| Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest pilgrimages | | | | want to perform penance can worship Shiva here |
| for the Hindus. Located in the picturesque | | | | and get freed from their miseries. |
| surroundings of Rudra Himalayan range, at a height of | | | | According to another popular belief, the Pandavas are |
| 12000 feet, on a mountain named Kedar; Kedarnath | | | | believed to have visited the Kedarnath several times |
| dham is one of the sites of Chardham Yatra and also | | | | for repentance for killing their kith and kin, in the |
| one of the Panch Kedars. Near Kedarnath flows the | | | | battle of Kurukshetra. |
| Mandakini River that joins another river named | | | | Significance of Kedarnath Temple |
| Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is around 150 | | | | Located in the mighty Himalayas, the Kedarnath |
| miles away from Hardwar and 132 miles north of | | | | Temple is one of the most famous Shivasthalams in |
| Rishikesh. | | | | India. It is also considered to be one of the most |
| You can travel to Kedarnath only between April to | | | | sacred pilgrimage sites of the country. It is a |
| November. Enshrining the Jyotirlingam of Shiva, this | | | | common belief that if you want to get all your |
| temple opens only for 6 months in a year; from the | | | | desires fulfilled you should offer a praying to |
| time when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries | | | | Kedareshwar. |
| until when the sun enters Scorpio. During the winter | | | | Even the spiritual leader Adi Sankaracharya is closely |
| season the priests go to Ukhimath, where they | | | | related to Kedarnath. Behind the Kedarnath Dham is |
| worship Kedareshwara. | | | | the Samadhi of this great Hindu spiritual leader. |
| Tradition has it that while you are on a Kedarnath | | | | Structure of Kedarnath Temple |
| Yatra, you must first visit the Yamunotri and the | | | | The Kedarnath Shrine is located amidst the lofty |
| Gangotri to take holy waters from the Yamuna and | | | | & snow-covered Himalayan Mountains. Just |
| Ganga River to offer prayer to the Kedareshwara. | | | | behind the temple you can sight the high |
| Legend Behind Kedarnath Temple | | | | Keadardome peak situated at a great distance. |
| Legend has it that Nara and Narayana, the two | | | | It is believed that the Kedarnath temple was built by |
| incarnations of Lord Vishnu performed severe | | | | the Pandavas. At the entrance of the temple you will |
| repentance in front of a Shivalingam formed out of | | | | find the statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva. The |
| earth. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva is | | | | inside walls of the temple are intrinsically carved with |
| believed to have appeared in front of them to | | | | images. The revered Lingam of Lord Shiva housed in |
| present them with a boon. Nar and Narayan then | | | | the Kedarnath temple is in the unusual pyramidal |
| requested Lord Shiva to take up a permanent abode | | | | shape. |
| at Kedarnath as a Jyotirlingam so that all those who | | | | |