Kedarnath visit: Will President be third time lucky?

President Pranab Mukherjee will make a third attempt to pay obeisance at the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath during his three-day visit to Uttarakhand beginning September 27, after failing on two earlier occasions.

His two attempts, in the last two years, to visit the famed Lord Shiva shrine located at over 3,500 metres above sea level have failed due to bad weather in the upper reaches of the hill state.

Officials are keeping a close eye on weather this time and making alternative arrangements for his visit in case inclement weather strikes Kedarnath. The President will reach Dehradun on September 27 and he is scheduled to visit the shrine on September 28.In its ‘Special Forecast for Char Dham’ issued on Friday noon, the Met department has predicted that “very light to light rainfall/thundershowers (are) likely to occur at one or two places” at Kedarnath on September 28. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) norms, the probability of occurrence for a “likely” forecast is 26% to 50%.

“Mainly clear to partly cloudy sky is expected to prevail in the state during the President’s visit. There is a possibility of light rainfall activity occurring at isolated places, though the weather should remain fine for his Kedarnath trip,” Bikram Singh, director of Dehradun Meteorological Centre, told HT.

The Rudraprayag district administration has made alternative arrangements for the President’s stay at the mountain shrine if the weather turns too hostile to fly.

“There is a remote possibility of weather deteriorating on the day of his visit. We have made arrangements for the President’s stay at Kedarnath in case a contingency arises,” Rudraprayag district magistrate Raghav Langer told HT. Earlier this year, the President’s chopper had failed to land at Kedarnath due to bad weather in June. His plan to visit Kedarnath in April last year had to be cancelled because of continued snowfall at the shrine.

Kedarnath is located in the western extremity of the Central Himalayas in the Mandakini River Valley, which was at epicentre of the June 2013 disaster that left over 5000 dead in Uttarakhand.

According to the state authorities, after the chopper’s landing at Kedarnath, three all-terrain vehicles will transport the President along with his family from the helipad to the shrine. Two choppers of the civil aviation department will remain on standby at Guptkashi while contingency plans have been put in place at Gauchar, both nearby towns that have helipads.

HT

Weather clears up in Uttarakhand, efforts on to trace Almora SDM

The weather cleared up at most places across Uttarakhand on Saturday, giving much needed pace to relief operations even as efforts were intensified to trace Almora SDM Ajay Arora, who fell into the Mandakini river three days ago.

Though the skies were clear, sporadic overnight rains continued bringing debris from the hills on to the roads, blocking them at places.

The Rishikesh highway is blocked due to debris at Naulapani and Agastyamuni, state Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre said, adding that various roads in the worst-hit Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts are in a similar condition.

However, clear weather at most places gave momentum to relief operations with ration being supplied to affected areas by air, officials in Dehradun said.

As the weather was clear in Rudraprayag district for the second consecutive day, fresh attempts were launched to search for Arora. A 14-member team of trained PAC divers were flown in to scour the Mandakini in Sonprayag, Gaurikund and Phata areas in a bid to look for him, District Disaster Management Officer Meera Kaintura said.

NDRF personnel were also assisting in the search operation, she added.

A body was recovered from Mandakini on Friday, but it was not that of the missing official, she said.

Police have been alerted and asked to comb the river close to the banks in search of the official, who fell into the river while returning from the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath to Garurchatti base camp on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Hindu

Uttarakhand disaster: Bad weather hampers cremation of bodies in Kedarnath

Though a 200-member team of experts is already at the Himalayan shrine to speed up removal of debris and disposal of already decomposing bodies, they have not made much headway.

 

Kedarnath on Friday besides affecting distribution of relief in over 200 segregated villages where people have lost their homes and are faced with acute foodgrain shortage.

 

Though a 200-member team of experts drawn from different departments is already at the Himalayan shrine to speed up removal of debris and disposal of already decomposing bodies, they have not made much headway so far with only 59 bodies visible on the surface cremated in over a week's time in the valley including those disposed of within premises of the shrine.

 

While 36 bodies were cremated in shrine area earlier, 23 more bodies were cremated at Gaurikund and Junglechatti close to the temple on Wednesday after a gap of several days due to bad weather, DIG Amit Sinha said.

 

However, not much has been done since morning today with rains lashing Kedarghati.

