The four most holy
pilgrimages of India - to Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Badrinath
and Kedarnath -
collectively referred to as Char
Dham in the icy Garhwal
Himalayas, is a rejuvenating spiritual
experience for the devout Hindu, releasing one from
the cycle of birth and death, thereby delivering
salvation. Kedarnath, in the Garhwal
region of Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal) state is the most
important Hindu shrine in Himalayas, and
among the major Shiva temples of the
country.
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More about
Kedarnath
Climate
Kedarnath has a very cool
season from May-Oct (average temperatures 8-15 deg.
celsius) and at other times the mercury touches zero. The
best season to visit Kedarnath is
May-Oct.
Language
The main languages are
Hindi, Garhwali and English (in tourist
spots).
Located at the source of the
river Mandakini, Kedarnath
is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas,
of Lord Shiva, and one of the Panch
Kedars. Mythology identifies
the deity at Kedarnath temple, with the rump
of a bull, a form assumed by Lord
Shiva, when eluding the
Pandavas, who had come for
repentance for killing their kith and kin in the great
battle of Kurukshetra. It
is believed that the Pandavas constructed the
temple of Kedarnath.
At the
approach of winters in the month of November,
the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from
Garhwal
(Kedarkhand) to
Ukhimath, and is reinstated at
Kedarnath, in the first week of May.
Legends
notwithstanding, the shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically
placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered
mountains, and grassy meadows
covering the valleys. Immediately
behind the temple, is the high Keadardome
peak. The sight
of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snow is, simply,
an enthralling sight.
Places of
interest in and around Kedarnath are Gandhi
Sarovar lake, Gaurikund temple & hot
springs, Vasuki Tal lake,
Triyuginarayan (the place where the Hindu
gods Shiva and Parvati are said to have been
married, with an eternal flame burning even
today), Gupt Kashi & Ukhimath
temples, Chopta (enchanting
forests and a musk deer sanctuary),
Deoria Tal lake, Panch Kedar Shiva temples
and The Kedar
Massif.
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