Kedarnath Yatra 2023 Opening Date, Booking, Temple Distance

Kedarnath Yatra, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” form.

The Kedarnath temple is a part of the Chardham pilgrimage circuit and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Behind the Kedarnath temple, stand the Kedarnath peak, Kedar Dome, and other Himalayan peaks.

The opening date for the holy Kedarnath Dham Temple is 25^th April 2023 for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra 2023. And on the holy eve of Bhai Dooj, Kedarnath temple will be closed for the winter on 14^th November 2023.

The date for the opening of the Badrinath temple is 27th April 2023 and will be closed on 21^st November 2023 (tentative).

The dates of the other two shrines of Chardham temples, Gangotri & Yamunotri Dham, will be on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya on 22nd April 2023. The Gangotri Dham and Yamunotri Dham Kapat are most likely to shut down for Darshan during the holy occasion of Diwali which is predicted to take place on 12^th November 2023 (tentative).

Brief Introduction of Shri Kedarnath Temple

Not far from the Gaurikund, at an altitude of 3,581m, in between the lofty mountain peaks in the Mandakini valley lays one of the Char Dhams - the divine Shri Kedarnath Temple. More than 1000 years old, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga mingles with the water of Mandakini and the efficacy of the Himalayan setting.

This sacred temple is made of giant stone slabs over a rectangular platform. Pilgrims from all over the world come here not just to see Lord Shiva but also in some sense seek a journey to attain Moksha.

This landscape is a combination of natural beauty and divine power. Snow stands still in pride like a crown at the top of the mountain peaks, small villages, glaciers behind the temple add color and contrast to the ambiance of this divine sacred place.

It can be considered one of the sights of a lifetime for tourists and pilgrims. It is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines.

Legend of Kedarnath Temple

The historical name of this region is Kedar Khand and, if we go by what legends have to say, the Pandavas after defeating the Kauravas, felt guilty for killing so many people and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. According to them, Lord Shiva eluded them constantly and took refuge in the form of a bull at Kedarnath.

He dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath, while the other portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places, which are now revered places of worship.

Meditation Cave in Kedarnath

Another name for Kedarnath cave is Rudra Meditation cave. This region is maintained and runs as a “Modern Meditation Cave” by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). Kedarnath Cave is located one and a half kilometers left from the Kedarnath Temple complex.

Rudra Cave can be reached from Kedarnath following a trek of around a kilometer very easily. The holy town of Kedarnath is well-linked to several prominent cities in North India.

Panch Kedar

Panch Kedar is part of Lord Shiva’s body that appeared at five places in Kedarnath Town. It is said that the Pandavas built temples at each of these 5 places.

Panch Kedar Temple’s names are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheswar, and Kalpeswara.

The best way to visit Panch Kedar temples is a bus service that leaves Gaurikund near Kedar Nath. The Timing of this bus is every morning at 5 am and stops at every point for panch Kedar temples.

How to Reach Kedarnath Temple?

Located in Garhwal Himalayas, the temple can be easily accessed from all parts of the country. The base camp is in Gaurikund.

• By Air: The nearest airport to Gaurikund is in Dehradun, which is roughly 255 km away. From the airport, you can take a taxi to reach here.
• By Train: The nearest railway station to Gaurikund is in Haridwar, which is 205 km away. You can take a taxi from the railway station to reach there.
• By Road: You can easily reach Kedarnath by road. Gaurikund can be easily accessible via public and private transport.

Helicopter Services in Kedarnath

The hard journey becomes much easy because of the daily helicopter service from the helipad in Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi village in Kedarnath.

Some operators also offer a premium helicopter service from Jollygrant airport directly during the peak season of Char Dham Yatra 2023.

Devotees can visit the Kedarnath shrine and also return the same day as the helicopter service flies at regular intervals from Phata and Agustmuni helipads.

There are three main routes available for Heli services in Kedarnath.

Guptkashi, Phata, Sersi, you can take your helicopter ride from any of these three places.

Kedarnath Yatra 2023 Route Maps

If you want to reach Kedarnath Temple from any part of India. Then Gaurikund will be your last destination by road.

Your City - Haridwar or Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Sonprayag – Gaurikund and then finally 16 km Trek to Kedarnath Temple

Gaurikund is accessible from major destinations of Uttarakhand. After that Kedarnath temple can be reached by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund.

Best time to visit Kedarnath Yatra

April to June and September to October. Summer & Post-Monsoon is the best time to visit Kedarnath Temple

Registration for Kedarnath Yatra

You must know that registration for Char Dham Yatra is mandatory. Since 2014, the government has made registration compulsory and after the completion of the registration process, all the devotees are issued biometric cards. The card also allows pilgrims to avail of special facilities.

Registration can be done in two modes – online and offline. Here are the comprehensive details of the Char Dham Yatra 2023 registration procedure. Take a look to gather information about the registration process and make your Char Dham Yatra hassle-free.

1. Kedarnath Yatra Online Registration Procedure

The online registration of Char Dham 2023 Yatra is the perfect way to escape the long queues and save your time. The biometric registration is compulsory to embark on the Yatra and ePass registration is valid for temple darshan only.

