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Panch Kedar
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The
five Kedar lies in the valleys between the rivers
Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. The term Kedar itself
means a natural rock formation or a glacial
moraine. According to legend, himalayas Kedarnath,
the chief seat of the Panch Kedar, come into
being during the period when the five Pandava
brothers were asked to seek Shiva's blessings,
purging them off sin of fratricide, or killing
their cousin brothers in the terrifying bettle
of Kurukshetra. Shiva disguised himself as a
bull and started to plunge underground when
he was spotted by Pandavas. No wonder the natural
rock formation that is worshipped here resembles
the rump of bull. The other four places where
Shiva is worshipped take their appearance from
different part of his body - the navel at Madmaheshwar,
the arm at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath,
and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar.
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Kedarnath
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The
holiest of Shiva's shrines is likened
to gold among base metals so that every
pilgrim finds peace here, and it is said
that devotees who die here become one
with Shiva himself. The temple of Kedarnath,
located at a height of 3,581 mts, stand
at the head of the Mandakini river, with
Kedarnath peak keeping vigil above it.
The temple is dedicated to the Sadasiva
or invisible form of Shiva, and is represented
by a natural rock formation.
Beyond
the temple is the highway to heaven, called
Mahapanth
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport |
Jolly
Grant 251 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail |
Rishikesh
237 Km. |
| Accommodation |
Tourist
Rest House, Temple Committee Guest,
Private Hotels, lodges and DharamShalas
are available. |
| Nearby
Places |
Sankaracharya
Samadhi, |
Basuki
Tal, |
| Kund, |
Bhukund
Bhairav, |
| Chorabari
Tal( Gandhi Sarovar ) |
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Madmaheshwar
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Shiva
is worshipped at Madmaheshwar in the form
of navel - shaped lingum. Located at base
of Chaukhamba peak, at an altitude of
3,289 mts, the classic temple architecture
belongs to the north - Indian style. So
sanctified is the water here that even
a few drops are considered
sufficient for absolution.
The
natural scenery is dramatically wild,
with deep gorges and himalayas valleys,
mountainsides flung upwards towards the
skies, and forests where the snow lies
thick in winter, only to be replaced by
a carpet of greenery in the summer. Kedarnath
and Neelkanth peaks are also visible from
here, the entire ring of mountains associated
with the life and times of shiva. The
confluences of two streams at Gaundar
just short of the temple, is one of the
prettiest spots in the region.
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport |
Jolly
Grant 244 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail |
Rishikesh
227 Km. |
| Accommodation |
Dharamshalas
are available. |
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Tungath
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The
sanctity of the region of Tungath is considered
unsurpassed. The peak of Tungnath is the
source of three springs that from the river
Akashkamini. At this temple at 3,680 mts,
Shiva's arm is worshipped. The highest hindu
shrine in the Himalayas, 3kms uphill from
Chopta, Tungath is reached through a path
that wends through alpine meadows and rhododendron
thickets. An hour's climb from here leads
to Chandrashila with its panoromic views.
The entire journey and the shrine are located
in some of the finest, most picturesque
pocket of the Himalaya. |
| General
Information |
| Nearest
Airport |
Jolly
Grant 232 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail |
Rishikesh
215 Km. |
| Accommodation |
Dharamshalas
are available and hotels at Chopta. |
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Rudranath
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Devotees
come to Rudranath to offer ritual obeisance
ti their ancestors, for it is here, at Vaitarani
river that the soal of dead cross when entering
another world. The temple of Rudranath at
2,286 mts, entails trekking through ridges
at almost twice that height before reaching
the meadow where it is located. Within the
sanctum, Shiva's image is worshipped in
the form of his face. The temple is surround
by several pools - Surya Kund, Chandra Kund,
Tara Kund, Manas Kund - while the great
peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti
rear overhead. |
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport |
Jolly
Grant 258 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail |
Rishikesh
241 Km. |
| Accommodation |
Dharamshalas
are available. |
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Kalpavriksha
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favorite spots for sages who come here to
meditate, following the precedent of Arghya
who performed austerities and created the
celebrated nymph, Urvashi, here, and the
irascible Durvasha who meditated under the
wish fulfilling tree, Kalpavriksha, Pilgrims
pray at the small rock temple at a height
of 2,134 mts. before the matted tresses
of Shiva enshrined in rock in the sanctum
sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a
natural cave passage. Surrounded by thick
forests and terraced fields in the Urgam
valley, the temple is reached following
a 10 km. long trek. |
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General
Information
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| Nearest
Airport |
Jolly
Grant 272 Km. |
| Nearest
Rail |
Rishikesh
155 Km. |
| Accommodation |
Dharamshalas
are available. |
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Panch Kedar
Yatra Reservation Form
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