Temple Of Kedarnath

Pilgrims at Kedarnath Temple

            At the height of 11,755 ft, 235 km from holy city of Haridwar and on the shores of Mankadevi river a tributary of the Ganga river, lies a Historic Structure of unknown date with a magnificent legacy of Hindu mythology known as Kedarnath Temple. After the war of Mahabharata where Pandavas had to kill their own relatives, filled by grief and guilt, they took off on journey as pilgrims to absolve themselves of Sins, they reached Kedarnath via Haridwar and built the Temple to please Lord Shankara(Shiva).  

The Temple of Kedarnath with Front and Main Hall

     The Temple is divided in two parts, inside the Front hall, there are statues of Pandav brothers, Draupadi(wife of Pandavas), Lord Krishna, Nandi(the vehicle of Shiva), Virbhadra(guard of Shiva) with some other hindu gods also being established. The second body, the main Temple hall also known as Garbagraha has a Shiv-Ling worshiped as sign of Lord Shankara(Shiva). There is also a temple nearby where the marriage of Adi-Shakti(half part of Lord Shiva) and Shiva took place, the incarnation on the walls of both the temples are almost similar, as it is also believed that Goddess Adi-Shakti revived Kedarnath temple & behind the temple there's a 'Samadhi Mandir' of Adi-Shakti herself...!!

Shiv Statue partly submerged during Flood

        At the evening of June 16/2013 an unprecedented calamity hit the Kedarnath valley, locals reported landslides near the valley soon after the blows of thunders, which only added to worsen the coming flood. The flood hit not only the Valley but also the other parts of Uttarakhand state continuously for two days, destroying almost every standing structure in path , almost 300 building were ripped off alone in the Kedarnath Valley with hundreds of pilgrims left dead. 

Rock that saved Kedarnath Temple

      But " It's the Temple Of the Creator himself ", most survivors from the valley reported that a big rock came along the flood and stuck behind the back wall of the Temple, obstructing the water flow and bracing the structure from direct impact, hence saving it from being destroyed. Being hit by the most severe flood of our time, and standing still as the only structure, could only be the sign of Hope for all of us to never loose faith and trust in Creator...no matter, in which way/form(any religion) we worship him..!!

Flooded Valley of Kedarnath

     It's almost more than a year after the unprecedented catastrophe, the gates of the Kedarnath Valley and The Temples are being prepared to open up for pilgrims..!!  The road-map for reconstruction has been completed and approved by the government. The river borders are being set-up by placing big rocks to hold its flow,, bridges across the rivers are being constructed,, old and new road links are being developed,,  resettlement of the people of kedarnath valley and township,,  and building three layer walls to protect Temple in future...,, is among top priorities of government of Uttarakhand. Being a state having it's most capitol coming from tourists, Uttarakhand government is very serious about redevelopment of Kedarnath as soon as possible...!!!

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand reviewing Redevelopment work

Redevelopment at Kedarnath with the help of Army