Places to Visit In & Around Kedarnath
Shandaracharya Samadhi
The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.
Chorbari (Gandhi Sarovar)
Only 1 km trek away from Kedarnath. Floating - ice on the crstal clear waters of the lake fascinates the visitors.
Vasuki Tal
Situated at a height of 4,150mt, the lake is surrounded by high mountains and offers an excellent view of Chaukhamba peaks.
Trijuginarayan
According to legend,this was the place where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnised. In front of the Shiva Temple.
Ukhimath
Ukhimath is winter home of the deity at Kedarnath temple and the seat of the rawal of Kedarnath.Cinnected by bus services to Rudraprayag and other major centers.
Panch Kedar
Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar with Kedarnath form the Panch Kedar, the five most important temples of Lord Shiva in Garhwal Himalayas.
Madmaheshwar
One of Panch Kedars, the temple of Madmaheshwar is located at an altitude of 3,289 mt above sea-level, on the slope of a ridge, 25 km north-east of Guptkashi. There is a motorable road from Guptashi to Kalimath.
The best statue of Har Gauri in India measuring over a metre high is found in the kali temple. The trek from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar is distinguished by wild unparalleled scenic beauty and engulfed by Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Gaundar at the confluence of Madmeshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last settlement before one reaches Madmaheshwar, the place where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of belly.
Tungnath
The arms of Lord Shiva came out as per the Kedarnath myth at Tungnath. He is worshipped here as one of the Panch Kedars. Tungnath Temple at an altitude of 3,680mt is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch kedars but the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest roadhead.
Rudranath
The face of Lord Shiva is worshipped at the Rudranath temple, at an elevation of 2,286 mt above sea-level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the has to be trekked. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque bugyals and involves trekking over high ridges (some times 4,000 mt). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of holy Kund near Rudranath temple namely – Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund etc. The entire area is utterly enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty.
Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3 km.
Kalpeshwar
The more hardy to tourist may like to trek about 35 km to Kalpeshwar, where the locks (hair) with head, of Lord Shiva are worshipped. Located in Urgam Valley at an altitude of 2,134 mt above sea-level, the temple is a further 10 k m trek from Rudranath to Helong, the motor head on Rishikesh- Badrinath route.
Deoria Tal
At an altitude of 2,440 mt, the beautiful lake of Deoria Tal is located on the Chopta – Ukhimath motor road about 3 km away from Sari. Another trek is from Ukhimath.
In the early morning, the snow Kedarnath are clearly refected on the lake waters. The lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching
