Early morning check out from the hotel and depart for Gaurikund (76 kms) from where, you will start your 14 kms trek to Kedarnath. You can hire a Doli or a horse, for your trek (Cost Not Included). Gaurikund is a cute little village bustling with activity. You can see mules and horses everywhere used by pilgrims who cannot trek. Mandakini, one of the main tributaries of the Ganges originates at Kedarnath and flows through Gaurikund. With rare flowers and streams on the Kedarnath route, you are just walking from one picture postcard to another. Trudging with you are pilgrims chanting “Jai Bholenath.” Sometimes the mist would envelop the mountains and slowly lift away, revealing a shiny blinding-white peak that threatens to rupture the skies.

The path is almost ethereal, and unlike many other so-called holy places, one does feel some ancient divinity residing in this frigid dreamscape. Probably there is a reason why they call it the abode of the gods. You’ll take a break at Ramabada, which is exactly half way into the trek, for some respite and hot cups of tea. Start again for the final lap towards Kedarnath. The higher you go, the sights that you get to see, are just mind-blowing. The snowy Kedar range grows bigger as you walk towards it.

People coming downhill start greeting you with encouraging words like ‘U are almost there’ .. ‘Keep walking’ .. Etc.
Finally you’re almost there. Only a few steps to climb. The temple is now in sight. You forget the arduous climb and a feeling of joy overwhelms you. On reaching Kedarnath, you will be checked into your hotel. Those who are energetic enough might want to have darshan of Kedarnath temple in the evening. One of the holiest Hindu pilgrim sites dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath Temple is perched at an altitude of 3,584 meters amidst towering snow-clad Himalayan peaks on the head of river Mandakini. The original temple is said to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins procured during the Kurukshetra war of Mahabharata. The present temple was reconstructed by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century. One of the 12 Shiva-Jyotirlingas resides in this temple. Inside the temple there is an irregular, three-faced linga, representing the hump of Lord Shiva when he took the form of a bull.

Pilgrims are allowed to touch the linga, perform worship, abhishek (bathe), and massage the linga with ghee. There are deities of goddess Parvati and Ganesh in front of the main altar door. Outside the second door are Lord Krishna, the five Pandavas, their wife Draupadi, and their mother, Kunti. In the temple is a Lakshmi-Narayana deity, which was installed by Adi Sankaracharya.

Overnight stay at KEDARNATH