Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Mandir is dedicated to god Shiva. It is on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini River in Kedarnath. Kedarnath is a Jyotirlinga temple and also forms part of the Chota Char Dham circuit. During the winters, the vigrahas (deities) from Kedarnath temple are brought to Ukhimath and worshiped there for six months. Lord Shiva is worshiped as Kedarnath, the ‘Lord of Kedar Khand’, the historical name of the region. The temple is at a height of 3,583 m (11,755 ft), 223 km from Rishikesh on the shores of Mandakini river. It is a tributary of Ganga and is an impressive stone edifice of unknown date. The structure is believed to have been constructed in the 8th century AD when Adi Shankara visited. The present structure is on a site adjacent to where Pandavas are believed to have built the temple. It has one Garbhagriha and a Mandapa and stands on a plateau surrounded by snow clad mountain and glaciers. In front of the temple, directly opposite to inner shrine, is a Nandi statue carved out of a rock.