Kedarnath Yatra Packages 2021-2022
Kedarnath: An overview
Kedarnath is one of the most beautiful Char Dham temples, situated in the Himalayas near the Chorabari Glacier, the Mandakini River's source, and surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Gaurikund, the nearest road head to Kedarnath, is about 14 kilometres away at 11,755 feet above sea level. Much of the village surrounding the temple was damaged by the turbulent waves of the 2013 flash flood, as well as rocks rolling down from cliff walls. The massive boulder that tumbled down from the hill and stopped short of the temple, preventing the floods and avalanche from reaching the temple, is cherished just as much as the stone hump inside the shrine.
Make sure your Kedarnath tour package includes a long visit to the Kedarnath temple.
Kedarnath location
The Kedarnath is located 223 kilometres from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, on a vacant stretch of land along the Mandakini River. Because of its spectacular location, the surrounding Himalayan beauty, and the lush meadows, Kedarnath yatra packages are immensely popular, providing fantastic pilgrimage and trekking opportunities.
The Kedarnath mountain, at 22,769 feet above sea level, skirting the Kedarnath Temple from behind, while the Kedar Dome is at 22,411 feet above sea level.
The weather in Kedarnath and the temple's closing months
Due to excessive snowfall, the Kedarnath Temple is closed during the winter. The palanquin, along with the festival deity of Kedarnath, is transferred to Ukhimath near Guptakashi during the six months leading up to its closure, between November and April. During this time, the temple's priests and other residents relocate to neighbouring communities.
Plan your travel to Kedarnath with the knowledge that it has a monsoon-influenced subarctic climate with a pleasant and rainy summer and a harsh, snowy winter.
Kedarnath’s mythological connection
According to the epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas were guilty after conquering Dhritarashtra and prayed to the Lord for forgiveness for killing their family members, despite the fact that they were their foes. Lord Shiva refused to forgive the Pandavas, but they were so determined to seek forgiveness that Shiva, disguised as a bull, rushed to the ground to elude them, leaving his hump in Kedarnath near the source of the holy Mandakini River, a spot marked by a brilliant 8th century stone temple by Guru Shankara.
The bull's face is worshipped at Rudranath, the arms at Tunganath, the hair at Kalpeshwar, and the navel at Madmaheshwar, while the remaining portions of the bull's body are worshipped in the other four Panch Kedar shrines.
Kedarnath as a Hindu pilgrimage
Kedarnath Temple, which is surrounded by the ice, rock, and snow of the Chorbari Glacier, which is where the Mandakini River originates, has one of the most dramatic settings of Hindu pilgrim destinations. It is the third sacred Char Dham site and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas that attract Hindu pilgrims to the Himalayas during the summer.
With its plummeting gorges, rich apple orchards, and terraced hill slopes, the Kedarnath area is a visual pleasure compared to the dry, dismal scenery of western Garhwal's valleys. From Gaurikund, the nearest road a 14-kilometer route leads to Kedarnath. Kedarnath is also an excellent starting point for short hikes, such as the one to the beautiful Vasuki Tal lake.
Devastation of Kedarnath
In June 2013, Kedarnath became the epicentre of the country's biggest Himalayan tragedies. During the peak tourist season, rain fell for five days straight at Kedarnath, followed by a cloudburst above the summit of Kedar Dome, causing the Chorabari Glacier, about 4 kilometres north of Kedarnath, leading to the subsequent flooding of the Mandakini River.
Houses, hotels, and buildings were washed away by the tumbling debris, several of which were illegal constructions on the delicate riverbanks, and Kedarnath valley was destroyed as a result of this flash flood, which went downstream all the way to Rishikesh, with houses, hotels, and buildings being washed away by the tumbling debris. Thousands of people died as a result of the Himalayan tsunami, major trekking trails were washed off.
However, new trekking routes have opened up since then, and Kedarnath has gradually returned to normalcy.
Places to visit in Kedarnath
The Bhairava Temple is located in the eastern section of Kedarnath valley. Lord Bhairava, the presiding deity, is said to safeguard the temple during the winter months when the location is abandoned. The Chorabari Tal, popularly known as the Gandhi Sarovar, is only 6 kilometres upstream from Kedarnath.
Sonprayag: is a holy place on the way to Kedarnath Dham, about 20 km from Kedarnath. Sonprayag has a grand confluence of Mandakini and Basuki rivers.
Gaurikund: is the final road-head to Kedarnath and the starting point for the journey to the Kedarnath Temple. Gaurikund is famous for the Gaurikund Temple, which is said to be the location where Goddess Parvati performed penance in order to win Lord Shiva's love.
How to reach Kedarnath
The former six-hour journey from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, which passed through Rambara and Garur Chatti, was wiped away by the torrential floods of 2013. Since then, the Indian Army and members of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) have built a new 14-kilometer path from Gaurikund.
This walk ascends through Jangal Chatti, Chhoti Linchuli, and Badi Linchuli before crossing the Mandakini River and continuing to the south face of the Kedarnath summit, which is about 4 kilometres away. Another path leads up from Sonprayag, about 5 kilometres south of Gaurikund, and then through Gomkara, Dev Vishnu, and Dhumgajgiri to Kedarnath.
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest civilian airport to Kedarnath. The airport is approximately 250 km from Kedarnath and serves major Indian cities such as New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. There are regular flights to all these cities, and after arriving at Jolly Grant, you can visit Kedarnath, or more specifically, Gaurikund, which is the nearest roadhead, about 14 km. is far. By the way, you can also take heli service from Gaurikund which will drop you at Kedarnath.
By transport: You may take a bus from New Delhi to Dehradun, which is around 250 kilometers distant. These buses can be boarded either Anand Vihar Bus Terminus or Kashmere Gate Bus Terminus, the two major interstate bus terminals serving Dehradun on a regular basis. You must then take a bus to Kedarnath from Dehradun.
Apart from non-AC sleeper and seater buses, Volvo AC sleeper and semi-sleeper buses are available. You can also travel to Haridwar and catch a bus to Kedarnath from there. Kedarnath is around 125 kilometres from Haridwar, and the bus ride to Gaurikund, the nearest roadhead, takes about 5 hours.
By train: The nearest rail station to Kedarnath is Haridwar Railway Station. Haridwar receives trains from all of the country's major metros, including Kolkata, New Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Varanasi, to name a few. Some of the popular trains on the route include the Jan Shatabdi Express, Shatabdi Express, Mussoorie Express, and AC Special Express.
You can take a bus or taxi from Haridwar Railway Station to Gaurikund, and then trek to Kedarnath from there.