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Kedarnath · Uttarakhand

Shri Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath / Kedareshwar Mahadev

अन्य नाम: Kedareshwar · Kedar Baba · Kedarnath Jyotirlinga · Shri Kedarnath Dham

  • 12 Jyotirlinga
  • Chota Char Dham
  • Panch Kedar
Shri Kedarnath Temple
दर्शन समय
04:00 (during the temple's open months) – 20:30
स्वरूप
Three-sided Shiva lingam
स्थान
Kedarnath · Uttarakhand
उत्तम ऋतु
May-June
काल
Pandava tradition

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • 12 Jyotirlinga
  • Chota Char Dham (Uttarakhand)
  • Panch Kedar
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Shri Kedarnath (Shiva) — first of Panch Kedar; Jyotirlinga

Three-sided Shiva lingam — approximately 3.6 m in circumference and height; the natural form is held to represent the 'hump of the bull'. Tradition: the Pandavas pursued Mahadev in bull form; when Bhima caught him the body split into five parts — hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tungnath, navel at Madhyamaheshwar, face at Rudranath, hair/head at Kalpeshwar — together forming the Panch Kedar.

सम्प्रदाय: Shaiva

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

Skanda Purana

Kedar Khanda — 35 chapters; describes the Kedarnath tirtha region of north India; expansion of the Shiva-Pandava narrative

Mahabharata

Original source of the Pandava-Bhima encounter with Shiva in bull form

Shiva Purana

Mahatmya of Kedarnath among the 12 Jyotirlingas

Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram (Adi Shankaracharya)

Kedarnath included

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Adi Shankaracharya (8th century) — restored the temple; composer of the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram; his samadhi stands behind the temple — damaged in the 2013 floods; on 5 November 2021 PM Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the reconstructed samadhi and a 12-foot / 35-tonne statue of Adi Shankaracharya (sculptor Shri Arun Yogiraj, Mysuru; ₹130 crore development projects launched)
  • Pandavas — per tradition, to atone for the sins of the Kurukshetra war they established Panch Kedar and performed tapas at Kedarnath, finally attaining heaven via the heavenly Mahapanth (Swargarohini)
  • Sage Vyasa — traditional author of the Skanda Purana Kedar Khanda

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. -1Pandava tradition (Mahabharata era) — searching for Mahadev to atone for Kurukshetra war sins; the Pandavas established temples at the five Panch Kedar sites — Mahabharata + Skanda Purana
  2. 8008th century — Adi Shankaracharya restored the temple and composed the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram; his samadhi was constructed behind the temple — Wikipedia + Hindi Wikipedia
  3. 10801076-1099 CE — Gwalior inscription records contributions by Raja Bhoja — Hindi Wikipedia
  4. 19391939 Act — Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) constituted — BKTC official
  5. 201316-17 June 2013 — devastating cloudburst + Chorabari Glacier's Chorabari Tal overflow; unprecedented flood in the Mandakini river. 6,054 deaths in Uttarakhand (89%+ in the state alone); 4,550 villages affected. The massive 'Bhim Shila' (~20 ft wide, 20-25 ft high, 30 ft behind the temple) deflected the debris flow and saved the temple. Surrounding hotels/dharamshalas destroyed. Indian Army/IAF/paramilitary 'Operation Rahat' — 1,10,000+ people rescued. Temple reopened on 4 May 2014. — Wikipedia + ManchalaMushafir + Multiple
  6. 20215 November 2021 — PM Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the reconstructed Adi Shankaracharya samadhi and a 12-foot 35-tonne statue; sculptor Shri Arun Yogiraj (Mysuru); launched ₹130 crore development projects — The Quint + Adda247 + Organiser + ANI + PIB
  7. 202431 July 2024 — cloudburst + landslide on the Bhim Bali stream; ~30 m of the Kedarnath foot path damaged; 150-200 pilgrims stranded — helicopter rescue; 12 deaths across Uttarakhand; route temporarily closed — Business Today + Outlook + Organiser
  8. 202515 June 2025 — at approximately 5:20 AM, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed in dense forest near Gaurikund; pilot Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39, Jaipur) and all 7 onboard (6 passengers including an infant + pilot) killed. DGCA + AAIB launched joint investigation; Aryan Aviation operations suspended with immediate effect; all Char Dham helicopter services suspended 15-16 June 2025. TransBharat Aviation pilots' licences (for operating in similarly unsuitable weather) suspended for 6 months. CM Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered the inquiry. — PIB + Aviation A2Z + The Tribune + AirlineRatings
  9. 20258 October 2025 — record annual footfall: 16.56 lakh pilgrims (broke 2024's record of 16.52 lakh); temple closed on 23 October 2025 (Bhai Dooj). Total Char Dham 2025: 47.29 lakh. — News9live + Organiser
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

