Uttarakhand Tour Tourism tripadvisor

Kedarnath

Kedarnath is a holy Hindu town located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand in India. It is one of the Char Dhams located in the Himalayas. Kedarnath is situated at an astonishing height of 3584 meter above sea level near the head of Mandakini River. The Kedarnath temple lies amidst the majestic snow-capped Garhwal Himalayan ranges and is thronged by thousands of tourists each year.

Tourist Places In And Around Kedarnath
Travellers visiting Kedarnath should also visit the Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, which is situated in the vicinity of the Kedarnath Temple. Shankaracharya was a noted Hindu sage, who was acknowledged for spreading the awareness of Advaita Vedanta. He took Samadhi at an age of 32 years in this particular place, after he discovered the Char Dhams. Sonprayag is located 19 km away from Kedarnath at an elevation of 1829 m. It is basically the confluence of River Basuki and Mandakini. This place is popular for its water, which is believed to have magical powers. According to legends, individuals who touch this water find a place in the Baikunth Dham.

Vasuki Tal, situated at an altitude of 4135 m above sea level is another prominent spot situated at a distance of 8 km from Kedarnath. The lake is surrounded by the Himalayan ranges, which add to its scenic beauty. The magnificent Chaukhamba Peaks are also situated close to this lake. One has to cross over the glaciers of Chaturangi and Vasuki, for visiting Vasuki Tal, and that commands enormous endurance. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, established in the year 1972, is located on the basin of River Alaknanda. The sanctuary sprawls across an area of 967 sq. km. The sanctuary is densely covered with pine, oak, birch, bugyals and alpine trees. Wide variety of flora and fauna is found in the region, owing to diverse physical and geographical characteristics of the place. Animals like bharals, cats, gorals, jackals, black bears, snow leopards, sambhars, tahrs, and serows, are frequently spotted.

The sanctuary also protects the endangered species of Kedarnath Musk Deer. Bird watchers can spot different kinds of birds like flycatchers, monals and grey-cheeked warblers. Moreover, visitors can also find different kinds of fishes in the River Mandakini, some of which include Schizothorax sp., Nemacheilus, Gara sp., Barilius sp. and mahseer Tor tor. Travellers visiting Kedarnath should also visit Guptkashi if time permits. There are 3 temples in the region, which include the ancient Vishwanath Temple, the Manikarnik Kund and the Ardhnareswar Temple. Devotees can find the idol of the lord in the form of half-and-half woman in the Ardhnareshwar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. The Vishwanath Temple also enshrines the idol of Lord Shiva in many of his incarnations.

Another popular temple of Kedarnath is the Bhairav Nath Temple, which is situated at a distance of 0.5 km. The temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, who is supposedly the gana of Shiva. The idol of the deity was established in the temple by the first Rawal of Kedarnath named, Sh. Bhikund. Gaurikund, situated at an altitude of 1982 m, is a noted tourist destination of Kedarnath. There is an ancient temple here, which is devoted to the Hindu deity Parvati. According to legends, Goddess Parvati meditated here to seek Lord Shiva as Her husband. There is a hot water spring in Gaurikund, the water of which not only has medicinal value but also helps in washing away the sins of the individuals.

How To Reach Kedarnath
The nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is just 239 km away. Travellers who wish to travel by train can book their tickets till Rishikesh railway station, which is situated at a distance of 227 km.

Uttarakhand Destinations

Uttarakhand is replete with a vast array of scenic vacation spots as well as pilgrimage destinations. Apart from the popular travel destinations of Uttarakhand, there are a couple of lesser-known ones too. To know about the top hidden places of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand is a land of many marvels and amazing tourist destinations. While some like the Char Dhams, Mussoorie, and Nainital etc are very well known there are other destinations which few tourists know about. Here are the top 10 hidden gems of Uttarakhand that can capture your heart and mind with their exquisite beauty and rich heritage.