Kedarnath Temple

The Kedarnath Temple, one of the most sacred and revered shrines in Hinduism, is nestled in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at an elevation of 3,583 meters above sea level. It holds immense spiritual, historical, and cultural significance and forms an essential part of the Char Dham Yatra—a legendary pilgrimage circuit that includes Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath. These four sacred sites are believed to purify the soul and lead to salvation. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, the temple’s origins trace back to the Mahabharata era, when the Pandavas built it to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings after the Kurukshetra war. The temple was later restored and promoted as a major pilgrimage site by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Architecturally, it reflects the Gupta period style, constructed using massive interlocking stone slabs without mortar—a technique that has helped it withstand the test of time. Despite the catastrophic 2013 Uttarakhand floods, the Kedarnath Temple miraculously survived and has since been extensively reconstructed, reaffirming its spiritual and structural resilience.

Today, it attracts millions of devotees annually, opening its doors from April/May to October/November, during the auspicious Char Dham Yatra season. The temple is administered by the Uttarakhand Char Dham Development Council, which ensures the preservation, maintenance, and sanctity of this ancient pilgrimage site.