Kedarnath is believed to have been built by Adi Sankaracharya  in the 8th century A.D., standing at the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Kedarnath at an altitude of 3.581 mts. on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath, is one of the most important pilgrimages for the Hindus. The Kedarnath temple is surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. Outside the temple door the statue of the celestial Bull Nandi guards the entrance of the Kedarnath temple. The Kedarnath temple is open on akshaya Tritiyan from last april or first week of May to October. The extreme cold of the mountains and heavy snowfall keep the temple closed for pilgrims for the months from Bahi Duj October end or first week of November to April.

Location: - Kedarnath is situated in the Uttar Kashi district of the northern state of Uttaranchal. Gaurikhund is 75 km from Rudraprayag. In between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath there are many places of pilgrimage such as Agastyamuni, Ukhimath, Phauli- Pasalat Devi Maa, Bamsu Vanasur, Kalimath, Trijugi Narayan (Where Lord Shankar got married to Goddess Parwati from when the fire of hawan kund is still alive) and Kashi Vishwanath at Guptakashi.

Accessibility:

• Airport: You can fly till the Jolly Grant in Dehradun (251 kms.)  

• Rail:  Kedarnath by the railways then the nearest railway station is in Rishikesh (234 kms.) and Kotdwar. (260 kms

• There are 2 ways to reach Kedarnath  By foot for a steep 14 km trek through a paved path horses or palanquins are available for rent from Gaurikund, which is connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region. 2) Through air travel. Government has started Pawan Hans Helicopter Service from Agastyamuni and Phata to Kedarnath.

You can visit the five shrines together known as Panch Kedar.

There are Four Other Kedars

• Madhyamaheshwar
• Tunganath
• Kalpeshwar
• Rudranath

Places to visit

• Shankaracharya Samadhi
  Samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya: Behind the Kedarnath Temple is the Samadhi or the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya.where the saint gave up his life.
• Bhairav Nath Temple
  To the south of the main temple stands the temple of God Bhairav.

Excursion

• (Gandhi Sarovar)(1.5 kms.)
  A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is believed to have departed to heaven.
• Vasuki Tal (6 kms. 4,135 mts)
  A extraordinary  lake, above sea level is encircled by high mountains and offers a beautiful view of the Chaukhamba peaks
• Gaurikund (14 kms.)
  The trekking base to Kedarnath. This village has a temple dedicated to Gauri and thermal springs of medicinal value are noteworthy.
• Sonprayag (20 kms.)
  The confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers.
• Triyuginarayan (25 kms.)
  A 5 kms. Trek from Sonprayag, it is the mythological venue of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati..
• Guptkashi (49 kms.)
  The temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath .
• Ukshimath (60 kms)
  Winter home of the deity of the Kedarnath Temple and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath during winter months.
• Agastyamuni (73 kms.)
  Dedicated to sage Agastya.
• Chopta
  Situated on the Gopeshwar Ukhimath road about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 mtrs above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the entire Garhwal region.