 

Most of the officials admitted that the weather is hampering the exercise.

 

Distribution of relief in about 240 villages totally cut off is another headache for the administration with major roads in the worst hit Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts still closed for traffic and choppers being the only means to transport relief to affected people.

 

Tonnes of relief material provided by the administration, different states, political parties and NGOs are still stuck in government godowns of Guptkashi and Joshimath from where they are yet to be flown to people who need them badly as they face foodgrain shortage 19 days after the tragedy.

 

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said it was good that the state MeT department has issued area specific warning this time helping the state government to take precautionary measures to prevent any damage due to heavy rains expected in Kumaon region in the next 48 hours.

"Had it issued similar area specific warning for Chamoli district prior to the calamity last month, the damage perhaps could have been minimised," he told reporters outside the secretariat here when asked about arrangements in view of the MeT department warning of heavy rains in parts of the state in the next 48 hours especially the Kumaon region.

 

NDRF personnel are deployed in advance in areas where heavy rains have been predicted by the weatherman and the District Magistrates concerned have been alerted, Bahuguna said.

 

The MeT department has issued an alert saying that heavy rains may lash parts of the state in the next 48 hours especially Pithoragarh, Nainital, Bageshwar, Almora, Champavat and Pauri Garhwal districts in Kumaon region.

 

"It is good that the MeT office has issued area specific warning this time. A similar area specific warning for Chamoli district last month could have helped minimise the large scale damage caused by the tragedy," Bahuguna said.

 

Soon after the tragedy occurred last month the state government and the MeT department were engaged in a blame game with chief secretary Subhash Kumar saying the weatherman's prediction was of a general type which could not have been taken as an indication to a tragedy of this scale and the latter suggesting that its warning was not taken seriously by the administration.

DNA

Godiyal appointed Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee chief

Dehradun: Congress MLA from Shrinagar in Uttarakhand Assembly Ganesh Godiyal has been appointed the new chief of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.

Godiyal has been appointed to the post for a tenure of three years, official sources said here on Friday.

The Congress MLA, who takes over from BJP's Ansuya Prasad as the president of the committee also holds the charge of the state Assembly's Parliamentary Secretary.

Godiyal's appointment to the post comes after a controversy erupted over allocation of the committee president's additional charge to its chief executive officer B D Singh following conclusion of Prasad's tenure.

Terming it a violation of the Temple Committee Act, opposition BJP had threatened to take the matter to Governor Aziz Qureshi if the Act was not followed in its letter and spirit.

PTI

‘Missing’ Lok Sabha officer calls up his father from Kedarnath

Father says Janmesh sounded scared and inhibited, but promised to return

Janmesh Singh, a protocol officer with the Lok Sabha Secretariat who went missing on August 27, called his father in Orai from Kedarnath in Uttarakhand on Thursday. He had made a call from a PCO in Kedarnath, said his father Jeet Singh, who works as a cashier in a nationalised bank.

“He told me that he is in Kedarnath and would return in two to three days,” Jeet Singh told The Indian Express. According to him, Janmesh sounded “scared and inhibited”.

“He didn’t tell me why he he went to Uttarakhand. When I called back on the number, the person who received the call told me that it was the number of a PCO in Kedarnath,” he added.

Jeet Singh said he has informed the police about the conversation he had with his son and the telephone number of the PCO from where he received the call.

DSP of Special Task Force Triveni Singh, who is heading the team that is looking for Janmesh, said they will wait for him to return to Orai. “It will take around two days for him to reach Orai from Kedarnath,” said the DSP. Police had earlier claimed that Janmesh’s cellphone was found active near Jhansi railway station on August 28. His mobile phone was switched on till his train reached Dhaulpur railway station. Janmesh had boarded Sampark Kranti Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi on the evening of August 27 for his visit to Orai. He was to deboard at Jhansi but went missing.

More helicopter services to ferry pilgrims soon: Uttarakhand CM Nishank

Dehradun, May 8: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who flagged off the new air service for the four Dhams-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines in the hill state, has said that more such services by private operators would be initiated soon.


Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Nishank said: "We are in the process of making helipads in 25 places which are some of the most beautiful locations on earth. Our mission is also to help people see the world's most striking locations. The Chardham Yatra has begun and we have made adequate arrangements for the same."

