The renowned Char Dhams to be holy sites for pilgrimages to Hinduism is situated among the awe-inspiring peaks of the Himalayas situated in Uttarakhand. The circuit of Char Dham consists majorly of the four locations that are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These four sites are considered to be extremely sacred to the Hindu faith. Every Hindu hopes to visit these sacred shrines on at least one occasion an entire lifetime in order to gain salvation.
It is considered in the Hindu faith to be that Pilgrimage tirtha Yatra (Teertha Yatra) is among the five responsibilities of each Hindu in addition to Samsara’s, Dharma, Worship and the celebration of religious festivals. It is an excellent exercise in humility, willpower and faith when devotees go to difficult places, putting their worries in the hands of Deity and ignoring everything else except God. The holy Char Dham yatra is an intimate experience that creates an intimate connection between the seeker and the holy. A pilgrimage is a journey to witness holy women and holy men visit holy shrines, and also to take the privilege of seeing Deities who reside in the sanctums of old. A pilgrimage trip to experience the ability of God to transform lives joy-generating and karma elimination contact with God.
In all of them, Kedarnath is one of the most sacred locations of Lord Shiva located inside the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is among the twelve Jyotirlingas that Lord Shiva.
The History of Kedarnath
There is a belief by Hinduism to have “Nara and Narayana were able to perform a severe penance in front of Shiva Lingam who had been fashioned from the ground”. There is a legend that they asked Shiva to make his permanent residence in the form of Jyotirlinga. It was here that the Pandeva’s requested the blessings of Shiva.
Another legend suggests that the goddess Parvati was worshipped by Kedareshwar so that she could join Shiva as Ardhanareeswara. Baron is the name of a temple that is that is dedicated to Bhaironathji who is worshipped ceremonially during the opening as well as closing time of Kedarnath temple. It is believed that Bhairavnath Ji shields this area from the evil forces when the temple is shut.
About Kedarnath Temple
It is believed that the Kedarnath temple is one of the most revered shrines of the Hindu god Lord Shiva. The mandir was constructed around the time of the 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple was renovated following 2013’s Kedarnath huge floods. The new facilities now include helipads, helipads and guest houses that are brand new. Additionally, online facilities to make Kedarnath bookings can be made from the site. It is easy to make a reservation online for Kedarnath puja without the physically present devotees are required. The rituals of the daily puja can be found in a book online and in person. The daily rituals for pooja are performed at Kedarnath temple begin early in the morning, at 4.00 am. They begin with Maha Abhishek and conclude around 7.00 at night by performing Shyamal aarti. The devotees are able to take darshan at around 6 am when the temple is accessible.
The Kedarnath temple is only open during the month of June.
Kedarnath Opening & Closing Dates
The date of opening for this holy place is based on the auspicious days of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ and Maha Srihari’. The date for opening of Kedarnath Dham has been announced as well on Mahashivratri. The date for Kedarnath closure is determined for the date of Bhai Doom which is the day following Diwali in November the temple will shut following Pooja Archana, which is performed in the morning. The opening ceremony of Kedarnath Kaput is a significant event for a large number of pilgrims who visit Kedarnath from across the world. The devotees were only able to have darshan when the priests had officially opened Puja in the Kedarnath Temple. The ceremony that opens the temple is also spectacular.
Tourist Places Near Kedarnath
It’s not just that Kedarnath is a spot to be a place of pilgrimage, but it offers a myriad of other locations for tourist attractions, such as high altitude lakes as well as trekking trips. There are numerous places such as Triyuginarayn, Chapter, Deloria tall, Paunch Kadar, Chandrashekar, Klamath, and Agastyamuni that are also worth exploring during your trip. Many temples, like Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudra Nath are the must-see five important temples in the temple of Lord Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas. They are referred to as Panch Kedar by the locals. The area is of important significance within Uttarakhand. Visit Agasteshwar Mahadev temple , which is dedicated to the sage Agastya and also has archeological importance.
Best time to visit
The cold climate prevails throughout the year, which is why Kedarnath is best served during summer. From May to June, and September through October provide the perfect weather conditions for tourists to discover this stunning location. The winters here can be quite brutal with sub-zero temperatures as well as the heavy rain. Monsoon season brings heavy downpours and therefore, one should carry certain essentials to visit the area during the monsoon.
Summers
The summers in Kedarnath start in May. They last until June. The summers in Kedarnath are enjoyable with temperatures at around 17 degrees. This is the perfect moment to go to the Kedarnath shrine and to enjoy a tour of well-known spots in and around Kedarnath. The weather is warm at this time, and therefore this is the perfect time to travel to the area.
Winters
As Kedarnath in winter is quite inhospitable The area is subject to an abundance of snowfall and the majority of all roads closed. Also, the temperature drops to below zero degrees, and If you’re not used to cold temperatures, it could be quite memorable to spend a day in Kedarnath. The temple also gets away from large crowds, and is closed throughout the winter.
The essentials you need to bring with you at Kedarnath
Always take a daypack packed with an appropriate pair of trekking boots, the trekking pant, a windproof jacket, lightweight woollen clothes, Sun cap sunglasses sunscreen lotion, torch for lip balm and flashlights with additional batteries, a walking stick, and personal hygiene items. Consuming plenty of water during the trek is vital. Also, bring some snacks that are dry, such as Energy bars or energy drinks.
It’s no surprise that the Kedarnath journey is likely to be the most satisfying and enjoyable experience in your life. You will be able to feel the fusion of divine and nature. Plan your Kedarnath Yatra.
