Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Kedarnath

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Kedarnath is one of the Char(4) Dham a very holy pilgrimage destination for all Hindus at Uttarakhand in India. Kedarnath range stands one of the famed Jyotilirlingam of Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3.581 mts. above the sea level. It is the remotest of all the chardham sites surrounded by some of the most beautiful snow capped mountains. The present temple was built back in the 8th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya is next to the site of an earlier temple that legend says was built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. The samadhi (final resting place) of Adi Shankaracharya is located behind the main shrine. The temple is made out of gigantic, evenly cut grey slabs of stone, and the inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of several deities and mythological scenes. Just outside the temple stands a large statue of Nandi Bull as a guard. Kedarnath Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old.

Many other place are also very beautiful to viewers from kedarnath like Chorabari (Gandhi Sarover), Vasuki Tal, Gaurikund , Triyuginarayan, Deoria Tal etc.

Chorabari (Gandhi Sarover)

According to Hindu Legends, Gandhi Sarovar is a small lake from where Yudhishthir, you take enjoy camping at himalaya hills the eldest of the Pandavas is believed to have moved to heaven. The floating ice on the sparkling waters is an amazing sight that attracts tourists from all over the country and abroad.



Vasuki Tal
Located about 4135 meters above sea level and surrounded by lofty mountains, Vasuki Tal is a picturesque lake which offers a commanding view of the Chaukumbha peaks.




Gaurikund
To reach Kedarnath, Gaurikund is the main trekking base. From Gaurikund, there is a 14 kms long stretch after which the pilgrims reach Kedarnath.




Triyuginarayan Temple Triyuginarayan
Triyuginarayan, 5 kms trek from Sonprayag is the mythological place of marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that an eternal flame which is said to have been a proof to their marriage burns in front of the temple even today.




Deoria Tal

Sari Village on the Chopta-Ukhimath road is the last bus terminus from where a 2 km trek leads to Deoria lake. Situated at an altitude of 2348 meters, this beautiful lake gives the spectacular reflection of the snow capped mountains in the lake water. If you are a nature lover then this is the right choice.


Kedarnath is approachable on foot from Gaurikund, which is directly  connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region. The closest rail connection is at Rishikesh (234 km from Kedarnath and at Kotdwar (260 km from Kedarnath). he closest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun (251 km from Kedarnath). The best time to visit Kedarnath is between May-October as during the winter season it gets closed.Many ashrams and dharamshalas provide cheap accommodation. There are also many private hotels and restaurants although most have only basic facilities. Also beware that Kedarnath can be extremely crowded during peak pilgrim season. The state-run guest house is generally booked throughout, so arrive early if you want options.