He said this was the first effort to connect all the four dhams with air service and would prove a boon for the people, especially the elders, who are otherwise unable to undertake the arduous journey.

Rakesh Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prabhatam Group, a helicopter operating company said that the aerial services would be made available to pilgrims on government decided rates.

"The speciality of our service is that pilgrims can plan their trips according to their convenience. This facility is also regularly available at Kedarnath. The pilgrims would be taken their desired holy places on rates fixed by the state government. All other service operators would also have to comply by these rates and provide the facilities," he added.

The helicopter would be regularly flying at altitudes of 23,000 feet and ferry six passengers at a time across different religious sites.

Over the years the demand for helicopter services by pilgrims have witnessed a rise enabling the state government and operators to strengthen the air services.

Every year millions of the devotees from across the world throng the revered worship sites in the state like, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

ani

Badrinath temple reopens for pilgrims

A day after Kedarnath, the doors of the famous Himalayan shrine of Badrinath were reopened on Monday for pilgrims after a gap of six months.

Amid blowing of conches and chanting of vedic hymns and shlokas, Chief priest of Badrinath shrine Rawal Keshava Namboodiri opened the doors of the temple at 0535 hrs this morning as the palanquin carrying the idol of Lord Vishnu was taken inside the sanctum sanctorum, said Anusuiya Prasad Bhatt, Chairman of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee.

During the opening ceremony of the temple, situated at a height of 3,133 meter in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Minister Khajan Das and principal secretary, Religious Tourism Department Rakesh Sharma were also present along with hundreds of devotees outside the sanctum sanctorum braving chilly winds.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was also scheduled to attend the ceremony but he could not reach Badrinath due to some reason, said Bhatt.

The doors of another famous shrine of Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district were thrown open for pilgrims on Sunday and Nishank was among the first ones who paid obeisance at the temple.

With the opening of doors of Badrinath on Monday, all the four shrines collectively known as Chardham have been thrown open for pilgrims.

Chaukori Hill Station Uttarakhand

Chaukori Hills:

Chaukori is one of the best destinations in Uttarakhand for those people who desired a close communication with Himalayas. Chaukori is a lethargic humble village; which is a magnet for the tourists for its quietness and rural aroma. This is a drowsy, quiet village, unaffected by enlargement, free from the authority of tourism. Chaukori is placed in Pithoragarh district of the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand, is in the spirit of the Himalayas. The benevolent peaks of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and the legendary five of Panchuli are an invariable existence.

In Chaukori, you are free to find out the joys of this relaxed village on your own. There is little to do here besides basking in the heavenly sunshine, breathing in the refreshing mountain air and feasting your eyes on the tremendous surroundings.

One of the most outstanding aspects of a vacation in Chaukori is the remarkable sunrise and sundown that you are treated to. The night sky is full of the a million little stars that purely take your lungful of air away.So we can say the delightful little village of Chaukori is not like any other hill station you have seen in your entire life.

You must spend a few days in the surrounding of nature amidst peacefulness and loneliness and bring home the memories of a beautiful trip.

Places to see Chaukori

Dharamghar :
Dharamghar is to be found 9 km far away from Chaukori; this is the place where Sarla Behn, the follower of Mahatma Gandhi, exhausted her very last days. One can enjoy a stunning view of the Himalayan peaks from her Himdarshan Kutir.

Berinag :

Berinag is placed at 10 km far away from the chaukori. It to be found at an altitude of 1720 mtrs, it also offers an exceptional view of the Himalayas and is reachable by road. It was once famous for its beautiful tea estates.

Gangolihat :

Gangolihat is littlebit far away from chaukori. 35 km. Gangolihat is an essential spiritual midpoint of Kumaon. It has the famous Hat-Lalika temple devoted to Goddess Kali. The temple is also an admired spot for local fairs.

Patal Bhuvaneshwar :

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is placed on 49 kms far away from the chaukori. It to be found on the road to Berinag, the Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple multifaceted is 14 km from Gangolihat. Inside the caves are sandstone formations which have been related to statistics from Hindu tradition.

KEDARNATH

Area 3 sq. km
Language Hindi, Garhwali, English
Best time to visit May to October

INTRODUCTION

Tour to Kedarnath Kedarnath is one of the most sacrosanct pilgrim spots of north India and is flocked by people from all corners of the globe. Besides its religious significance, it is also visited by those who love to conquer the rough terrain of Garhwal. Lapped in the green hills of the Himalayas, the serene atmosphere here, with its cool and gentle breeze, offers an ideal tourist retreat.

