Kedarnath

केदारनाथ

Shiva · Kedareshvara

Jyotirlinga — a conical rock worshipped as Shiva in his Sadashiva form

Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand · Shaiva tradition

The temple committee counts Kedarnath as the eleventh of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

The story begins: “Nara and Narayana, whom the Shiva Purana calls incarnations of Vishnu and spiritual sons of Shiva, are performing penance in Bharata Khanda.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Season
Main season: Apr – NovDates and caveats
Walking and access
There is no road to the temple. From Gaurikund the approach is on foot or by helicopter; the state trust page gives the trek as about 21 km, a figure that predates the post-2013 route and must be confirmed. More on access
Getting there
Train: RishikeshAir: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun

Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

3 accounts are recorded. Each is told separately, in the words of its own tradition — they are never merged.

Told in: The Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19

Nara and Narayana ask Shiva to stay

The chapter opens with two ascetics. Nara and Narayana, whom the Shiva Purana calls incarnations of Vishnu and spiritual sons of Shiva, are performing penance in Bharata Khanda (v. 1).

They worship Shiva in an earthen linga. At their request Shiva comes to that clay image every day to receive their worship (v. 2). This goes on for a long time (v. 3).

At last Shiva tells them he is pleased and asks them to choose a boon (v. 4). Nara and Narayana answer with the welfare of the world in mind (v. 5). If he is pleased, they say, and if a boon is to be given, he should stay here in his own form (v. 6).

Shiva agrees. He stays at Kedara on the Himavat in the form of a Jyotirlinga (v. 7), and takes the name Kedareshvara (v. 9). By being seen and worshipped there, he grants what devotees ask for (v. 9). Gods and sages of earlier ages worship at the place and receive what they desire (v. 10).

The rest of the chapter describes the merit of the pilgrimage. Shiva is worshipped directly at the shrine of Kedara (v. 18). A pilgrim who gives a ring or a bracelet there is dear to Shiva (vv. 19–20). Going on to the Badari forest makes a person liberated while still living (vv. 19–20). Seeing the forms of Nara, Narayana and Kedareshvara brings liberation (v. 21), and the chapter closes by asking people in Bharata to worship Nara-Narayaneshvara and Kedaresha (v. 24).

The episode explains the shrine's name, Kedareshvara, the lord of Kedara. It also explains why the chapter's account of the pilgrimage does not stop at Kedara: in the same passage it sends the pilgrim on to the Badari forest (vv. 19–20).

Where this account comes from

  • Purana: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19 (J. L. Shastri tr., The Siva Purana Part 3, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 200–202) archive.org
Told in: The Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19

The Pandavas and the buffalo

In the same chapter that tells of Nara and Narayana, the Shiva Purana adds a second episode. When Shiva sees the Pandavas he takes the form of a buffalo by his own power and runs from them. They catch him; he stands with his face bent down while they hold his tail and plead with him. He then tells them to worship him in that trunkless form, and he remains at Kedara, worshipped by them, granting boons.

Read this account

The Shiva Purana tells this episode as part of the glory of Kedareshvara, after the account of Nara and Narayana.

When Shiva sees the Pandavas, he takes the form of a buffalo, using his own power of illusion, and runs away (v. 13).

The Pandavas catch him. He stands still with his face bent down, and they hold his tail and plead with him again and again (v. 14).

Shiva then tells them to worship him in that trunkless form. They do, and Shiva remains at the place and grants boons (v. 16).

In this account the animal is a buffalo, and what Shiva leaves at Kedara is what the translation calls his "trunkless form". The temple committee's account, told separately, makes the animal a bull and names four other shrines for the parts that appeared elsewhere.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “The bull's hump and the Panch Kedar”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

  • Purana: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19 (J. L. Shastri tr., The Siva Purana Part 3, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 200–202) archive.org
Told in: The temple committee's account (Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee and the state trust page)

The bull's hump and the Panch Kedar

After the Kurukshetra war the Pandavas look for Shiva to ask his forgiveness. He avoids them and takes the form of a bull at Kedarnath. Bhima tries to hold the animal; as the brothers close in, Shiva sinks into the ground and leaves his hump behind, which is the Kedarnath shrine. His other parts appear at four other places — the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar, the head and locks at Kalpeshwar — and the five sites together are the Panch Kedar.

Read this account

The war at Kurukshetra is over, and the Pandavas want Shiva's forgiveness. Shiva does not want to meet them. He avoids them and takes the form of a bull at Kedarnath.

