Kedarnath Temple Uttarakhand: How To Reach, Top Tourist Attractions And Best Time To Visit

Kedarnath Temple: Lord Shiva’s Abode 

Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath Mandir is one of India's most travelled pilgrimage destinations. The temple is surrounded by the mighty Garhwal Himalayan ranges and is nestled at 3,583 m above sea level. Situated near the Mandakini river, Kedarnath temple is known to be one of the sacred twelve Jyotirlingas, Chota Char Dham, including the Panch Kedar temples of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Dham is the most revered Hindu shrine and draws countless tourists, mountain buffs, and Shiva devotees. The temple has a perfect backdrop of snow-capped peaks and picturesque views of the Himalayas, making it truly unique and incredible! 

Lord Shiva or Bholenatha is the presiding deity of the temple. The sanctum sanctorum of the Kedarnath Temple houses a large conical rock formation. Lord Shiva is worshipped here in the form of a rock formation which is believed to be swayambhu Kedarnath linga (self-formed). He is also known as ‘Lord Of Kedarkhand’. The Kedarnath region is popularly referred to as 'Kedar Khand'.

The Unique Architecture Of Kedarnath Mandir 

Built by the Pandava brothers during Mahabharata, Kedarnath Dham is more than just a temple; it is a gateway to liberation (moksha) and eternal peace for Shiva devotees. Jyotirlinga Kedarnath has an eye-catching architecture. The exterior of the temple is built with gray stone slabs. One of the most defining and distinctive features of the temple of Kedarnath is its pyramid-shaped shikhara. The front part of the temple is a hall that houses the statues of the Pandava brothers, Nandi Bull, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Parvati. The striking display of the statues of Gods and Goddesses adds to the temple’s grandeur. The temple is celebrated not just for its sacrosanct importance but for its unique architecture as well. Adi Shankaracharya—the Indian philosopher and Vedic scholar, rebuilt the temple around 8-9th century. Later, he attained samadhi at Kedarnath. 

Kedarnath Dham’s architecture is quite alluring and distinct in its design. The integration of the grey stone slab in the walls is the key design element used in the construction of the temple. The temple has been built without any mortar, which showcases the temple’s unique design technique. The walls of the temple featuring interlocked grey stone slabs reflect the Indian architectural brilliance in all its essence. The interiors of the temple have an equally beautiful charm. The temple houses a large hall or mandapa—a place suitable for the gathering of pilgrims. Whether it’s the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple or the mandapa, the temple phenomenally integrates the outstanding elements of architecture with spirituality. While the temple has been renovated quite a lot of times due to natural calamities, its design and architecture have remained intact. Kedarnath Temple has withstood the test of time for ages. Apart from its spiritual significance, the temple is celebrated for its brilliant craftsmanship, design, and picturesque setting amidst the Himalayan ranges. Pilgrims and Shiva devotees have always been awestruck by the temple’s timeless charm.

The History And Story Of Kedarnath 

The Kedarnath Temple's History and story are truly intriguing! The temple was built by the Pandava brothers (Yudhishtira, Bhima, Nakula, Arjun, and Sahadeva) from the epic of Mahabharata. According to the scriptures, Pandavas were guilt-ridden as they killed their Kaurava brothers and wanted to absolve the sins committed during the Mahabharata war. To redeem themselves from the remorse of killing their brothers and to seek forgiveness, Pandavas decided to pray to Lord Shiva.

However, Lord Shiva refused to forgive their sins and took the avatar (incarnation) of a bull. The bull was running near Guptakashi. Bheema came to know about the Lord Shiva’s avatar of a bull, he tried to catch the tail of the bull while it was running, and it quickly began to sink into the ground. At that time, the body parts of the bull (Lord Shiva camouflaged as a bull) fell into different places—the hump emerged at Kedarnath, a face appeared at Rudranath, the arms at the Tunganath, navel at the Madmaheshwar and hair at the Kalpeshwar. All these places became revered pilgrimage sites. The Pandava brothers built these temples which are known as the Panch Kedar Temples Of Lord Shiva, situated in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Lord Shiva forgave the brothers after the establishment of the temples. 

Another legend of the Temple Kedarnath, states that two sages Nar and Narayana performed deep penance at Badrikasharam. Pleased by their devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before the sages to fulfill their wish. They asked Lord Shiva to manifest in the form of a Jyotirlinga at Kedarnath so that the people's sins could be cleansed after the darshan of Kedarnath Baba. 

Did you that the temple miraculously withstood the 2013 floods? There was a huge landslide in the Kedarnath region and the entire region was hit by a heavy downpour and flood. The water began gushing toward the temple, along with heavy rocks, rubble, debris, and mud. A huge rock stood behind the temple, obstructing the water flow. Miraculously, the Kedarnath temple remained untouched and unaffected by the flood while the other regions were severely damaged. 

If the story of Kedarnath fascinates you, don’t wait much! Promise yourself a perfect Kedarnath Dham Darshan. Well, your journey can be super-easy and comfy if you know everything beforehand. Let us help you plan your yatra with minimal effort. We have prepared a comprehensive travel guide on how to reach, the best time to visit, trekking routes, and all that a pilgrim must know before going on the yatra. Take a look!

