What is the history of Kedarnath temple?

Kedarnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu tradition, the Pandavas built the original temple after the Kurukshetra war seeking Lord Shiva's blessings for atonement. Adi Shankaracharya restored the temple in the 8th century CE and is said to have attained samadhi just behind the temple (Shankaracharya Samadhi). The existing stone temple is estimated to be 1,000–1,200 years old. It miraculously survived the catastrophic 2013 Kedarnath floods — a massive boulder diverted the floodwaters around the temple.

What are the darshan timings at Kedarnath temple?

Kedarnath Temple opens at 4:00 AM for the Pratah Aarti (Maha Abhishek). General darshan: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Key aartis: Pratah (Maha Abhishek) 4:00–6:00 AM, Dwarpuja/opening 7:00 AM, Bhog Aarti 12:00–2:00 PM (temple closed), Sandhya Aarti 5:00–6:00 PM, Shayan Aarti 8:30–9:00 PM (after which temple closes for the night). Timings may vary by a few minutes each season.

How can I book Kedarnath puja?

Kedarnath pujas can be booked through the official Badri-Kedar Temple Committee website (badrikedar.org) or through authorised agents. Key pujas: Maha Abhishek (₹3,500–₹5,000), Rudrabhishek (₹1,500–₹2,500), Sampoorna Rudrabhishek (₹5,000–₹8,000), Laghu Rudrabhishek (₹750–₹1,200). VIP darshan for close proximity to the deity: ₹300–₹500. Book as early as possible — pujas in May opening week and October closing week are reserved months in advance.

Kedarnath Temple

Overview

The Kedarnath Temple stands at the head of the Mandakini valley at 3,583 m altitude, backed by the Kedarnath peak (6,940 m) and flanked by the ancient Kedarnath glacier. It is simultaneously one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — Shiva's most powerful self-manifested forms — and the third dham of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra. No other pilgrimage destination in India combines this level of theological significance with such extreme, breathtaking Himalayan location.

The temple structure is constructed of massive grey stone blocks, assembled without mortar — an architectural feat at 3,583 m altitude using materials that had to be transported on foot (or by elephant, according to temple tradition). The garbha griha (inner sanctum) houses the sadashiva form of Lord Shiva — a large triangular rock formation (not a conventional linga) which is believed to be Shiva's hump (Kedara = hump), as the deity took the form of a bull to escape the Pandavas.

The Kedarnath temple complex includes:

Garbha Griha — the sadashiva linga (triangular rock); most sacred inner sanctum
Mandap — the assembly hall with intricate stonework; statues of Parvati, Ganesh, Virabhadra, Kshetrapala
Nandi bull statue — in the temple courtyard, facing the main entrance
Shankaracharya Samadhi — behind the main temple; Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have attained samadhi here
Bhairavnath Temple — 0.5 km from main temple; protector of Kedarnath valley during winter

How to Reach

The Kedarnath temple is accessible only by trek or helicopter — there is no road to the temple. From Gaurikund (1,982 m), the 16 km mountain trek through the Mandakini valley takes 6–8 hours uphill. Alternatively, helicopter services from Phata, Guptkashi and Sirsi land at the Kedarnath helipad, 0.5 km from the temple.

Gaurikund base camp: 225 km from Haridwar via Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi. 7–9 hrs by road.
Sonprayag to Gaurikund: 5 km by government shuttle jeep (no private vehicles allowed). Shuttle: ₹35/person (government rate). Departs every 15–20 minutes.
Trek from Gaurikund: 16 km, ascent of 1,601 m. Key points: Rambara (7 km), Linchauli (13 km), Base Camp (15 km), Temple (16 km). See Kedarnath trek guide.
Helicopter: Phata helipad (10 min flight), Guptkashi helipad (10 min), Sirsi helipad (8 min). See Kedarnath helicopter guide.

