Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath stands at 3,580 metres below the Kedarnath peak, one of the twelve jyotirlingas and the highest of them, built of large grey stone blocks without mortar and traditionally attributed to the Pandavas with rebuilding by Adi Shankara. It opens for roughly six months from late April or May and closes for winter, when the deity is carried down to Ukhimath. In June 2013 a glacial lake burst and a flood destroyed the town around the temple; the building survived because a large boulder lodged behind it and split the debris flow, and that rock is now venerated. The approach is a sixteen-kilometre climb from Gaurikund.

What you actually see

• The stone temple - mortarless grey blocks below the Kedarnath peak.
• The divine rock - the boulder that split the 2013 flood behind the temple.
• The walk in - sixteen kilometres of climbing from Gaurikund.
• The high valley - glaciers and peaks above the temple.

When to go

May to June and September to October, within the open season; the temple closes around Diwali and reopens in spring. The monsoon between brings landslide risk on the route.

Honest expectations

The walk is long and steep at altitude, and ponies and porters are heavily used. Weather closes the helicopter service without warning. Queues for darshan can run for hours. Accommodation is basic and cold.

Nearby

Tungnath lies northeast; Badrinath is north over the passes.