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Kedarnath is a location of religious significance that can be found in the northern part of the state of Uttarakhand. It has an elevation of 3,584 meters above sea level and is located close to the Mandakini River. Kedarnath is one of the four most important pilgrimage sites on the Char Dham Yatra in India. The range of kedarnath also covers some of himachal areas such as kufri Shimla. The other three of these holy places are Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. Many people think that in order to achieve liberation (moksha), one must complete the Char Dham Yatra at least once in their lifetime.
Kedarnath is considered to be the most important of the four pilgrimage destinations due to its location at the foot of some of the world’s most magnificent snow-covered mountains. It is a worship space for Lord Shiva. As a result of the weather, the Hindu holy site of Kedarnath is inaccessible on the first day of the month of Kartik, which falls between the months of October and November. It is always in the month of Vaishakh, which corresponds to April and May. The temple is not immediately accessible by road and can only be accessed after completing an 18-kilometer (11-mile) uphill climb beginning in the town of Gaurikund (however pony and manchan transportation is provided to reach the edifice).
The myth:
The Pandavas, in an effort to atone for the sins of Brahmanahatya (which translates to “killing a Brahmin”) and fratricide (which translates to “killing their own brother”), are said to have traveled to Kedarnath in quest of the god Shiva. The legend also states that the Pandavas built the temple there. However, Lord Shiva did his best to evade any and all of the brothers’ attempts to meet with him in person. Because of this, Lord Shiva decided to conceal his identity by taking the form of the bull Nandi. However, the Pandavas followed after him and were able to recognize Shiva in his masked form. When they attempted to pursue Shiva, he disappeared under the ground. Later, he resurfaced there in five of the different forms, which are the hump in Kedarnath, the face in Rudranath, the arms in Tungnath, the locks in Kalpeshwar, and the stomach in Madhyamaheshwar. In addition, statues depicting the five Pandavas may be found inside the Kedarnath temple. The mantras that are recited during the Shiva puja take place in the Kannada language. This has been the custom for the past one hundred years, and the priest who leads the ceremony hails from Karnataka.
Spend the night in Kedarnath:
Hotels and dharamshalas, which are similar to monasteries, are the most recommended places to stay in Kedarnath. Despite this, it is strongly advised to make a reservation for a place to stay in advance because it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists and pilgrims. Many people choose to stay in Dharamshalas because they offer all of the essential conveniences, as well as excellent accommodations, and since they can be found for less than 500 Indian Rupees. Because there are also guest houses that are often occupied at all times of the year, one shouldn’t put too much stock in having much luck with it.
The availability of rooms is at its highest during the months of September and October, at which time you may get a room for the rate of 600 rupees per night; however, the facility of having hot water available will cost you an additional fee. The rooms in some of the nicer hotels are placed in close proximity to the temple; the cost of these rooms ranges from one thousand to two thousand rupees, and they provide hot water and an on-demand heater service. The hotels in the upper price category, which range from 2,500 to 4,000 rupees per night, include superior amenities like as coffee shops, heaters, internet access, and televisions. In addition to making reservations for accommodation, you also have the option of making Kedarnath helicopter bookings in advance.
Food:
It is common knowledge that Kedarnath is an entirely vegetarian region; also, drinking alcohol is not permitted there. Restaurants, also known as dhabas, may be found in the area and start serving customers as early as 4 in the morning. Some of these establishments can be found nearby. This restaurant serves traditional Indian cuisine, and in order to keep one’s health in good condition, it is highly recommended that one consume vegetables that have been boiled.