04:00 (during the temple's open months) से 20:30 तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम 15:00-17:00 (afternoon break)

Maha Abhishek / first puja04:00
daily (during open months)

Temple opens at Brahma muhurta; ghee abhishek and special puja

Morning darshan06:00-15:00
daily

Until 15:00 devotees may touch the lingam and perform ghrita-abhishekam

Evening darshan17:00-19:00
daily

Darshan resumes after 15:00 but touching the lingam is no longer permitted

Shayan Aarti18:00-19:30
daily

Final aarti; temple closes at 20:30

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General foot darshan (Free)निःशुल्क
उपयुक्त
All devotees

16 km strenuous foot trek from Gaurikund — Sonprayag to Gaurikund by shared taxi (₹50/person, 5 km), then on foot. 6-8 hour trek. Char Dham Yatra Registration mandatory (Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal, app, or WhatsApp).

Helicopter service (IRCTC HeliYatra — sole official platform)
उपयुक्त
Time- or health-constrained devotees

Three helipads, round-trip 2026 fares (+ Convenience Fee + 18% GST): Guptkashi ₹12,762 | Phata ₹10,164 | Sirsi ₹6,390. 2026 booking opened 15 April 2026 at 6:00 PM; first phase 22 April - 15 June 2026.

Registration (Yatra Parchi) — mandatory and 100% freeनिःशुल्क

Four official channels for Char Dham Yatra registration: (1) online portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, (2) mobile app 'Tourist Care Uttarakhand' (Google Play + Apple App Store), (3) WhatsApp: 8394833833, (4) Toll-Free: 01351364. 2026 online registration opened 6 March 2026 at 7 AM; offline counters open 15 April 2026 at Rishikesh-Haridwar-Dehradun.

05
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Kapat opening (annual reopening)Vaisakha — around Akshaya Tritiya

Multi-day Panchmukhi Doli procession from Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath (the winter abode): Phata (first night halt) → Gaurikund (second halt) → arrives Kedarnath a day before kapat opening. 2026 — 22 April at 8:00 AM with full Vedic rites.

Kapat closing (Bhai Dooj)Kartik Shukla Dwitiya (2 days after Diwali)

After formal kapat closing the Doli returns to Omkareshwar Ukhimath; the deity resides there through winter. 2026 closing date: 11 November 2026 (Bhai Dooj).

भीड़: Heavy crowds on closing day

Shravan Maas (Sawan Mondays)

When the temple is open, Sawan Mondays are special; peak Rudrabhishekam season

Maha Shivaratri

Since the temple is closed in winter, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at Omkareshwar Ukhimath; the Kedarnath kapat opening date is also announced there after the Maha Shivaratri puja

भीड़: Crowds at Ukhimath

Panch Kedar Yatra

Kedarnath (3,583 m) → Tungnath (3,680 m, arms) → Rudranath (3,559 m, face) → Madhyamaheshwar (3,490 m, navel) → Kalpeshwar (2,200 m, hair — the only one open year-round). Traditional sequence.

