Complete Guide of Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2021

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

Every year this shrine is visited by millions of tourists from all over who come to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and to get rid of their sins. Also, to experience the beautiful scenery in and around Kedarnath. Among the 12 jyotirlingas, Kedarnath Dham is located in the highest place. Thus for the devotees, Kedarnath offers a unique combination of spirituality and adventure. 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) from the Kedarnath temple carried down to Ukhimath and where Lord Kedarnath is worshipped for the next six months. The inside walls of the temple are adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. There is an impressive statue of Nandi, which was carved out of rock that stands at the entrance of the temple. Behind the temple, the Kedar Dome peak stands at 6941meters. This Sky-high peak can be sighted from a great distance, and a view of the temple with this high snow peak is a sight to behold.

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

Char Dham means Four Dhams, four religious places. Char Dham in Uttarakhand is a collective term related to four religious places, i.e., Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. These are considered to be the most sacred places of Northan India. Every Hindu is expected to perform Char Dham Yatra at least once in their life. Let's discuss the History of Shri Kedarnath Dham, the Best time to visit Kedarnath and Kedarnath Yatra 2021.

History of Kedarnath Temple:

It is believed that the original temple has been constructed by Pandavas. Later it was renovated by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The temple is at the height of 3583 meters and 223km from Rishikesh, on the bank of the Mandakini River. The name "Kedarnath" means "The Lord of the field": it derives from the Sanskrit word Kedara(Field) and natha (Lord). 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 such that the Pandavas wanted to get rid of the sin of the fraternity after being victorious in the war of Mahabharata. The Pandavas were advised by Lord Krishna to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and redeem for the sins committed by them during battle. So before seeking salvation, the Pandavas went to the Kashi to meet Lord Shiva.

Pandavas reached the Himalayas searching for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva did not give darshan to Pandavas, so he disappeared from there and settled in Kedar. Pandava, also firm with passion, they reached Kedar while chasing him. By then, Lord Shankar took a form of a bull, and he mixed with other animals. The Pandavas was suspicious. Bhima took his huge form and spread his legs on two mountains. All the other cows and bulls left, but Lord Shankar ( in the form of Bull) was not ready to go. Bhima immediately recognized the Bull to be 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 at Kedarnath.

Lord Shankar was pleased to see the devotion of the Pandavas. Thus Lord Shiva freed the Pandavas from their sins by giving darshan. Since that time, Lord Shankar is worshiped in Kedarnath in the form of the body of the Bull's back.

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Also Read: Mahashivratri 2022

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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 hump of the Bull remained at Kedarnath, the head appeared at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.

When to Visit Shri Kedarnath Dham:

After a harsh winter, spring and summer are beautiful in the mountains, with the valleys in full bloom with the great varieties of flowers. The best time to visit Shri Kedarnath Dham is from April to early November. In Kedarnath temple, the weather is very cold all the time. Even in summers as well. You might experience snowfall there. So it's very important to carry your winter clothes, jackets, etc.

After November, due to heavy snowfall and bad weather temple is closed for the next six months. Darshan is stopped after the Diwali festival. The deity of Lord Shiva is carried out from Kedarnath to Ukhimath and where the deity is worshipped for the next six months. It is advisable to avoid harsh winter and Monsoon months. The path leading to the temples gets highly dangerous during peak monsoon as landslides and floods are very common during this time of the year.

Kedarnath Yatra 2021:

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 announce on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Thousands of devotees visit the Kedarnath temple on an opening day. Please plan your trip as per the opening date of the Kedarnath temple.

After getting some relief from the Corona crisis, the Chardham Yatra is being started by the Government in a phased manner. From the 1st of July, the people of Uttarakhand district will allow visiting Shri Kedarnath Dham. Devotees will have to follow all Corona guidelines. They have to give Corona negative report. Whereas, from the 11th of July, people of Uttarakhand state will be allowed to visit the Char Dhams. In view of this, travel preparation has started from the local administration level. Along with health facilities, safety and other essential facilities are being taken care of in the travel route.

Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are collectively called Char Dham Yatra. Visiting these temples once in your lifetime is every once travel goal. Kedarnath Yatra has the lengthiest trek. It takes around 10-12 days to visit all the temples. However, it's 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? 

If you are planning to visit the Kedarnath Temple, online registration is compulsory. With the help of official registration sites, you can do the registration. 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 know about Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2021.