only Shiva temple in the world where a Shivlinga is found in a prism shape. Otherwise, generally, shillings are found in a cylindrical shape.

Kedarnath temple remains open only for six months in a year. It remains covered by snow for the next six months and is hence inaccessible for general devotees.

As per the archeologists and historians, it is believed to have been covered in snow for 400 years during the mini-ice age period.

The head priest of this temple is not from North India. They belong to the Veershiva Community of Karnataka and are known as Rawals at Kedarnath.

Generally, you have seen head priests performing the poojas at the temple, but at Kedarnath, Rawals don't perform the poojas. But poojas are being performed under his guidance.

What is Jyotirlinga?

As per the holy scriptures, it is believed that once there was a collision between Lord Brahma and Vishnu over their superiority and strength. So they approached Lord Shiva to solve the confusion. To solve this, Lord Shiva pierced the earth into 12 columns of light and asked them to find the ending point of the column. After searching for the ending point, Lord Brahma lied and said that he found it, but Lord Vishnu admitted his defeat. But Lord Shiva cut Lord Brahma's father's head as there was no ending point in the column and cursed him that he would not be worshipped anymore. These columns of lights are known as jyotirlingas. It is believed that anyone with a certain level of attainment can see light coming out of the earth at these jyotirlingas. All 12 Jyotirlingas are located in India. They are

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Dwarka, Gujarat

Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gir, Gujarat

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Srisilam, Andra Pradesh

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlingas, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar Jyotirlingas, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh

Baidyanat Jyotirlingas, Deoghar, Jharkhand

Bhimashankar Jyotirlingas, Pune, Maharashtra

Girineshwar Jyotirlingas, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Triyambakeshwar Jyotirlingas, Nasik

Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

What is the Chota Cham Dham Yatra?

Chota Char Dham Yatra is a trip or pilgrimage covering four temples in one go. Temples in this circuit are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The yatra of Char Dham is done in the same order and is believed to be done by Pandavas for the first time before going to heaven. Those who complete the Char Dham Yatra can get rid of their sin and attain salvation.

What are Panch Kedar?

Panch Kedar is a group of five temples that are believed to have been formed when the body parts of Lord Shiva in the form of a bull get divided into five parts and appear at five different places. It is believed that Pandavas had constructed temples at all these places and requested that Lord Shiva stay here in the form of Lingas to help the people of Kalyuga get rid of their sins and attain salvation. Temples in this circuit are Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar.

How to reach Kedarnath from Rishikesh, Haridwar, or Dehradun:

The only way to reach Kedarnath is by road. No other means are available. The nearest airport to Kedarnath Temple is Jolly Grant Airport, and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh Railway Station. Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun are twin cities located very close to each other. Haridwar is the central point of the Kedarnath yatra. From Haridwar, you have four main options that you can select. The first one is to travel by vehicle. This is going to be very economical and comfortable, but the problem with this is that Kedarnath temple is located in the lap of the Himalayas, and you need to drive for 250 km to reach Sonprayag, the base camp of Kedarnath temple. If you have no experience driving in hilly areas, then it's not recommended. The next option is to book your vehicle from Haridwar, and he will stay with you till the completion of the trip. This mode of transport is very convenient but the most costly one. The next option is to take a shared cab from Haridwar railway station or bus stand. This option is both economical and comfortable. The last option is to take public transport or a government bus from the Haridwar bus stand. This mode of transport is not at all comfortable, as you need to travel in a hilly area, and they are not punctual. But this option is best suited for all those who are planning an economical trip to Kedarnath temple.

Accommodation:-

Sonprayag and Gaurikund are known as the base camps of the Kedarnath Yatra. These are located around 250 km from Rishikesh, so no one can complete the journey in one day. So on the first day, you have to stay at Sonprayag or other cities around Sonprayag like Gaurikund, Guptkashi, and Rampur. You will find hotels, camps, and dormitories in all these cities.

One stay is required at Kedarnath, where you will have huge options of camps, dormitories, and hotels around or away from Kedarnath temple.

