Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath (3,583 m) in Rudraprayag district is perhaps the most dramatically situated pilgrimage destination in India. The stone temple stands against the majestic backdrop of the Kedarnath peak, surrounded by glaciers and snowfields. According to mythology, the Pandavas sought Shiva's forgiveness here and the hump of Shiva's bull form is enshrined here — making it one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas. The current temple is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE). The 2013 floods destroyed the pilgrim town but left the temple miraculously intact — a massive boulder deflected the debris flow. A 16-km trek from Gaurikund leads to the temple. A new Shankaracharya samadhi shrine was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2021.
