Kedarnath

Kedarnath is one of the most sacred temples and the holiest Hindu pilgrimages in India. A part of Chhota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is one of the most important among the 12 Jyotirlingas in India dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Located on the Garhwal Himalayan Range in the Rudraprayag District, Kedarnath Temple can only be reached from Gaurikund through a trek and remains open only for six months from April to November, due to heavy snowfall in the region during the rest of the months.

During the winters from November to May, the diety is shifted from Kedarnath Temple to Ukhitmath and is worshipped there. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector, and the destroyer, and it's believed that a journey to Kedarnath provides one "Moksha" or salvation. Set amidst the snow-clad mountains near Chorabari Glacier with the Mandakini River flowing in front of it, Kedarnath witnesses lakhs of devotees every year due to its religious significance. 

The present Kedarnath Temple is believed to be re-constructed by Adi Shankaracharya, initially built by the Pandavas thousand years ago from enormous stone slabs over a large rectangular dais. The disastrous flash floods of 2013 wreaked great havoc in the Kedarnath Valley, however, the temple itself did not suffer major damage.