Kedarnath

Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and one of the four Char Dham sites, set at 3,583 metres in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is among the most sacred destinations in Kedarnath tourism and a cornerstone of Hindu pilgrimage in India. At its centre stands the Kedarnath Temple, a massive stone structure built from grey slabs believed to be over 1,200 years old and re-established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The temple sits at the head of the Mandakini valley, with the towering Kedarnath Peak rising dramatically behind it, creating one of the most striking settings in the Himalayas. During the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, the temple was partially buried under debris, but survived due to the protective positioning of Bhim Shila, a large boulder that diverted the destructive flow an event now regarded as miraculous by pilgrims. Access is via a 16 km trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter from Phata and Sersi, making the journey itself a defining part of a Kedarnath trip. The temple is open from late April to early November; during winter, the deity is moved to Ukhimath. Despite its remote high-altitude location, Kedarnath attracts over a million pilgrims each season, making it one of the most significant places to visit in Kedarnath and a deeply spiritual highlight of Kedarnath sightseeing.