Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2023 | Kedarnath Shiva Jyotirlinga

Where is Kedarnath?

Shri Kedarnath Dham is located at an elevation of 3,583 meters on the snow-capped Himalayan peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India, and on the banks of the Mandakini River. Kedarnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Millions of tourists visit this temple every year to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and get rid of their sins. Also, to experience the beautiful nature of Kedarnath and its surroundings. Among the 12 jyotirlingas, Kedarnath Dham is located in the highest place. Therefore, Kedarnath is a unique confluence of spirituality and adventure for devotees. Because of extreme weather conditions, the Kedarnath temple is open only between the month of April and early November. 

During the winter season, Lord Vigraha (deity) is taken from the Kedarnath temple to Ukhimath, where Lord Kedarnath is worshiped for the next six months. The interior walls of the temple are adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. There is an attractive idol of Nandi carved in stone at the entrance of the temple. Behind the temple, the Kedar Dome peak stands at 6941 meters. This Sky High Peak can be seen from a great distance and the view of the temple is worth seeing with this high peak.

It is not directly accessible by road; one has to take a trek of about 22 km from Gaurukund. Pony/Palkhi and Manchan services are available to reach Shri Kedarnath Dham. Helicopter services are also available.

Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham means four religious places. Char Dham in Uttarakhand is a collective term associated with four places of worship, namely, Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. It is considered to be one of the holiest places in North India. Every Hindu is expected to make Char Dham Yatra at least once in his life. Let's discuss the History of Shri Kedarnath Dham, the Best time to visit Kedarnath and Kedarnath Yatra 2023.

History of Kedarnath Temple:

It is believed that the original temple has been constructed by Pandavas. Later in the 8th century, it was restored by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple is at the height of 3583 meters and 223 km from Rishikesh, on the bank of the Mandakini River. The name “Kedarnath” means “god of the field”: it is derived from the Sanskrit words Kedar (field) and nath (god). As per Kashi Kedara Mahatmya, Shri Kedarnath Dham is a “Crop of Liberation.”

Shri Kedarnath temple has great glory. The story of Panchkedar is believed to be that after the victory in the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas felt liberated from the sin of brotherhood. The Pandavas were suggested by Lord Krishna to seek the boons of Lord Shiva and get rid of the sins committed during the Mahabharata. So before achieving Moksha, the Pandavas went to Kashi to meet Mahadev.

Pandavas reached the Himalayas' lookup for Mahadev. Lord Shiva did not give darshan to the Pandavas, so they disappeared from there and settled in Kedar. Pandava, also firm with passion, they reached Kedar while chasing him. Until then, Lord Shiva took the form of an ox and mixed it with other animals. The Pandavas became suspicious. Bhima presumed his gigantic form and spread his legs over the two mountains. All the other cows and oxen were gone, but Lord Shankara (in the form of oxen) was not ready to go. Bhima immediately identified the bull as Lord Shiva. The Bhima, the second brother of Pandavas, tried to hold the Bull by his tail and hind legs, but bull-formed Shiva began to disappear into the ground, leaving behind a hump on the surface of Kedarnath.

Seeing the devotion of Pandavas, Lord Shiva was pleased. In this way, Lord Shiva appeared and freed the Pandavas from their sins. Since then, Lord Shiva is worshipped in Kedarnath in the form of a bull's back body.

Other body parts of Bull appeared at four different places. 

The arms at Tumgnath, 

head at Kapaleshwar, 

face at Rudranath, and

 Nabhi stomach at Madhymaheshwar.

Shri Kedarnath Dham and all these four places are considered as Panch Kedar.

Another legend says that the hunchback of the bull stayed at Kedarnath, the head appeared in the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.

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When to Visit Shri Kedarnath Dham:

After a severe cold, In the mountains, spring and summer are beautiful, in the valleys a variety of flowers bloom. The best time to visit Shri Kedarnath Dham is from April to the beginning of November. In Kedarnath temple, the weather is very cold all the time. Even in summers as well. You might experience snowfall there. So it is very important to keep your winter clothes, jacket, etc. with you.

After November, due to heavy snowfall and bad weather, the temple is closed for the next six months. Darshan is stopped after the Diwali festival. The deity of Lord Shiva is taken from Kedarnath to Ukhimath and is worshipped there for the next six months. It is advisable to avoid severe winter and rainy months. The road to the temples becomes very dangerous during monsoons, as landslides and floods are very common during this time of year.

Kedarnath Yatra 2023:

Shri Kedarnath Dham opens for the devotees in the Month of April-May each year with a huge celebration. Opening dates of the Kedarnath temple were announced on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Thousands of devotees visit the Kedarnath temple on the day of its inauguration. Please plan your trip according to the date of the opening of Kedarnath Temple.

After getting some relief from the Corona crisis, the Chardham Yatra is being started by the Government in a phased manner.

Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri together are called Char Dham Yatra. Visiting these temples once in your lifetime is every once travel goal. Kedarnath is the biggest trek of Yatra. All the temples take about 10-12 days to visit. However, it is now possible to cover all the temples in two / three days by helicopter. It is said that those who visit Char Dham will get Salvation or Moksha.

How Can I register for Kedarnath Yatra?

How do I register for the Kedarnath Yatra? If you are planning to visit the Kedarnath Temple, online registration is mandatory. The registration document is compulsory to take darshan in Kedarnath as well as in all temples of Char Dhams.

I hope this blog will help you to know about Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2023.