Things to Do in Kedarnath

The Kedarnath Temple, located on the Garhwal Himalayan Range in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand, India, is one of the most prestigious and sacred Hindu temples as it is a part of Chhota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The temple is the highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

A lake at an altitude of 4135 meters, Vasuki Tal offers a view of the neighbouring Chaukhamba peaks. Trekkers would find this an ideal range of climb up. The Chaturangi and Vasuki glaciers can be found en-route to the lake.

It is believed that Sri Sankaracharya who propounded the Adwaita Philosophy established this holy shrine and one of his four Mathas in the 8th century and attained Nirvana at age 32 here.

Situated at a distance of 500 m from the Kedarnath Temple on the southern side, Bhairavnath Temple is enshrined by the revered Hindu God - Lord Bhairav. It is perched on top of a hillock and offers magnificent views of the surrounding Himalayas and the entire Kedarnath valley below.

Sonprayag situated at an elevation of 1829 m is famous a site where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married. Flanked by nature's bounty and glorious snow capped peaks, it is also a place where River Mandakini meets River Basuki.

Located at a distance of around 3 kms from the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, Chorabari Lake is a quaint lake which also goes by the name of Gandhi Tal. The crystal clear gorgeous lake draws a lot of tourists from far and wide besides the regular devotees.  It can be reached through a short trek from the Kedarnath Temple.

Triyuginarayan is a famous place of Hindu worship that is located in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand. Situated at the height of 1,980 metres above the sea level, the popular tourist attraction is perhaps the most well known for its Triyuginarayan Temple, which is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 

Gaurikund in Guptakashi is famous for being the starting point and the last road head before the Kedarnath Yatra begins. Gaurikund is located on the banks of the River Mandakini and is rightly considered to be the gateway to spirituality and salvation. 

Tungnath, a quaint village in Uttarakhand, is known as the starting point of the popular Chopta Chadrashila Trek. At a height of 2680m, this village is surrounded by evergreen forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron. This is one of the easier treks in the Himalayan region and hence, recommended for first timers. 

Known For : Vishwanath Temple, Guptakashi Manikarnik Kund Ardhanarishwar Temple

The temple town of Guptakashi is located at a distance of 47 kms from the holy town of Kedarnath. Perched at an elevation of 1319 m above the sea level, Guptakashi enjoys the mesmerising backdrop of the enchanting snow-covered peaks of Chaukhamba mountains.

Best Time: March to June, September to November

7 Guptakashi Attractions

Dedicated to Saint Agastya, the temple commemorates his one year Tapas (mediation) here. This ancient temple stands as an example of grand architecture and interiors with wall art adorning its walls.

Situated on the banks of the Mandakini River, a tributary of the Alokananda River, Syalsaur is about 160 km from Haridwar at an elevation of about 820 masl. A quaint hill station in Uttarakhand, Syalsaur is a budding tourist attraction that is presently saved from overcrowding footfall. 

Phata is a small village located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, 32 km from Kedarnath. It is a famous stopover on the Kedarnath Yatra as Phata houses the helipad from where helicopter to Kedarnath is available. The helicopter journey from Phata to Kedarnath by helicopter takes only 8 minutes. 

Rudra Cave is an underground stone meditation cave located 1 km from Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. It became popular after Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditated here before the 2019 general election. The cave is maintained by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and has accommodation for a single person.