Amazing facts about Kedarnath Temple

 Kedarnath temple is one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in India. The original origin of this temple is yet unknown but it is believed to be built at least 1200 years ago. It is part of the 12 Jyotirlingas and Panch Kedar Temple circuit and is located at an altitude of 3583 meters above sea level in the lap of the Himalayas, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks on the bank of the Mandakini River2013. In addition to the pilgrimage site, these factors make it an amazing holiday destination. Every year millions of pilgrims complete kedarnath yatra to seek the blessings of lord shiva and get rid of their sins. Some of the pilgrims visit on their own while most of them prefer to take the Kedarnath tour package. In general, the Kedarnath yatra package cost you around INR 8000 to 12000 per person from Haridwar and the Kedarnath yatra cost from Delhi is between INR 10000 to 15000. Kedarnath yatra price will greatly vary depending upon the services, places to be covered, company, etc. Due to its remarkable beauty, it is considered to be another heaven on earth. There is a famous saying about Kedarnath temple that there is only one difference between Kedarnath and heaven: in heaven gods stay and in Kedarnath, Mahadev (केदारनाथ और स्वर्ग में केवल एक ही अंतर है कि स्वर्ग में देव रहते हैं और केदारनाथ में महादेव रहते हैं). In addition to these factors, Kedarnath temple is also famous for some of the amazing factors we are going to point out here which will give you a goosebump. Read this article to know more about it.

1) 2013 Flood:- You must have heard about the 2013 flood at Kedarnath. It was one of the deadliest floods in the Kedarnath region in which lakhs of devotees and locals lost their lives and many others were badly injured. When all the buildings built by using modern technologies were getting devastated like a house of cards, this 1200-year-old temple stood bold and survived the flood with no damage at all. Miraculously one rock of the same size as the Kedarnath temple came rolling from the mountain and stood about 10-15 feet before the temple to divert the water flow in two streams saving Kedarnath temple. This is a very recent example when the almighty showed its presence in this area and boosted the loyalty of devotees of lord shiva toward Kedarnath temple.

2) 400 under the Glacier:- You must be aware of glaciers. It's a huge block of ice constantly moving and has so much power that it could even grind the mountains coming in its way. But you must wonder by knowing that geologists have confirmed that Kedarnath temple remained under the glacier during the mini ice age which was around 400 years long. Scratches due to the movement of glaciers can be seen on the wall of Kedarnath temple. It's no surprise that if a temple can survive the glacier, then the 2013 flood is nothing in front of that.

3) You must be thinking that there is nothing to be surprised by, it must be an architectural marvel and must be built strongly. It's an architectural marvel but do you know that no mortar or any joining element is used in its construction? Only interlocking technology is being used to connect one rock to another. It's really hard to imagine how someone 1200 years ago could think anything like this. Whoever had designed this temple must be an architect genius.

4)  Another interesting fact about Kedarnath temple is that the rocks found in the mountains surrounding Kedarnath temple are very loose but the rocks used in this temple is hard and solid. So it could easily be concluded that rocks used in this temple are brought somewhere far away because it is not even available anywhere in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. So the question is how is this possible to carry these big rocks from a far distance without the use of modern technology? This is something which is a matter of doubt for many archeologists.

5) Have you ever heard about the Retas Kund? If not, then do visit this kund whenever you visit Kedarnath temple and try to solve its functioning with your analytical and scientific theories. This kund has a specialty that whenever you chant "OOM" or "Har har Mahadev" a series of bubbles will come out on the surface of the water but this will not happen when you tell anything other than this. This amazing pond is located at a distance of 400 meters from the temple so don't forget to try this and take some water from this kund to your home. It is considered to be very auspicious.

6) There are many mythological stories around Kedarnath temple and about Shiva's presence but if you don't want to believe in any of these mythological stories then I will suggest something that will make you believe in lord shiva's presence in this region. If you have time please attend the closing ceremony at the temple. Before closing the doors of temple premised of temple are being cleaned properly and a lamp (Dia) is being lighted in front of lord Kedar and then the doors of the temple are being closed. Then attend the opening ceremony of Kedarnath temple. You will find the temple in the same state as it was on the day of closing with lamps lighting the premises. It's a matter of wonder how a can temple remain clean for six months when no one is allowed to enter this area for six months and how a small lamp can light the temple for six months without refilling the fuel.

Conclusion:-

Kedarnath is one of the most auspicious places and the presence of lord shiva was felt in this area multiple times. Many other mythological stories about Kedarnath make it interesting but the matter of fact is that the divine power of Kedarnath temple is not something that can be heard and expressed in words. It's a feeling which can be felt by your presence so plan your trip to Kedarnath temple and experience the divine power on your own and seek the blessings of lord shiva.