LOCATION

Kedarnath is situated in the Uttar Kashi district of the Uttarakhand. Very close to the Indo-Chinese border, it is the source of the Mandakini River. It is couched in the scenic locales of the Garhwal Himalayas at 3583 meters above sea level. It is very cold in the winters with the ground being covered with snow. In the summers, the mercury barely crosses the 20°C mark. The place experiences about 150 cm of rainfall during the monsoons and so the best time to visit is between May and October. Kedarnath is near to Rishikesh (234 km) and Dehradun (250 km).

HISTORY

Tour to Kedarnath According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, who had come to seek penitence for having killed their kin in the battle of Kurukshetra. He took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found Shiva amongst a herd of cattle. Having identified the meanest and most arrogant of the herd as Shiva, Bhima is said to have grabbed him by the hindquarters. What remains at the shrine in Kedarnath is the rear end of the bull, with the rest of its body scattered throughout the Garhwal. Shiva dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol. It is the main site of the Panch Kedar temples.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

The Kedarnath Temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas and is almost 1000 years old. In the 8th century AD, it was refurbished by Adiguru Shankaracharya. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the idol is in the form of a pyramidal lingam. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country and is revered highly. The statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva, stands at the entrance of the temple. During the winters, the statue is carried to Ukhimath, and is reinstated in Kedarnath in the month of May. The breathtaking view of the Kedardome peak behind the temple is a major attraction.

The Samadhi of Adiguru Shankaracharya is located just behind the temple and is the final resting place of the saint. The Bhairavnath temple, situated to the south of the main temple of Kedarnath, is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, the deity who guards the main temple in winter when it is closed.

A solid path from near the main bridge, before the town, crosses the Mandakini to the left of the valley, and ends 4 km away at the glacier. At its edge is the Chorabari Tal Lake, now known as Gandhi Sarovar, as some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were scattered here. It is also said that Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, departed to heaven from this lake.

Close by, around 800 m from the lake, is the source of the Mandakini. One can also cross the river by the small bridge behind the temple, and scramble up the rough boulder-strewn moraine to meet the main track.

Tour to Kedarnath At a distance of 6 km from Kedarnath is Vasuki Tal, which is perched at a height of 4135 meters above the sea level. It offers a splendid view of the Chaukambha peaks and is an important spot in the itinerary of trekkers. The trekking base to Kedarnath is at a distance of 15 km and is named Gauri Kund, where there is temple dedicated to Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva. One can also find thermal springs of medicinal value here. At the confluence of the Son Ganga and Mandakani rivers is Son Prayag, at a distance of 20 km from Kedarnath.

Around 25 km from Kedarnath is Triyuginarayan, the mythological venue where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnized. It is a short trek of 5 km from Son Prayag. An eternal flame, which is said to have been witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today.

At a distance of 49 km is Gupt Kashi, which is famous for its temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath. Ukhimath, at a distance of 60 km, is the winter home of the deity of Kedarnath and the Rawal (head priest) of the temple. Agastmuni, at a distance of 73, km has a temple dedicated to sage Agastya.

Situated on the Gopeshwar-Ukhimath Road, about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the entire Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of Himalayan ranges surrounding it.

Chandrashila (93 km) is a beautiful peak providing a captivating view of the other snow-clad peaks. The trek from Tungnath to Chandrashila offers a rare sight of the rhododendron forests and the alpine meadows. Deoria Tal is 2 km from Chopta-Ukhimath Road. This beautiful lake is at an altitude of 2438 m and gives a scenic view of the neighboring snow-capped peaks. This land is an ideal place for angling and bird watching.

The four other Panch Kedar sites are located in the vicinity of Kedarnath. Madmaheshwar, where the navel (nabhi) of Shiva fell, is at a distance of 74 km from Kedarnath, at a height of 3289 m. Tungnath (90 km) is perched at an altitude of 3680 m. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of his arms (bahu). Rudranath (142 km), at a height of 2286 meters, is a very important pilgrim spot and Shiva's face is worshipped here. Kapleshwar (160 km) is at an altitude of 2134 meters and Shiva's locks are worshipped here.