Steps for Biometric Registration of Char Dham Yatra

You can visit the official website for biometric registration. Here is the step-wise guide for online registration:

Step 1: The registration can be done on the official website of Char Dham Yatra – for website click here.
Step 2: Click on the Register option on the top right-most corner of your screen.
Step 3: A new page of the registration form will open.
Step 4: Fill up the required details and click on the register.
Step 5: A new window will appear with the message for activating your registered login details.
Step 6: You will receive the login credentials on your registered email id.
Step 7: Now open your registered email id and click on the link to activate your id.
Step 7: After login, now click on the Book Darshan tab.
Step 8: Fill up the required details of your journey schedule and click on Proceed.
Step 9: A new window will appear, recheck the dates as per the traveling time between two temples and click on confirm.
Step 10: Fill in the pilgrim’s details and upload the required documents. Click on proceed.
Step 11: Now the online payment gateway will open.
Step 12: Make the payments and the registration is done.
Step 13: You will receive the Char Dham registration slip and payment slip on the registered email id. Make sure you will carry the printout of the slip while traveling.

2. How to Download Kedarnath Yatra E-Pass

You have to register for the Char Dham Yatra and then you can download the ePass. Here is the procedure to download the Char Dham Yatra ePass:

Step 1: Visit the official website of Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board (UCDDMB).

Step 2: Enter the registration ID (Biometric Registration ID) and registered mobile number. Enter the Captcha and click on Proceed.
If you do not have a registration ID then you can download the ePass by entering the registered mobile number. You need to enter the One Time Password (OTP) to authenticate the mobile number. Enter the Captcha and then Proceed.

Step 3: Download the ePass.

Note: Carry the printout of the ePass for your convenience.

3. Kedarnath Yatra Offline Registration Procedure

The offline registration for Char Dham Yatra can be done at different locations. There are 14 registration counters in Uttarakhand and more than 50 counters on which you can get yourself registered. You have to visit any of the countries and stand in the queue for registration.

Locations of biometric registration counters are:

PLACE	LOCATION FOR KEDARNATH REGISTRATION
Haridwar	Haridwar Railway Station
Haridwar	Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Parking
Rishikesh	Roadways Bus Stand
Rishikesh	Hemkund Gurudwarat
Janki Chatti	Janki Chatti
Gangotri	Gangotri
Guptkashi	Guptkashi
Phata	Phata
Sonprayag	Sonprayag
Kedarnath	Kedarnath
Pandukeshwar	Pandukeshwar
Govindghat	Govindghat
Uttarkashi	Hina
Uttarkashi	Dobata

4. Documents Required for Kedarnath Yatra Registration

Make sure you will carry all the necessary documents before registration.

ID proofs like Aadhar card, Voter ID card, Driving License, or Passport.

Mobile/Phone Number

FAQs about Kedarnath Temple

Who built the Kedarnath Temple?

According to Hindu mythology, Kedarnath Mandir was constructed by the legendary brothers Pandava. But the modern structure of the Kedarnath Temple is said to have been built in the 8th century AD by Hindu Guru Adi Sankaracharya at the same place where the Pandavas are believed to built a shiv temple.

Why is the Kedarnath Yatra Famous?

It is believed that Pandavas went to heaven from the path above the Kedarnath, and they built the Shiva Temple in Kedar valley. And Kedarnath temple is located in the highest place among the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Where is the Kedarnath Located?

Kedarnath is a holy Hindu Temple located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.

What is the timing of Pooja at Kedarnath Temple?

The morning pooja starts at 4:00 and lasts till 7:00. thus after the last Aarti, Kedarnath Temple is closed till the next morning. only between the months of April and November.

Why does Kedarnath Temple Close Every Year?

Due to the very cold weather, the doors (Kapat) of the Kedarnath temple are closed, and everyone from the Kedar valley migrates downwards.

How old is Kedarnath Temple?

The Lord Shiva Temple of Kedarnath is around 3000 years old. As per mythology, the Kedarnath Temple was made by the Pandavas brothers. however, the exact date or year of the temple’s establishment is not mentioned in pristine literature. But if we look at the scientific evidence, a minimum age of Kedardham of about 3,000 years can be considered.

How did Kedarnath temple survive the flood?

During the flood in 2013, the temple structure did not suffer any “major” damage, apart from a few cracks on one side of the four walls which were caused by the flowing debris from the higher mountains. During the disaster, a huge rock in the flood worked as a barrier and protected the temple from extensive damage. The boulder saved the Kedarnath Temple although scientists believed that the structure and construction of the Temple were the reason for not being destroyed.

What is the name of the stone which saved Kedarnath Temple?

The stone which saved Kedarnath Mandir is called Bheem Sheela.

How far is Kedarnath Temple from the Helipad?

The Kedarnath Helipad is situated about 700 meters away from Kedarnath Temple and can be accessed within a few minutes. Daily helicopter services are available from the helipad in Phata village in Kedarnath. Some operators also offer a helicopter service from the town of Agustmuni in Rudraprayag.

Can devotees stay near Kedarnath?

Yes, everyone can stay near Kedarnath Temple. You can find several hotels and Dharamshalas there according to your budget.