Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. Located in the picturesque surroundings of Rudra Himalayan range, at a height of 12000 feet, on a mountain named Kedar; Kedarnath dham is one of the sites of Chardham Yatra and also one of the Panch Kedars. Near Kedarnath flows the Mandakini River that joins another river named Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is around 150 miles away from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Rishikesh.
You can travel to Kedarnath only between April to November. Enshrining the Jyotirlingam of Shiva, this temple opens only for 6 months in a year; from the time when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries until when the sun enters Scorpio. During the winter season the priests go to Ukhimath, where they worship Kedareshwara.
Tradition has it that while you are on a Kedarnath Yatra, you must first visit the Yamunotri and the Gangotri to take holy waters from the Yamuna and Ganga River to offer prayer to the Kedareshwara.
Tradition has it that while you are on a Kedarnath Yatra, you must first visit the Yamunotri and the Gangotri to take holy waters from the Yamuna and Ganga River to offer prayer to the Kedareshwara.