TREKKING
Apart from being a place of pilgrimage, Kedarnath is a trekkers' paradise as well. The Garhwal Himalayas provide ample opportunities for the adventurous and the daring. The trek starts form Gaurikund, which is easily approachable by car or bus. From Gaurikund to Rambara the trek follows the river Mandakini. It is a little steep initially but then becomes a gradual climb through forests. There are several beautiful waterfalls along the way. From Rambara the trek to Kedarnath is much easier.

Kedarnath to Vasuki Tal is a continuous ascent along a goat track. The view of the Chaukambha peaks and the Mandakini valley is delightful from here. The final trek to the Vasuki Tal is downhill for a kilometer. Paian Tal is about 1 km northwest and at the bottom of it, one can see rectangular slabs of rocks. From here, one can go on to the Khatling glacier.

HOW TO REACH

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, at a distance of 251 km from Kedarnath. The nearest railheads are Rishikesh (234 km) and Kotdwar (260 km), from where one can find trains to Dehradun. Kedarnath is approachable by road from all important places of the Garhwal hills-Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar, Badrinath and Gangotri. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.

Panch Kedar

Cradled in the Garhwal Himalaya's ranges are five of Hinduism's most important temples inspired by the five religious forms of Lord Shiva, known as the Panch Kedar.

Kedarnath (3584 m) / Madhmaheshwar (3289 m) / Tungnath (3810 m) / Rudranath (2286 m) / Kalpeshwar (2134 m),sprawled over the vast Kedar Valley with altitudes ranging from 1500m to 3680m.

The Panch Kedar trek includes all the shrines associated with these legends. Kedarnath is situated at the head of the Mandakini River, where the Linga is a natural rock that resembles the hump of a bull. Madhmaheshwar, at the base of the Chaukhamba Peak, is at the altitude of 3500 m. The Linga is here worshipped in the form of a navel. Tungnath, where the arm of Shiva appeared, is the highest temple in Garhwal (3810 m).

500 m above the temple at Tungnath is Chandrashila, with a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. Rudranath is situated where the face of Shiva is said to have appeared.

There is a natural rock temple in which the Shiva Mukha is worshipped. Nearby the temple, there are many little lakes like the Surya Kund, Tara Kund and Manas Kund. Kalpeshwar is situated in the beautiful valley of Urgam. There is a cave temple and Shiva is worshipped in his matted hair form, when He tried to flee from the Pandavas at Kedarnath.

Kedarnath

The Celestial Jyotirlingam
Amidst the dramatic mountainscapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 mts. on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.

Kedarnath is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is said to be more than a 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were handled in the earlier days. The temple has a " Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Location
Kedarnath is situated in the Uttar Kashi district of the northern state of Uttaranchal. Very close to the Indo-Chinese border, it is the source of the Mandakini River. It is couched in the scenic locales of the Garhwal Himalayas at 3583 meters above sea level. It is very cold in the winters with the ground being covered with snow. In the summers, the mercury barely crosses the 20°C mark. The place experiences about 150 cm of rainfall during the monsoons and so the best time to visit is between May and October. Kedarnath is near to Rishikesh (234 km) and Dehradun (250 km).

History
According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, who had come to seek penitence for having killed their kin in the battle of Kurukshetra. He took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found Shiva amongst a herd of cattle. Having identified the meanest and most arrogant of the herd as Shiva, Bhima is said to have grabbed him by the hindquarters. What remains at the shrine in Kedarnath is the rear end of the bull, with the rest of its body scattered throughout the Garhwal. Shiva dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol. It is the main site of the Panch Kedar temples.

There are Four Other Kedars

Madhyamaheshwar
Tunganath
Kalpeshwar
Rudranath

Three of these (barring Kalpeshwar) are in mountain meadows at higher altitudes than Kedarnath. The climb to Rudranath is the most strenuous though worth the trouble, as this meadow is one of the finest in Garhwal.

Mythological Myth
Legend has it that when the Pandavas sought penance following the great war of the Mahabharata they came in search of Lord Shiva. Arriving at this site they found that Shiva had elusively taken the form of a bull. Bhim the strongest of the Pandavas went after Shiva who dived deep into the ground. Only Shiva's tail was left in Bhim's hand. This spot is known as the Kedarnath and is also considered the main Kedar. The rest of Shiva's body emerged at four other places in Garhwal - Tunganath, Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar and Rudranath.