The Pandavas follow. Bhima tries to hold the bull. As they catch up with him, Shiva sinks into the ground, and his hump stays behind above it. That hump is the Kedarnath shrine.

The rest of the body appears at four other places. The arms appear at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar, and the head and locks at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and these four make up the Panch Kedar, the five Kedars.

The committee's account carries the story into the building itself. It records the belief that the Pandavas raised the first temple here after the Mahabharata, and it attributes the present temple to Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century. Inside, the hall has figures of the Pandavas together with Krishna and Kunti.

This account explains why five separate shrines are worshipped together as the Panch Kedar. It differs from the Shiva Purana's version, in which the animal is a buffalo; that version is told separately.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “The Pandavas and the buffalo”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

In one minute

Why Kedarnath matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. The temple committee counts Kedarnath as the eleventh of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

    2 sources for: The temple committee counts Kedarnath as the eleventh of the twelve Jyotirlingas
    • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, home page (Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Yatra 2026) badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Purana: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19 (J. L. Shastri tr., The Siva Purana Part 3, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 200–202) archive.org

  2. It stands on the bank of the Mandakini at about 3,584 m, with the Kedar Dome peak directly behind it.

    2 sources for: It stands on the bank of the Mandakini at about 3,584 m, with the Kedar Dome pea

  3. In the Panch Kedar tradition the hump of Shiva, who had taken the form of a bull, remained here; four other shrines hold the other parts.

    2 sources for: In the Panch Kedar tradition the hump of Shiva, who had taken the form of a bull

  4. The shrine closes each winter, and the Panchmukhi utsav murti of Kedarnath is carried to the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath.

    3 sources for: The shrine closes each winter, and the Panchmukhi utsav murti of Kedarnath is ca
    • Press: News On AIR, "Shri Kedarnath and Shri Yamunotri Temples Close for Winter on Bhaiya Dooj", 23 October 2025 newsonair.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: ETV Bharat, "Kedarnath Doors Closed For Devotees For Winter Season; Record Devotees Visit Dham This Year", 23 October 2025 etvbharat.com · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Other Temples (Tungnath, Omkareshwar, Mata Murti, Brahma Kapal, Yog Badri, Narsingh) badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Architectural style not yet identified

The temple committee describes a quadrangular temple of large, evenly cut grey stone slabs, but names no style. No published architectural study assigning it a style has been found yet.

  • Sanctum

    The sanctum

    A conical rock, worshipped as Shiva in his Sadashiva form, rather than a carved linga.

  • Detail

    The grey stone walls

    Large, evenly cut grey stone slabs; the committee notes the open question of how stones this heavy were moved.

    temple height (approximate): 80 ft
    • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, About Us — Shri Kedarnath badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  • Great hall

    The hall

    Figures of the Pandavas, Krishna and Kunti in the hall.

  • Sculpture

    Nandi

    A rock-carved Nandi at the entrance, facing the inner shrine.

  • Sculpture

    The main gate

    Sculptures of Ganesha and Nandi at the main gate.

  • Temple tank

    Amrit Kund

    The Amrit Kund on the parikrama path around the temple.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

We could not confirm the opening times from the temple’s own notice, so we are not printing any. Please check with the temple office or the devasthanam before you travel.

Before you go

  • Register for the yatra on the Uttarakhand government portal (registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in) before travelling; the temple committee asks every pilgrim to do so, and helicopter tickets cannot be booked without it.
  • The temple is open only in summer. In 2026 the portals opened on 22 April; in 2025 they closed on 23 October (Bhaiya Dooj). Dates are announced each year.

Walking, steps and access

There is no road to the temple. From Gaurikund the approach is on foot or by helicopter; the state trust page gives the trek as about 21 km, a figure that predates the post-2013 route and must be confirmed. We have found no official information on pony, palki or doli services or their rates. Helicopter seats are booked only through IRCTC HeliYatra after yatra registration. The shrine is at 3,584 m; the temple committee links the state health advisory from its home page.

Crowds: The 2025 season, 2 May to 23 October, was reported at over 17.45 lakh pilgrims by News On AIR and at 17,68,795 by ETV Bharat, which called it a record.

Getting there

  • By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun · about 248 kmDistance as listed by the temple committee.
  • By train: Rishikesh · about 228 kmDistance as listed by the temple committee.
  • On foot: GaurikundGaurikund is the nearest road head. The state trust page gives the trek as about 21 km; the route was rebuilt after 2013, so confirm the current distance before travelling.
  • By helicopter: Designated helipads (IRCTC HeliYatra)Helicopter tickets are sold online only through IRCTC HeliYatra, and only after Char Dham yatra registration on the Uttarakhand government portal.