Dhari Devi temple

Uttarakhand is well known as the land of god, or "Dev Bhoomi." It has numerous temples all around. The immense beauty all around Uttrakahand made it an idle location even for gods to meditate and stay. Out of that many temples, one of the most prominent in Uttarakhand is Dhari Devi Temple. This temple is dedicated to Maa Kali and is located on the Alaknanda River in between Rudraprayag and Srinagar in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The upper part of Maa Kali is being worshipped at this place, while the lower part is being worshipped at Kali Math near Kedarnath. This temple is also believed to be a living monument of Uttarakhand. This is called so because it changes its form with the passing of time. In the morning, you will get to see her as a small child; in the afternoon, she will appear as a young lady; and in the evening, she will turn into an old lady. Everyone in Uttarakhand has great devotion to Dhari Devi, and she is believed to be a protector god of Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangorti, Kedarnath, and Badrinath) located in Uttarakhand.

Before proceeding ahead, let me tell you about one very interesting incident that happened in Uttarakhand. During the year 2012–13, the government was planning to build a dam on the Alaknanda River. Locals and politicians from this region tried to oppose it because, for the formation of this dam, they had a plan to remove Dhari Devi Temple. Locals and some politicians tried their best, but the government was rigid and passed an order to remove Dhari Devi Temple. The day engineers removed the idol of Dhari Devi from her original position, Uttarkhand witnessed the dedliest flood in its history. A thousand devotees at Kedarnath temple had lost their lives. After the flood, the government accepted its mistake and passed an order to re-establish the Dhari Devi statue in her original position, canceling the dam project. This incident had increased the trust of devotees in Maa Dhari Devi, and since then she has been called the protector god of Char dham, and it is believed that she keeps the water level of the river Alaknanda under control.

Mythological Story of Dhari Devi Temple:-

As per the mythological stories, Dhari Devi is believed to be the only sister of seven brothers. Their parents died when she was very young. She used to love her brothers a lot and cook food for them. After some days, her brother got to know that the stars of their sister were not good for them, so they started hating her. In some days, five of his brothers had died of illness. The two teft-out brothers and their consorts had decided to kill Dhari Devi, fearing their deaths. They killed her, chopped her body into two parts, and threw her into the river. The upper part of the body reached Dharo village, where one washerman was washing clothes. He noticed a girl drowning in the river, but the flow of the river was very high, so he feared going in. Then a sound came from her head, asking him to take her out, and she would ensure his protection. He went into the river and brought her body out of the river, and her body asked him to keep her on a rock. He placed it on a rock, and this is how the idol of Dhari Devi is being established. The lower half of her body is being found at Kalimath, where she killed the demon Rakt Beej. Locals of Uttarakhand have great devotion for Maa Dhari Devi, and tourists going for the Kedarnath Yatra also honor Maa Dhari Devi a lot and don't forget to visit her temple. You can ask your travel agent, from whom you booked the Kedarnath tour package, to include a visit to Dhari Devi Temple in your package. It could be included at no extra cost.

How to get there:-

Air:- The nearest airport to Dhari Devi Temple is Jolly Grant Airport, which is also known as Dehradun Airport. Regular services are available from all the major cities in India. You can book flights from all the major operators in India, like Indigo, Air India, Vistara Air Wasys, and Spicejet. The nearest international airport to Dhari Devi Temple is Indira Gandhi Airport (IGI), New Delhi.
Train: The nearest station to Dhari Devi Temple is Rishikesh Railway Station, but very few direct trains are available from major cities. But don't worry, you can book your train for Haridwar or Dehradun railway station. These two cities are twin cities of Rishikesh and are easily accessible by road.
Road: The only way to reach Dhari Devi Temple is by road. After Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun, the road is the only means to travel to Dhari Devi Temple. It is around 135 km from Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun. There are basically two options available: one is to book your personal cab, which will take you to Dhari Devi Temple and return with you. This means it could be a bit costly, but it is very convenient. The second option is to take a government bus to reach Dhari Devi Temple. You can take any bus going to Rudraprayag. This means it is going to be economical, but not that convenient.
Best Time to Visit Dhari Devi Temple:
Dhari Devi Temple is well connected with all-weather roads, so you can visit Kedarnath Temple at any time in the year. But it's not recommended to visit this area during the months of July and August, as this area faces heavy rain during these months, and it's not safe to visit Uttarakhand in these months. During these months, you may face problems like landslides, road blockages, cloud bursts, etc.