Kedarnath Temple is one of the four Chota Char Dham sites and has been a pilgrimage center since ancient times. The architecture of the temple is like most of the architecture of the ancient temples of its period, known as the Ashlar style. Kedarnath temple is located in the Himalayas and there is no valid description of who built the temple. According to the Mahabharata legend, the Pandavas chased Lord Shiva to ask Him to forgive their sins. He appeared in the form of a bull. Bhim identified Him and grabbed the bull's back but it started sinking into the earth. The bull's body parts emerged in 4 other locations in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, and the bull's back remained here. The Shivling in the temple is also in the form of a bull's hump. The temple is also said to be rebuilt by the religious Guru Adi Shankaracharya to its existing structure. 

How To Reach Kedarnath

Kedarnath by Air

Jolly Grant Airport is the closest domestic airport in Dehradun, it is about 239 km from Kedarnath and operates regular flights to Delhi. Taxis service is also available from Dehradun airport to Kedarnath and another nearest option is the international airport in Delhi.

• Regular flights from New Delhi to Dehradun are Vistara, Indigo, Go First, Spice Jet
• Regular flights from Mumbai to Dehradun are Vistara, Indigo, Air Asia, Go First, Spice Jet.
• Regular flights from Chandigarh to Dehradun are Vistara, Indigo, Air Asia, Go First, Spice Jet.

Time Taken by the fastest flights are:

• New Delhi to Dehradun: 1 hour 5 minutes approximately.
• Mumbai to Dehradun: 2 hours 15 minutes approximately.
• Chandigarh to Dehradun: 4 hours 35 minutes approximately.

Kedarnath by Train

The closest railway station is at Rishikesh, 221 km away and the other one is Haridwar which is more preferred by the tourists. You can hire taxi services at the railway station. You need to travel 207 km by road and the rest 14 km on foot to reach Kedarnath. 

• Trains from New Delhi to Haridwar: Mussoorie Express, Ujjaini Express, Uttaranchal Express, Kalinga Utkal Express, etc.
• Trains from Mumbai to Haridwar: Bandra Terminus-Haridwar Express, Mumbai LTT-Haridwar Express, Kochuveli, Yog Nagri Rishikesh, etc.
• Trains from Chandigarh to Haridwar: Hemkunt Express, Amritsar-Dehradun Express, Amritsar-Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express,etc. 

Time Taken By Fastest Trains:

• New Delhi to Haridwar: 4 hours 13 minutes approximately.
• Mumbai to Haridwar: 25 hours 25 minutes approximately.
• Chandigarh to Haridwar: 2 hours 19 minutes approximately.

Kedarnath by Road

Regular bus service is available from Rishikesh and Kotdwar to Kedarnath. You can also hire private taxis from these places. The National Highway from Delhi to Mana remains open throughout the year. You can also reach Kedarnath on foot from Gauri Kund. The bus fares may be changed depending on the season.

Places To Explore in Uttarakhand:

Chopta: 92 km/3 hours 58 minutes approximately.
Auli: 213 km/7 hours 38 minutes approximately.
Rishikesh: 228 km/7 hours 31 minutes approximately.
Kausani: 228 km/8 hours 25 minutes approximately.
Lansdowne: 231 km/8 hours 35 minutes approximately.
Haridwar: 253 km/7 hours 24 minutes approximately.
Ranikhet: 254 km/9 hours 25 minutes approximately.
Dehradun: 265 km/8 hours 33 minutes approximately.
Jim Corbett: 269 km/9 hours 26 minutes approximately.
Almora: 280 km/10 hours 23 minutes approximately.
Dhanaulti: 291 km/9 hours 46 minutes approximately.
Mussoorie: 295 km/9 hours 48 minutes approximately.
Nainital: 312 km/11 hours 18 minutes approximately.
Mukteshwar: 332km/11 hours 59 minutes approximately.
Chakrata: 353 km/11 hours 25 minutes approximately.