Situated in the mighty Himalayas, the Kedarnath Temple is a divine sight to see. Pilgrims flock to this holy place to fill their lives with light. It is believed that Kedarnath Mandir is the place where one can find deliverance from one’s sins or Moksha.
Counted among the most holy places in India, Shri Kedarnath Temple is visited by more than 16 lakh people each year who take the difficult journey (of almost 22 km from the nearest road) towards the sacred site at 3,538 meters. It is a test of devotion as well as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of India. Those who go on this beautiful journey and take part in the puja are blessed for life.
Read below to learn more about the history of Kedarnath Temple, its story, and its opening date in 2025.
The Architecture Of Kedarnath Temple
Built by gray colossal stones, the temple uses no mortar, instead, the stone slabs are interlocked with the use of iron clamps. Its infrastructure shields it from the unpredictable Himalayan weather, where heavy winter snowfall and continuous monsoon rain batter all life and objects.
Fine details decorate the walls of the temple. The hall at the entrance features mesmerizing depictions of Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Draupadi, Nandi, and Shiva’s vehicle as well as Virbhadra, one of Shiva’s guards. Inside, an unequal lingam draws spectators for blessing while outside, the giant statue of Nandi greets the devotees.
The Legend & History Of Kedarnath Temple
The Story of Kedarnath Temple
The story of the Kedarnath Temple starts with Pandavas on their journey of repentance. After the episode of Mahabharata, the Pandavas gained victory over the Kauravas, their own cousins, through violent means for which they sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva. The lord refused at first but the Pandavas were unyielding in their pursuit. So he had to transform into a bull to elude them.
Their search led them on a pilgrimage to Guptkashi where Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers saw a bull grazing and immediately recognized it to be Lord Shiva. He attempted to hold the bull by its tail and hindlegs but the bull disappeared into the ground and resurfaced in five different forms with the hump appearing in Kedarnath, the arms in Tungnath, the face in Rudranath, the (navel) and stomach in Madhyamaheshwar and hair in Kalpeshwar - forming the Panch-Kedar.
After this, a jyotirlinga was established by the Pandavas, who were graced by the presence of the Lord. Lord Shiva forgave them and told them that he would reside in the triangle-shaped lingam.
Another important part of the history of Kedarnath Temple was played by the 8th-century spiritual teacher, Shri Adi Shankaracharya who renovated the temple.
Kedarnath Etymology
The name Kedarnath is derived from Sanskrit meaning “the Lord of the Field” (Kedara meaning field & natha meaning the lord). Another legend that is linked with the origins of the name of Kedarnath Temple tells of the story of Lord Shiva saving the people from a tormenting demon. The Lord appeared as an ox and threw the demon into the Mandakini River where the name Kodarum transformed into Kedarnath.
Kedarnath Temple Darshan Timings
The Kedarnath Mandir opens the doors at sunrise and closes them in the evening so that the devotees can seek blessings conveniently. The Kedarnath Temple darshan timings are as follows:
-
Morning Darshan: The morning darshan timings of Kedarnath Temple start from 6:00 AM and continue up until the afternoon. A brief break, usually between 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, is taken by the priests to prepare for the evening rituals.
-
Evening Darshan: By the time the sun begins to set over the Himalayas, the temple gates are reopened at around 5:00 PM, allowing people to pray until 9:00 PM.
The Best Time To Visit Kedarnath Dham, Uttrakhand
The best time to visit Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand is between April to June when the skies are clear and the temperature rarely dips to a shivering cold. However, you can read more about the best months to visit Kedarnath Temple below:
Summer (April to June): The rainfall is less with sunny days and a temperature that remains between 0.5° to 17.1° Celsius.
Monsoon (July to September): The monsoon season sees high rainfall with average precipitation being 240 mm. The maximum temperature reaches 16.5° Celcius and the minimum temperature remains limited to 8° Celsius. There are chances of roadblocks due to landslides.
Autumn (October to November): With the onset of winter, the post-monsoon season is usually colder where temperatures reach sub-zero at night with chances of snowfall.
Kedarnath Opening & Closing Dates 2025
|
Opening date of Kedarnath Temple 2025 (tentative) |
2nd of May, 2025 (based on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya) |
|
Closing date of Kedarnath Temple 2025 (tentative) |
5th of November, 2025 (based on the onset of winter and snowfall in the region) |
How To Reach Kedarnath?
Those who wish to undertake this spiritual journey can find many ways to travel to the sacred site. Here are the best ways to reach Kedarnath:
-
By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport to Kedarnath, situated around 239 km away where plenty of taxis or buses are available to take you to your destination.
-
By Train: The Haridwar Railway Station, which is around 241 km away from Kedarnath Temple, provides a smooth transfer from Delhi with around 3-4 hours of transfer time.
-
By Road: The Kedarnath Temple boasts a well-connected network of roads that are accessible by major cities like Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Buses and taxis are available in plethora for Kedarnath. If you are traveling from, for example, Haridwar; it will take 8-9 hours to cover a distance of 240 km.
-
By Helicopter: Helicopter rides to Kedarnath are available from Phata, Sersi, or Guptkashi between May and October. You can book them online in advance to ensure a smooth transfer.
Trekking: This is the most popular route as well as the oldest way to reach the ancient temple. Pilgrims start their journey on foot from Gaurikund. The trek takes about 8-9 hours to cover 16 km with plenty of ponies and palanquins available for weary trekkers for hire.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Which is the best way to reach Kedarnath Mandir?
A. One can reach Kedarnath Mandir in several ways; by air, train, road, or helicopter. The best way to reach Kedarnath Temple is by road as it is relatively affordable and takes nothing more than 10 hours depending on which city you are coming from.
Q. What is the height of Kedarnath Temple?
A. The Kedarnath Temple is situated at an elevation of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) between the mighty Himalayas.
Q. How much does a Kedarnath Temple trip cost?
A. The trip to Kedarnath Temple may cost you anywhere from 10,000 INR to 50,000 INR depending on the level of luxury, transport, season, and accommodation.
Q. How to reach Kedarnath Mandir from New Delhi?
A. There are four ways you can reach Kedarnath Mandir from New Delhi:
-
By Air: Take a flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport (New Delhi) to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and cover the rest of the way by bus or taxi.
-
By Train: Catch a train to Haridwar Railway Station. The journey to Haridwar will be around 3-4 hours. From there you can catch a bus or a taxi to Kedarnath Mandir.
-
By Road: Take a bus ride from New Delhi to Gaurikund which will take around 12-14 hours. From Gaurikund, you have the option to trek or opt for a pony ride.
