Sacred Places in Kedarnath

Various Places in Kedarnath 

The region of the Himlayas, where the shrine is located is known by several names such as Gandhamadana parvatham, Sumera parvatham, Pancha parvatham, etc.  (Pancha parvatham, for this is the spot of five sacred peaks namely Rudra Himalayas, Vishnupuri, Brahmapuri, Udayagiri & Swargarohini.
 The exterior of the temple is rather simple, but the interior is adorned with marvellous sculptures.  In the garba griha is an irregular shaped conical rock which is about five feet by four feet.  Lord Siva in the form of jyotirlingam is worshipped here as Lord Kedareshwar.  It is believed that the jotirlingam is actually the rump of the bull, which was the form that Lord Siva .







Gandhi Sarovar :- A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven. A km trek from Kedarnath, floating ice on the crystal clear waters.












 Gaurikund :- Base for a trek to Kedarnath & serves as a roadhead, the village has hot springs & a temple dedicated to Gauri.

 Vasuki Tal :- 6 km. At 4135 mtr. above sea level, this lake is extraordinary, surrounded by high mountains and offering an excellent view of the Chaukhamba peaks. This thermal springs of medicinal value.

Sonprayag :- 20 km. The confluence of the Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers, where there is a diversion for Triyugian.





Gupt Kashi :- 49 km. Famous for the temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanathji.





Ukhimath :- 60 km. Winter home of Lord Kedarnath temple, and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath during winter months




 Agastmuni :- 73 km., Has a temple dedicated to the sage Agastya.


 Chopta :- Situated on the Gopeshwar Ukhimath road about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 mtrs above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the entire Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of Himalayan ranges surrounding it.



 Deoria Tal :- At an altitude of 2,440 mt., this beautiful lake is situated on the Chopta - Ukhimath motor road. In the early morning, the snow-capped peaks are clearly reflected on the lake waters. This lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.




 Kedar Massif- : This is an outstanding massif formed by the three major mountains - Kedar Dome.

 Bharatekuntha:-It is at 6578 Meters, is connected to Kedarnath to the East, by a long and dangerous avalanche ridden ridge. At 6000 meters it looks stunning and has several glacial flows, one of which is the Mandakini glacier running down its ridges.



Panch Kedar:- The five most important temples of Lord Shiva in garhwal Himalayas.


Tungnath:-

 The arm of Lord Shiva came out at this place as per Kedarnath myth. The Tungnath temple is situated at an altitude of about 3680 m above sea level, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the highest Shiva Shrine among the Panch Kedar, 3 km uphill from Chopata. The sancity of the region of Tungnath is considered unsurpassed.
 The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that form the river Akashkamini. Tungnath is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows & rhododendron thickets. An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila with its panoramic views,


Rudranath:-

The shrine is 23 km from Gopeshwar at 2286 m. The Mukhor face of Lord Shiva os worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev here. The temple site provides splendid views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Trishuli and other peaks. Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund, etc. are the holy kunds situated nearby. The scenic beauty and the spiritual piousness of the place make it scenically beautiful as well as enchanting.
 Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3 km. Another route 13 km from Gopeshwar to Mandal then trek 6 km to reach Anusuya Devi. Devi Anusuya is revered as the Goddedd who blesses her devotees in their difficulties.

 Madmaheshwar:-

It is said that the navel of Lord Shiva reappeared at this shrine after disappearing at Kedarnath. Shiva is worshipped Madmaheshwar in the form of a navel shaped lingam. This Shrine is 31 km from Guptkashi at an altitude of 3289 m. The temple can be approached by a trek through the famous Sidha Peeth of Kalimath. Wild, unparalleled scenic beauty and incredible landscapes distinguish the distance from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar. Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are visible from here. Gaundar, at the conflux of Madmaheshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last place that is worth a visit before one reaches this shrine.

Kalpeshwar:-

The hair locks (Jata) of Lord Shiva are worshipped in this small rock temple at the height of 2134 m before the matted, tresses of Shiva enshrined in rock in the sanctum and sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a natural cave passage. This temple is located in Urgam valley. This shrine is a delight for the tourists with striking views of valley with terraced fields and lush green forests. The temple is reached after a trek of 12 km from Helang which is the motor head on Rishikesh - Badarinath route .


Kedarnath:- Kedarnath and Kedardome, are connected by a deep ridge. Kedar Domeat 6831 Meters presents a fair challenge to climbers. Kedarnath is however, a difficult peak to climb. At 6940 Meters it is just beneath the level where the oxygen layer is thin. Anyone interested in a good day trek, could
take the well travelled path from behind the temple toward Bharatekuntha. About three kilometers away in the valley formed by the Kedarnath massif, is Chorabhari Tal. This lake has been renamed Gandhi Sarovar after the Mahatma's ashes were immersed in Iake.







Shankaracharya Samadhi :-The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.







Triyugi Narayan :- This is a mythological venue, at a distance of 25 kms from Kedar and at a short trek of 5 kms from Sonprayag. It is believed that the wedding of  Shiva with   Parvathi was
solemnised here. An eternal flame, said to be   a witness for the above wedding, burns in front of the temple even today.

Bhairavnath Temple:-It is situated at a distance of 0.5 km from Kedarnath Temple. The temple is devoted to the Hindu deity Lord Bhairav, who is supposedly the main gana of Shiva, the Hindu God of Destruction. The first Rawal or Rajput, Sh. Bhikund, established the idol of the deity in the temple in 3001 B.C. The deity of the temple is also known as Kshetrapal or the guardian of the region. According to legendS, when Kedarnath Temple closes during winters, Bhairavnath guards the complex of the temple.
The trek to the Bhairav Nath Temple starts from the right side door of the Kedarnath Temple