Jyotirlinga 11 of 12

Kedarnath

At about 3,580 metres near the source of the Mandakini, Kedarnath is the highest of the Jyotirlingas and part of Uttarakhand's Char Dham.

LocationRudraprayag district, Garhwal Himalaya
State / RegionUttarakhand
Worshipped asKedareshwar
Best time to visitTemple open roughly May to November (from around Akshaya Tritiya to Bhai Dooj); May–June and September–October are best

Religious significance

The stone temple is believed to have been revived by Adi Shankaracharya, whose samadhi shrine stands behind it. Kedarnath is also the first of the Panch Kedar. The temple withstood the devastating floods of 2013, sheltered by a great boulder now revered as Bhim Shila.

Traditional story

After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Shiva to be absolved. Shiva avoided them and took the form of a bull. When Bhima recognised him, the bull sank into the ground; its hump remained at Kedarnath, while other parts appeared at the four other Panch Kedar shrines.

Legends are presented as they are told within the tradition; they hold spiritual meaning for devotees and are not offered as historical record.

Visitor guidance

  • Registration for the Char Dham Yatra is mandatory — check the official Uttarakhand portal.
  • Acclimatise and carry warm, waterproof clothing even in summer.
  • Helicopter tickets should be booked only through the official IRCTC heli-yatra portal.
  • Avoid the peak monsoon (July–August) because of landslide risk.

Continue the journey

More 12 jyotirlingas

All sacred places

Gujarat

Somnath

Standing on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar

On Mandhata island in the Narmada — an island said to be shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ — Omkareshwar is one of the most beautiful settings of any Jyotirlinga.

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