These five Kedars are worshipped as Panch Kedars

Tungnath
Shiva's arms came out at Tungnath. The Tungnath temple is at an altitude of 3,680 m and is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch Kedars. However it is the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest road head.

Rudranath
Shiva's face is worshipped at the Rudranath temple. It is about 2,286 m above sea level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the distance is motor able and 18 km is on foot. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque bugyals (meadows) and involves trekking over high ridges (sometimes 4,000 m). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of holy kunds or ponds near the Rudranath temple like Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund. The entire area is utterly enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty. Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3km.

Pilgrimage Attractions in Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple
The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Guru Shankaracharya lies adjacent to the site of an ancient temple built by Pandavas. The walls of the exquisitely architectured temple are embellished with figures of deities and scenes from mythology. The temple has a conical lingam - the main idol, a statue of Nandi - the celestial bull, a 'garbha grab' for worship and a 'mandap' for assemblies of piligrims and visitors. The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old.

Shankaracharya Samadhi
Behind the Kedarnath Temple lies the samadhi or the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya. It is believed, after establishing the four dhams in India, he went for his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Excursions
Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar) (2 kms.)
A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is believed to have departed to heaven. The floating ice on the sparkling waters of the lake is a fascinating sight.

Vasuki Tal (6 kms.)
A picturesque lake, 4,135 mts. above sea level is encircled by lofty mountains and offers a commanding view of the Chaukhamba peaks.

Gaurikund (14 kms.)
The trekking base to Kedarnath. A temple dedicated to Gauri and thermal springs of medicinal value are noteworthy.

Sonprayag (20 kms.)
The confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers. The road to Triyuginarayan diverts from here.

Triyuginarayan (25 kms.)
A 5 kms. trek from Sonprayag, it is the mythological venue of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.An eternal flame, which is said to have been a witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today.

Guptkashi (49 kms.)
The temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath are noteworthy.

Ukshimath (60 kms)
Winter home of the deity of the Kedarnath Temple and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath.

Agastyamuni (73 kms.)
Famous for the temple dedicated to sage Agastya.

Chandrashila (93 kms.)
The Chandrashila peak provides a rare view of snow-clad peaks. The rhododendron Forests and alpine meadows dominate the trek fromTungnath to Chandrashila.

Deoria Tal (68 kms.)
Sari village is the last bus terminus on Chopta-Ukhimath road from where a 2 kms. trek leads to Deoria Tal. This beautiful lake at an altitude of 2,438 mts. gives the spectacular reflection of snow capped peaks in the lake water. Ideal spot for angling and bird watching.

Accessibility
Airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun (251 kms.)
Rail
Rishikesh (234 kms.)
Kotdwar (260 kms.)
Road
Approachable on foot from Gaurikund, which is connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.

Soruce: http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/chardham/kedarnath.html

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath (Hindi: केदारनाथ)is a Hindu holy town located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district. The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3584m above sea level near the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. Kedarnath hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples, the Kedarnath Temple, and is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims from all over the world, being one of the four major sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.

Kedarnath is named after King Kedar who ruled in the Satya Yuga. He ruled the seven continents and was a very saintly king. He had a daughter named Vrnda who was a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She performed austerities for 60000 years. Because of her, the land is named Vrindavan.

Location : 14 Km Trek From Gaurikund
Dedicated To : Lord Shiva
Altitude : 3,581 mt
Built In : 8th Century AD

Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. The shrine closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (Apr-May) every year. During its closure the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath.

Location
Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

The shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and during summer grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can be sighted from great distances. The sight of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snows is simply enthralling.

The Mythological Past
There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own Kith and Kin and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations.

The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.

An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Best Time to visit:- The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points.

Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop the Garhwal Himalayan range near the river Mandakini in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open only between the end of April to start of November. The temple is not directly accessible by road and has to be reached by a 14 km uphill trek from Gaurikund. The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Sankaracharya [1] and is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Lord Shiva. The older temple existed from the times of Mahabharat, when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath. The temple is also one of the four major sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage of Northern Himalayas.


Soruce: http://www.badarikedar.org/kedarnath.aspx