Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most spiritual tourist destinations in India. Kedarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva attracts thousands of devotees during the 6-month period when the shrine remains open. It is part of the holy Char Dhams (4 journeys) and part of the Panch Kedars. This is about our knowledge of the Kedarnath Trek in October. Read on to find out more about Kedarnath Yatra, how to get there and stay with other related information.
Where is Kedarnath located?
Kedarnath Dham is part of Char Dhams Yatra (4 religious sites) that include Gangotri, Yamunotri and Badrinath. Located in the Rudraprayag district of Garhwal district in Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath temple is located in the Kedar valley below the ice of Chorabari, which is the source of the Mandakini River.
Kedarnath – History, Myth and Stories
It is often intriguing for me to learn about the past of any place we visit, especially if that place is a place of history and religion. Of the temples of India with many stories hidden in them.
Like others, Kedarnath also has its rightful share of myths and legends. There are various versions of the origin of the Kedarnath Temple. Although there are stories that the famous Hindu mystic Adi Shankaracharya renovated the temple around the eighth century. However, as I mentioned earlier, there are many versions.
Kedarnath finds reference to the great Hindu history of the Mahabharata and that is where the myth of Panch kedar comes into play. Have I ever said before that Kedarnath is one of the five Kedar (Panches), the five holy places of Lord Shiva.
Why it is Known as Kedarnath?
In the battle of Kurukshetra where the brothers fought among themselves, the Pandavas defeated and killed their cousin Kauravas. The Pandavas killed their own people in battle and caused their remorse and guilt. They decided to apologize to Lord Shiva, the ruler of the Universe. With this in mind, the Pandava family decided to go to Kashi to ask God for forgiveness. King Shiva, on the other hand, was not particularly willing to forgive the Pandava for their murder. He left his home in Kashi and hid like a bull in Gupkashi. Bhima, the most powerful Pandavas, however, was able to find King Shiva in the form of a bull. The bull escaped again and later relocated to five places and these 5 areas were known as the Panch (five) Kedars.
Different parts of the bull varied in different places – the hump at Kedarnath, the arms of Tung Nath, the navel and belly at Madmaheshwar, the face of Rudra Nath and the hair of Kalpeshwar. It is believed that the front part of the bull fell on Pashupatinath in Nepal. The Pandeva’s built temples in all five places. It is believed that the Pandava performed Yagna at Kedarnath before going to Mahaprasthana (abandoning the earth for salvation). After all, Mahaprasthana originated in the village of Mana near Badrinath.
There is another story in which Nara-Narayan, a Hindu goddess, is worshiped by King Shiva and the goddess Parvati. He prayed to Jehovah, asking him to stay at Kedarnath so that the people could live. Lord Shiva granted his request and thus Kedarnath became the abode of Lord Shiva.
Kedarnath Trek – Our Feeling
As I mentioned earlier we decided to walk all the way to Kedarnath from the base area in Gaurikund. The journey started in Haridwar. Local buses from Haridwar to Gupkashi were in short supply due to the post-epidemic situation. So we rented a car for 5 days to travel to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Early in the morning, we set out from Kedarnath, and we passed through mountainous terrain. We had been to these places a few times, but the surrounding area had not failed me. The meeting of the Mandakini and Alaknanda Rivers at Rudraprayag still fascinates us with the unparalleled beauty of the mountain rivers.
The Mandakini River was our constant companion on the entire road to Kedarnath. We arrived at Gupkashi at about three in the afternoon and decided to go to Sonprayag. There are plenty of hotels in Gupkashi and it is one of the best places to stay after dusk.
We arrived in Sonprayag immediately and found a hotel to stay overnight. We started very early in the morning. Once in Sonprayag, we headed for the Yatra Registration Counter. In order to run Chardham Yatra in a controlled manner after the 2013 floods, the number of Yatris (pilgrims) visiting the Kedarnath shrine is controlled. There is also a Yatra pass counter at Sonprayag. The man was sitting with a laptop and making a Yatra pass for Rs.50 / -.
We had our Yatra e-pass and went directly to the Registration Counter. Gaurd did thermal screening and were given permission to start our Yatra. Every year, pilgrims receive physical passes. We did not get it this year, probably due to a decrease in the number of travelers.
