Kedarnath opens its doors to Shiva bhakts once again: Details
Located in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, the holy town of Kedarnath is a place every Hindu dreams of visiting at least once in his/her lifetime. Kedarnath is one of the four Char Dham sites and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. After being closed for two years due to the pandemic, the portals have opened again for devotees. Here are all the details.
12,000 pilgrims can visit the site each day
The doors to Kedarnath Temple reopened on May 6 at 6:25 am. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present at the temple to witness the auspicious occasion. COVID-19 report isn't mandatory to visit the temple. However, there is a limit on the number of pilgrims allowed every day. As per rules, 12,000 pilgrims will be permitted to visit this Dham daily.
Watch the video of the grand opening
History of Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath Temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year from across the world. The temple is situated 3,500 meters above sea level and is the highest among the 12 jyotirlingas. It is unclear when was the temple actually built. Legends say that the Pandavas built the first temple here, and in the eighth century AD, Adi Shankaracharya built the current structure.
How to reach Kedarnath?
If you wish to travel by air, then reach the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is 239 kilometers from Kedarnath. By train, reach the Rishikesh Railway Station which is 213 kilometers from Gaurikund. Gaurikund serves as the base camp for the trek to Kedarnath. Vehicles cannot go further from this point. From Gaurikund, the total trek to Kedarnath is 16 kilometers.
Know about the Kedarnath trek
The Kedarnath trek starts from Gaurikund and is quite an arduous journey. The trek starts at 4 am and ends at 1:30 pm and one needs to pass a fitness test before starting the journey. Besides walking, you can also hire a palki or pony to reach your destination. En route, you can find tents and camps to take some rest.
Helicopter bookings to Kedarnath
Helicopter service is also available to Kedarnath. They ply daily but you need to book your tickets in advance. The services are available from Sirsi, Phata, Sitapur, and Guptkashi helipads. Passengers can choose to stay overnight or return the same day. Reporting time varies and you should check more details on the official website. One-way tickets can also be booked, subject to availability.
Best time to visit Kedarnath
Kedarnath stays covered in snow and shut for six months a year. During the harsh winter months, the temperature drops below the freezing point and the temple becomes inaccessible. The best time to visit Kedarnath is during the summers i.e from May to June end when the temperature is around 17 degree celsius. The weather is pleasant and cool during this period.