Best Time

Kedarnath temple darshan — best timing strategy:

Pratah Aarti (4:00 AM): The most sacred time at Kedarnath. The Maha Abhishek puja involves bathing the Shivalinga with milk, ghee, honey and sacred water while Vedic hymns fill the stone temple. Only 50–100 pilgrims can be inside during this time — book the Abhishek puja in advance for guaranteed access.
Morning darshan (7:00–10:00 AM): Best light for the temple's stone architecture. Good darshan with moderate queues before peak mid-morning crowds arrive.
Afternoon (12:00–3:00 PM): Temple closed for Bhog Aarti and afternoon rest. Use this time to visit Shankaracharya Samadhi, Bhairavnath temple or the glacier viewpoint.
Sandhya Aarti (5:00–6:00 PM): Evening ceremony with brass lamps, conch shells and drums. Deeply atmospheric as the sun sets behind the Kedarnath peaks.
Shayan Aarti (8:30 PM): The final ritual before the temple closes for the night. The deity is "put to sleep" — a sacred ceremony that few pilgrims witness (those staying overnight only).

Travel Tips

Getting the best Kedarnath temple experience:

Book Abhishek puja in advance: The Maha Abhishek (4:00–5:00 AM) allows you to be in the inner sanctum while the priest performs the ritual. It is the closest darshan possible. Book on badrikedar.org as soon as your travel dates are confirmed — slots are limited to 10–15 per day.
Dress code and temple etiquette: Remove shoes 100 m before the temple entrance (stone shoe rack available). Traditional clothing is preferred — dhoti-kurta for men, saree or salwar for women. Mobile phones should be kept in pockets or bags during aarti (no photography inside garbha griha).
Queue management: At peak times (May opening week), queue wait for general darshan can be 2–4 hours. The VIP line (₹300–₹500) reduces this to 20–40 min. Alternatively, attend the early morning aarti (4:00 AM) — smaller crowd, superior experience.
Physical offerings at the temple: You can bring fresh flowers, bilva leaves, milk, sacred rice and prasad to offer directly to the Shivalinga. The priests at the entrance desk can help. Do not bring outside prasad made with non-sattvic ingredients.
Photography guidelines: Photography is allowed in the temple courtyard and from the main entrance. No photography of the Shivalinga in the inner sanctum. Respectful photography of the temple exterior, Nandi bull and mountain backdrop is wonderful — the stone temple against the snow peaks is one of India's most photographed religious scenes.
After darshan — nearby sacred sites: Shankaracharya Samadhi (behind temple, 2 min walk) — meditate here; very peaceful. Gandhi Sarovar / Chorabari Tal (1.5 km above temple) — glacial lake, popular pre-dawn walk. Bhairavnath Temple (0.5 km) — Kedarnath's winter guardian; small but important shrine.

FAQs

What is the history of Kedarnath temple?: Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. According to tradition, the Pandavas built the original shrine after the Kurukshetra war; Adi Shankaracharya restored it in the 8th century CE and attained samadhi here. The current stone structure is 1,000–1,200 years old. The temple miraculously survived the 2013 Kedarnath floods — a massive boulder redirected the floodwaters around the structure, which Hindus consider divine protection.
What are the darshan timings at Kedarnath temple?: Kedarnath temple opens at 4:00 AM for the Pratah Abhishek puja. General darshan: 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and 3:00 PM–9:00 PM. The temple closes 12:00–3:00 PM for Bhog Aarti. Key aartis: Sandhya (5–6 PM), Shayan (8:30 PM). Timings may shift slightly each season — confirm on arrival in Guptkashi the day before your darshan.
How can I book Kedarnath puja?: Book Kedarnath pujas on badrikedar.org (official Badri-Kedar Temple Committee). Key pujas: Maha Abhishek (₹3,500–₹5,000), Rudrabhishek (₹1,500–₹2,500), Sampoorna Rudrabhishek (₹5,000–₹8,000). VIP darshan pass (₹300–₹500) for closer proximity. Book as early as possible — May opening week and October closing week pujas are reserved months ahead.