Kedarnath Ji

	Kedarnath Temple is older and more impressive  than  Badrinath. Some  claim it  is 
	originally over 800 years  old. Built  of  stone, unpainted  but carved  tower and 
	wooden, roofed mandapa. Set against an impressive  backdrop of  snow capped peaks, 
	the principal one being the Kedarnath Peak (6970 m), the  view  from the forecourt
	is ruined by ugly  tube  lights. At  the enrance to  the  temple is  a large Nandi 
	statue.
	The area around Kedarnath is known as Kedarkhand, the Abode of Siva, Kedarnath has
	on the 12 Jyotirlingas (luminous energy  of  Siva  manifested at 12  holy  Places, 
	miraculously formed lingams). In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas built the temple to
	atone for their sins after the battle at Kurukshetra.


	How to reach here

	By Air

	Dehradun is the major town (239 km away) and is connected  by air with  Dehradun's 
	Jolly Grant Air strip with limited flights to and from Delhi.
 

	By Train

	Rishikesh, 221 km from  Kedarnath, is  the  last  railhead. A quiet  branch  line 
	connects Rishikesh to Haridwar, but there are only about three  slow trains daily

	
	By Road

	Gaurikund (14 km away from Kedarnath via  Trek route)  is  well connected  by bus 
	services from Rishikesh and Dehradun. Ponies, dandis and porters are available at
	Gaurikund, from where the 14 km Trek to Kedarnath starts.