Jyotirlinga
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
Rudraprayag district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand
The most remote Jyotirlinga, cradled in the Himalayas — part of both Panch Kedar and Char Dham
At a glance
- Location
- Rudraprayag district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand
- Presiding deity
- Lord Shiva
- Temple type
- Jyotirlinga
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- No direct railhead; the nearest is Rishikesh (~216 km), followed by road travel and a trek
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~239 km); direct helicopter services to the Kedarnath helipad are also available
- Best time to visit
- May-June and September-October, avoiding the monsoon and the coldest winter months.
History
Kedarnath sits at roughly 3,583 metres altitude, near the source of the Mandakini river. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas sought out Shiva to atone for the bloodshed of the Kurukshetra war; Shiva took the form of a bull and dove into the earth, leaving his hump to be worshipped here — the rest of his form is said to have appeared at the other four Panch Kedar temples. The present temple is believed to have been re-established by Adi Shankaracharya around the 8th century CE. The devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods severely damaged the surrounding area, though the main temple itself survived largely intact.
Spiritual significance
Kedarnath is an integral stop on the Char Dham Yatra and the most physically demanding of the twelve Jyotirlingas to reach. Pilgrims must trek (or take a pony/helicopter) roughly 16-18 km from Gaurikund, making it both a physical and spiritual test of devotion.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
6:00 AM to 9:00 PM during the open season (the temple closes for winter due to snow, and the deity is moved to Ukhimath).
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
From Rishikesh or Haridwar, travel by road to Gaurikund/Sonprayag (200+ km), then complete the final 16-18 km by trek, pony, palanquin, or helicopter. The temple is open for darshan only from around April/May to November (the "kapaat khulne" period), closing for winter due to heavy snow.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.