Pilgrimage
Trekking Guide
Summary
- •The Gaurikund–Kedarnath trek is a revered Himalayan pilgrimage to one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, winding through the Garhwal mountains along the Mandakini river.
- •This practical guide covers the route, difficulty, transport options, packing, fitness, and safety—grounded in the temple's history, the 2013 floods, and its seasonal opening.
Overview
- •Kedarnath Temple, at 3,583m in the Garhwal Himalayas, is an ancient stone shrine built of interlocking grey slabs without mortar, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century) though worship predates him.
- •It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, a Chota Char Dham site, and part of Panch Kedar.
- •The temple survived the 2013 Uttarakhand floods relatively intact, shielded by a large boulder, while the town was devastated and later rebuilt.
- •The shrine opens from late April/May (Akshaya Tritiya) to October/November (Bhai Dooj), after which the murti moves to Ukhimath for winter.
- •Nearby sites include the Bhairav Nath Temple, Gandhi Sarovar (Chorabari Tal), Vasuki Tal, and Triyuginarayan, the traditional wedding site of Shiva and Parvati.
Explore More of Kedarnath
Destination Hub
Kedarnath OverviewSpiritual & Temple Guides
Places to Explore
Kedarnath Temple
Discover attraction
Bhairav Nath TempleDiscover attraction
Gandhi Sarovar (Chorabari Tal)Discover attraction
Vasuki TalDiscover attraction
Adi Shankaracharya SamadhiDiscover attraction
Triyuginarayan TempleDiscover attraction
GaurikundDiscover attraction
SonprayagDiscover attraction
Kedarnath Wildlife SanctuaryDiscover attraction