How To Reach Kedarnath Dham 

2nd May 2025 is the Kedarnath opening date for 2025. To help you go hassle-free, we have put together the best ways to reach Kedarnath Temple. The temple is closed during the month of Kartik and opens up again after Akshay Tritiya in April. Read on to learn about the different ways of going to Kedarnath temple. 

• Nearest Airport: Dehradun Airport, Jauligrant, Uttarakhand 
• Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station
• Last Bus station: Sonprayag

By Air 

Located in Jauligrant in Dehradun, Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun Airport) is the closest airport to Kedarnath. Located at a distance of 20 km from the Dehradun downtown. Dehradun Airport offers the closest connectivity to Kedarnath. There are no direct non-stop flights available to Kedarnath. 

Those planning to reach Kedarnath by air must catch a flight to Dehradun. The distance between Dehradun Airport and Kedarnath is around 238 km. You have to hire a taxi/cab from the airport to reach Gaurikund, which is the base camp for the trek to Kedarnath and also the last motorable road. The distance for the Kedarnath trek is only 16 km from Gaurikund.

By Road 

The major cities close to Kedarnath are Delhi, Rishikesh, Dehradun, and Haridwar. The last drivable road from Kedarnath is the Gaurikund. A trek to Kedarnath starts from Gaurkund, which is the base camp for Kedarnath trekking. 

You can take a bus or taxi to Kedarnath from any of the above-mentioned cities. You can choose any type of bus A/C sleeper, Volvo A/C, semi-sleeper buses, etc. Both state-run and private buses are operational between Dehradun and Gaurikund. Buses drop off travellers at Sonprayag. It is the last bus station for Kedarnath. Gaurikiund is the last drivable road and from here there is only a trek of about 16 km to Kedarnath.   

Also, the Kedarnath to Badrinath distance is around 218 km. Pilgrims can hire a taxi/bus from Sonprayag or go via Rudraprayag as well. 

Popular Road Routes:

• Haridwar–Rishikesh—Guptakashi—Gaurikund—Kedarnath (via Rishikesh, full-round circuit trip)
• Delhi—Haridwar—Rishikesh—Ukhimath—Chopta—Kedarnath (via Delhi, full-round circuit trip)

By Train 

If you are planning to go via train then you should know that Rishikesh Railway Station is the only nearest railway station to the Kedarnath. Kedarnath is situated at a distance of more than 200 km from the Rishikesh Railway Station. It is almost a 3-hour long journey via cab from Rishikesh Railway Station to Kedarnath. From Rishikesh, you have to hire a bus/taxi to reach Gaurikund, and from there, you have to trek up to Kedarnath. 

By Helicopter 

There are three major helipads for Kedarnath by helicopter route. Phata and Sersi are the nearest helipad to Kedarnath. 

1. Sahastradhara: It is a 30-40-minute ride to reach Kedarnath from the Sahastradhara airport.
2. Sersi: It takes only 11 minutes to reach Kedarnath Dham from Sersi Helipad
3. Guptakashi: It’s a 15-minute ride from Guptakashi helipad to Kedarnath. 
4. Phata: It’s a 9-minute ride from Phata helipad to Kedarnath 

Visit the official website of IRCTC (heliyatra.irctc.co.in)for the Kedarnath helicopter booking. Also, you can book a Kedarnath helicopter tour package via a private travel agency.

Best Time To Visit Kedarnath 

We have put together the Kedarnath best time to visit to help you plan your yatra for the perfect time and season. Also, the Char Dham Yatra begins in April or around the first week of May. You can plan to visit Kedarnath temple at that time. 

• April to June (summer): April to June is the best time to visit Kedarnath Temple as the weather usually remains pleasant. The months of April, May, and June are the peak season when Char Dham Yatra and Kedarnath Temple pilgrimage begins. Usually, pilgrims plan the yatra during the summer season only. 
• July to September (monsoon): July to September are the monsoon months and it’s usually not recommended to do the yatra at this time. Heavy showers can cause water-logging thereby obstructing the routes. Therefore, it’s advisable to avoid the yatra during this time.
• October to March (winter): Kedarnath Temple remains closed during the winter season due to heavy snowfall. The idol of Lord Shiva is shifted in a palanquin at the Ukhimath’s Omkareshwar Temple for a duration of 6 months i.e. November to April. Baba Kedarnath is then worshipped at this temple for the rest of the months. 

Places To Visit In Kedarnath 

Are you excited about Kedarnath Baba’s darshan? You must be, but Kedarnath town offers you a lot more than temple-hopping. The nearby tourist attractions of Kedarnath are a repository of rustic beauty and spirituality. Here are some of the best places to visit in Kedarnath and all the nearby tourist attractions.

• Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi 
• Sonprayag
• Gaurikund
• Shri Bhairavnath Temple
• Chandrashila
• Guptakashi
• Triyunginarayan 
• Vasuki Tal
• Rudra Meditation Cave
• Phata
• Chorbari Lake
• Agastyamuni
• Syalsur
• Badrinath
• Yamunotri 
• Gangotri 

If you are in love with temple-hopping and going on a pilgrimage gives you immense happiness, we hope that this travel guide becomes your travel companion in your next spiritual journey! Ready for your Kedarnath Uttarakhand Yatra? Stay tuned with us for more information about Char Dham Yatra, Kedarnath Darshan, and other pilgrimages. Get in touch with our travel team at 91-8510007751 to know about the Har Har Mahadev!