06
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

Moksha and sin removal

Darshan at Kedarnath removes the sin of war and all other sins — per the Pandava tradition

स्रोत: Mahabharata + Skanda Purana Kedar Khanda

Fruit of darshan of all 12 Jyotirlingas

The highest of the Himalayan Jyotirlingas — one visit grants the fruit of darshan at all twelve

स्रोत: Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram (Adi Shankaracharya)

Disease relief and longevity

Special phala of Rudrabhishekam + Mahamrityunjaya Jap

स्रोत: Rudrashtadhyayi + Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

07
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram — Kedar verseStotra excerptComposed by Adi Shankaracharya; Kedarnath invocation verseइस मन्दिर हेतुContinuous-recitation mantra for the 12 Jyotirlingas
  • Mahamrityunjaya MantraMantraRig Veda 7.59.12Chanted during Kedarnath abhishekam and special pujas
  • Kedar-Gauri Vrata mantra / Kedareshwar Ashtottara ShatanamavaliStotra / NamavaliSkanda Purana Kedar Khanda traditionइस मन्दिर हेतु
  • Rudrashtadhyayi / Rudrabhishekam mantraVedic mantraYajurveda, Krishna-Yajurvediya Rudra SuktaPrimary Vedic recitation for Kedarnath abhishekam
08
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

Shri Bhukund Bhairav Mandir, Kedarnath (Kshetrapal)500 मी

Kshetrapal (protector) of the Kedarnath valley and temple — especially in winter when Kedarnath is closed. Tradition: before the kapat opens each season, 'Bhukund Bhairav' is worshipped first; only thereafter does Kedarnath darshan begin. Darshan timings: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi (behind the temple)50 मी

Samadhi of the 8th-century Adi Shankaracharya; damaged in 2013 flood; on 5 November 2021 PM Modi unveiled the reconstructed samadhi + 12-foot 35-tonne statue (sculptor Shri Arun Yogiraj)

Bhim Shila (temple-saving rock)30 मी

Massive boulder (~20 ft wide × 20-25 ft high) that saved the temple during the 2013 deluge; deflected the debris flow around the temple. Devotees today regard it as a divine miracle.

Gaurikund (trek base camp)16 किमी

Tradition: Mata Parvati performed tapas and bathed here; hot springs; starting point of the 16-km foot trek

Sonprayag21 किमी

Mandakini + Vasuki confluence; last vehicle-accessible point; shared taxi to Gaurikund (₹50/person, 5 km)

Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath (winter abode)35 किमी

Winter abode of Kedarnath's deity (November-April); on Maha Shivaratri the priests announce the kapat opening date; the Doli yatra begins from here

Vasuki Tal, Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar)5 किमी

Chorabari Tal is the same glacial lake whose overflow caused the 2013 flood; also called Gandhi Sarovar

Chota Char Dham (Uttarakhand)

One of the 4 Dhams — the highest Jyotirlinga; sequence: Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. 2026 kapat: Yamunotri+Gangotri 19 April, Kedarnath 22 April 8 AM, Badrinath 23 April.

Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra

The highest Himalayan Jyotirlinga among the 12; per Adi Shankaracharya's Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram

12 मंदिर

Panch Kedar Yatra

Kedarnath — the hump site; first and supreme. Sequence: Kedarnath → Tungnath → Rudranath → Madhyamaheshwar → Kalpeshwar. The 5-temple chain linked to the Pandava narrative.

5 मंदिर

09
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

हवाई अड्डा
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) — ~245 km by road from Kedarnath base camp Gaurikund
रेलवे
Rishikesh Railway Station — ~217 km from Gaurikund
उत्तम ऋतु
May-June + September-October optimal; July-August (monsoon) carries cloudburst/landslide risk; November-April temple fully closed; temperature 5-15°C in summer, down to -5°C in winter
हेल्पलाइन
Cyber Fraud Helpline: 1930, Helicopter complaint: ccps.deh@uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in
वेबसाइट
https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in ↗
16 किमीGaurikund
21 किमीSonprayag
47 किमीGuptkashi
35 किमीPhata
217 किमीRishikesh
245 किमीDehradun
230 किमीHaridwar
465 किमीDelhi
← सभी मंदिर निर्देशिका
Shri Kedarnath Temple — दर्शन, आरती, इतिहास एवं यात्रा | Pauranik | Pauranik