Routes are general guidance and not yet checked against an official source.

PIN 246445 (not yet checked with India Post)

Main pilgrimage months

The highlighted months are the season the temple’s sources point to. Exact opening and closing days change every year — check the dates before you book.

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr — recommended
  • May — recommended
  • Jun — recommended
  • Jul — recommended
  • Aug — recommended
  • Sep — recommended
  • Oct — recommended
  • Nov — recommended
  • Dec

Sevas

  • Puja booking and donations (online)Booked through the temple committee's site; availability is shown per date.Book

Prices as published by the temple when we checked. They change; the temple’s booking site is final.

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Kapat opening (portals open)

    April–May

    The portals reopen after winter on a date announced each year: 2 May in 2025 and 22 April in 2026.

  • Kapat closing and doli departureBhaiya Dooj

    October–November

    On Bhaiya Dooj the samadhi puja is performed, the portals close, and the Panchmukhi utsav doli circles the temple and leaves for Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath, by way of Rampur and Guptkashi.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

  1. Shiva stays at Kedara at the request of Nara and Narayana

    The Kotirudra Samhita's origin account. It does not say in which yuga this happened.

    Source for: Shiva stays at Kedara at the request of Nara and Narayana
    • Purana: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19 (J. L. Shastri tr., The Siva Purana Part 3, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 200–202) archive.org

  2. First temple attributed to the Pandavas

    The temple committee and the state trust page record the belief that the Pandavas built the original temple after the Mahabharata war.

    2 sources for: First temple attributed to the Pandavas

In the historical record

  1. c. 700–799

    Eighth-century work attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

    The temple committee attributes the present temple's construction to Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century; the state trust page describes the same period as a renovation of the older temple when he visited. Neither gives a year.

    3 sources for: Eighth-century work attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
    • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, About Us — Shri Kedarnath badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Government of Uttarakhand, Shri Kedarnath Charitable Trust portal (uk.gov.in), About Shri Kedarnath Dham shrikedarnathcharitabletrust.uk.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, home page (Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Yatra 2026) badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. 2025

    2025 season closes on Bhaiya Dooj

    The portals closed at 8:30 a.m. on 23 October 2025 after a samadhi puja that began at 4 a.m., and the Panchmukhi utsav murti left for Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath. Reported pilgrim counts for the season were over 17.45 lakh (News On AIR) and 17,68,795 (ETV Bharat).

    2 sources for: 2025 season closes on Bhaiya Dooj
    • Press: News On AIR, "Shri Kedarnath and Shri Yamunotri Temples Close for Winter on Bhaiya Dooj", 23 October 2025 newsonair.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: ETV Bharat, "Kedarnath Doors Closed For Devotees For Winter Season; Record Devotees Visit Dham This Year", 23 October 2025 etvbharat.com · seen 2026-10-09

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Temple

    Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath

    Winter seat of Kedarnath: the utsav doli is brought here when the shrine closes, and worship of Omkareshwar continues all year.

  • Temple

    Tungnath

    Second of the Panch Kedar, where the tradition places Shiva's arms.

  • Temple

    Madmaheshwar

    One of the Panch Kedar, where the tradition places Shiva's belly.

Also in Rudraprayag district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, home page (Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Yatra 2026) badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Purana: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita 19 (J. L. Shastri tr., The Siva Purana Part 3, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 200–202) archive.org
  • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, About Us — Shri Kedarnath badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Government of Uttarakhand, Shri Kedarnath Charitable Trust portal (uk.gov.in), About Shri Kedarnath Dham shrikedarnathcharitabletrust.uk.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: News On AIR, "Shri Kedarnath and Shri Yamunotri Temples Close for Winter on Bhaiya Dooj", 23 October 2025 newsonair.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: ETV Bharat, "Kedarnath Doors Closed For Devotees For Winter Season; Record Devotees Visit Dham This Year", 23 October 2025 etvbharat.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Other Temples (Tungnath, Omkareshwar, Mata Murti, Brahma Kapal, Yog Badri, Narsingh) badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: News On AIR, "Kedarnath Dham portals to open for devotees today", 22 April 2026 newsonair.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
Corrections made to this page (1)
  • 2026-10-09: changed “[5,6,7,8,9,10,11]” to “[4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]”. The record itself sources a 22 April 2026 opening; April was missing.

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Kedarnath”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/kedarnath (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence