Tirth Yatra GuideKedarnath jyotirlinga
Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand: the story, the temple and what to know before you go.
About Kedarnath
- Place
- The Mandakini valley, in the Garhwal Himalaya at a height of about 3,500 metres
- District and state
- Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand
- Deity
- Shiva, as a jyotirlinga (a column of light)
Kedarnath is the northernmost of the jyotirlingas and one of the Char Dham of the Himalaya (the Chota Char Dham). The lingam here has the shape of the hump of a bull. The Mahabharata tradition says that after the war, the Pandavas sought Shiva to be freed from guilt; he took the form of a bull, and when Bhima caught him he sank into the ground, leaving the hump here.
The temple is believed to have been restored by the sage Adi Shankaracharya, whose samadhi is behind it. It is open for only part of the year, usually from the spring to the autumn, because of the heavy snow, and during winter the deity is worshipped at Ukhimath. In 2013 a flood devastated the valley; the temple itself was largely undamaged.
Getting there and when to go
The journey ends with a trek from the road head at Gaurikund; the length and the arrangements (ponies, palanquins, helicopters) have changed over the years, so use only the official Uttarakhand tourism portal for the current ones. Registration is required for the pilgrimage in recent years. Anyone who has heart, lung or knee problems should consult a doctor first, because of the altitude.
Read our guide to planning a yatra and the notes on temple etiquette. This is jyotirlinga number 5 in the usual list of twelve; see all twelve.
Previous: Omkareshwar · Next: Bhimashankar
Questions people ask
Where is Kedarnath?
The Mandakini valley, in the Garhwal Himalaya at a height of about 3,500 metres, in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand.
What is a jyotirlinga?
A jyotirlinga, "lingam of light", is a place where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Twelve are named in the Shiva Purana tradition.
Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.