One of India's most spiritual pilgrimages is the Kedarnath Yatra. During the six months that the shrine is open, thousands of devotees flock to Kedarnath, the residence of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath is a component of both the Panch Kedars and the holy Char Dhams, which are four pilgrimages. We wrote this blog post to share our October Kedarnath Trek experience. Continue reading to find out more about the Kedarnath Yatra, including travel and lodging options.
For me, Kedarnath is more than just a site of pilgrimage. The location is far more important. It was the first time I had ever taken a family vacation. I occasionally hear that I was a challenging 2-year-old who caused my parents a lot of trouble at that time. What more could one expect from a toddler, really? I was now, nearly thirty years later, prepared to embark on the Kedarnath Yatra with Agni at my side. We chose to walk from Gaurikund this time, and I was looking forward to the Kedarnath hike.
There was going to be more than one reason why this trip would be memorable. To be quite honest, I couldn't contain my excitement at seeing a location that brings back so many happy memories. As soon as we told our families about the trip, my father began to regale me with tales of "that" Kedarnath Yatra, which took place nearly thirty years ago. By stories, he meant every embarrassing moment a 2.5-year-old had while on a family vacation. It appeared that he had told my husband every stupid secret I had, and he had not forgotten to make fun of me afterward.
The news that we would be traveling to Kedarnath and Badrinath thrilled my uncle. He told me to take pictures in the same pose that we had used before, and he remembered all the special locations. What a waste of change! Overall, my family and I had a great time traveling to Kedarnath.
Since Agni and I were returning to the Himalayan trails after nearly two years, the Kedarnath trek held special significance for us. Throughout the years, we had completed a few quick hikes on Meghalaya's David Scott Trail and the Western Ghats. We believed that our trekking trips through Kedarnath could be the turning point in overcoming the drought. After all, our love for trekking began with the Amarnath Yatra! Let's get started with everything you wanted to know about the Kedarnath Yatra, the Kedarnath Temple, and of course, our incredible experience there. Enough of my ramblings.
Where is Kedarnath?
Kedarnath Dham is one of the four pilgrimage sites known as the Char Dham Yatra, along with Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath. The Kedarnath temple is situated in the Kedar valley, beneath the Chorabari glacier, the source of the Mandakini river, in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand's Garhwal region.
The Legends, History, and Stories of Kedarnath
Finding out about the history of any location we visit usually becomes an obsession of mine, particularly if it is a historically or religiously significant location. Many stories are concealed within India's temples. For Kedarnath, I followed suit.
The Kedarnath shrine is thought to have been buried beneath the snow for nearly 400 years!
Kedarnath has its fair share of myths and legends, just like any other place. Diverse accounts exist regarding the genesis of the Kedarnath Temple. Some argue that the temple was constructed in the second century AD by the Hindu King Raja Bhoj of Malwa, while others assert that the great Hindu seer Adi Shankaracharya built it and brought it back to life in the eighth century. Well, as I previously mentioned, there are multiple versions.
The famous Hindu epic Mahabharata mentions Kedarnath, which is where the story of Panch Kedar enters the picture. Did I previously mention that one of Lord Shiva's five sacred sites, the Pathak Kedars, is Kedarnath?
The Pandavas vanquished and killed their cousin brothers, the Kauravas, in the famous Kurukshetra battle between the brothers. Having killed their own in the battle, the Pandavas suffered from guilt and self-reproach. They decided to approach Lord Shiva, the universe's ruler, for forgiveness. The Pandavas decided to travel to Kashi to seek God's pardon while bearing this in mind. However, Lord Shiva was not in the mood to pardon the Pandavas for their destruction. He hid at Guptkashi as a bull after leaving his residence at Kashi. Nonetheless, the strongest Pandava, Bhima, was able to locate Lord Shiva in the shape of a bull. The bull broke free once more and later reappeared in five locations, which became known as the Panch (five) Kedars.
The bull appeared in different parts at different places: the arms and navel at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the stomach and navel at Madmaheshwar, the hump at Kedarnath, and the hairs at Kalpeshwar. It is thought that the Pandavas were absolved of their sins and had constructed temples at each of the five sites. It's also thought that the bull's front half fell at Nepal's Pashupatinath. In all five places, temples were constructed by the Pandavas. Before departing for Mahaprasthana, it is thought that the Pandavas performed Yagna at Kedarnath (renouncing the world to attain salvation). Notably, Mana village, which is close to Badrinath, is where the Mahaprasthana originated. That's a tale for another time.
Another legend has it that the Hindu god Nara-Narayan worshipped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. In his prayer, he asked the Lord to grant him a stay at Kedarnath for the good of humanity. He was granted his wish by Lord Shiva, who then made Kedarnath his residence.
The 2013 Floods:-
The devastating 2013 floods that struck Uttarakhand's Garhwal region have also made Kedarnath famous. The Kedarnath Temple was surprisingly one of the few buildings that survived the floods unharmed.
If mythology is to be trusted, the temple may have been constructed approximately 3,000 years ago. On the other hand, inscriptions on the temple wall point to a time frame between 650 and 850 AD. Researchers have been interested in learning how the temple resisted the flood's destructive effects. The lichens that grow there and the glaciers in the area seem to be the cause of the problem.
To ascertain the geological past of Chorabari, retired professor Ravinder Kumar Chaujar of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, examined lichens that were growing on the rocks of the area's moraines. According to Professor Chaujar's research, the temple had been covered in glaciers or ice for a minimum of 400 years. This could have been one of the factors contributing to the temple's durability. It survived the 2013 floods unscathed and might make it through more of these instances.
Conclusion:-
Without a doubt, every Indian who performs this pilgrimage and offers prayers to Lord Shiva should go to Kedarnath at least once in their lifetime because the experience of traveling there, staying there, and feeling fortunate and blessed there is unmatched by anything else. Since most people are unable to withstand the weather for an extended period, just bring as many sweaters and woolies as you can.
I will say JAI KEDAR until the next time.
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