According to legend, Parvati worshipped Kedareshwar to unite with Shiva as Ardhanareeswarar. Kedara Munivar is also said to have established this shrine visited by the Pancha Pandavas.

Another legend says that Nara and Narayana - two incarnations of Vishnu practised severe penances at Badrikashramam, in front of a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth. When Shiva appeared in front of them, they requested him to take up a permanent abode as a Jyotirlingam at Kedarnath.

Some historians also says that the Pandavas  were advised to visit Kedarnath after the great Kurukshetra battle. Shiva upon seeing the Pandavas, assumed the form of a male buaffalo and entered the earth. It is believed that the rear of its body remained here, as Kedareshwar. The front part is believed to be in Nepal. This legend says that when Shiva entered the ground, he became five fold - his hind remained at Kedar, his arms at Tunganatha, his face  at Rudranatha, his belly Madhyameswara and his Jata Kalpeswara. These five shrines together as known as the Pancha Kedara.

The Pandavas are believed to have visited this area several times. Arjuna is believed to have come here to pray to Shiva to obtain the coveted Pasupataastra. The other Pandavas are believed to have come here in search of him, where Draupadi came across the heavenly lotus Kalyana Saugandikam, and requested Bhima to bring here some more of the same. It was during his venturing out to seek these flowers that Bhima met Hanumaan.

Access

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Kedarnath situated at a distance of 238kms. Jolly Grant Airport is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. Gaurikund is well connected by motorable roads with Jolly Grant Airport. Taxis are available from Jolly Grant Airport to Gaurikund.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is Rishikesh. Rishikesh railway station is situated 216kms before Kedarnath on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Trains to Rishikesh are frequent. Gaurikund is well connected by motorable roads with Rishikesh. Taxis and buses are easily available from Rishikesh to Gaurikund.

By Road: Gaurikund is the point where road to Kedarnath ends and an easy trek of 14km commence. Gaurikund is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand and northern states of India. Buses to Rishikesh and Srinagar are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Gaurikund are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar, Chamoli etc. Gaurikund lies on National Highway 109 which connects Rudraprayag with Kedarnath.

The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. 

Suggested  Itinerary for Kedarnath Dhaam

HARIDWAR - GUPTAKASHI - KEDARNATH - GUPTAKASHI - HARIDWAR (4 Days)

Day 01 - HARIDWAR - GUPTAKASHI. 223kms. (Drive 9 - 10 hrs)

After breakfast leave for Guptakashi via Rudraprayag. Late Lunch en route at Srinagar. After lunch restart your journey see the beauty of river beautiful MANDAKINI. Travel along this to reach Guptakashi late in the evening. On arrival check in The Char Dham Camp, Guptakashi) located 2 kms out of town towards Gaurikund. Dinner and O/N at the The Chardham Camp.

Day 02 - GUPTAKASHI - KEDARNATH. ( Drive 32 kms trek 14 kms ) 

Post breakfast pick up your packed Lunch and leave for Gaurikund ( 32 kms drive one way ) on arrival start your journey on the tough trek ahead. Stop for the lunch en route and restart after that to arrive by late afternoon. On arrival check in at hotel or guest house. After freshening up perform Pooja and also Darshan at the Shri Kedarnath ji. In the evening also visit Adi Shankaracharya samadhi at the back of the temple. Dinner and overnight stay at guest house or hotel.

Day 03 - KEDARNATH - GUPTAKASHI. (Trek 14 kms, drive 32 kms) 

After breakfast start you journey back to Gaurikund and on arrival leave for Guptakashi by road to reach the Char Dham Camp by evening. Relax with Ayurvedic Massage. Dinner and overnight at The Chardham Camp, Guptakashi.

Day 04 - GUPTAKASHI - HARIDWAR. 223kms. (Drive 9 - 10 hrs) 

After breakfast leave for Haridwar and on the way lunch (packed) & Tea/ Coffee at Srinagar. Restart and if time permits visit Devprayag (The confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi). Reach Haridwar & proceed for onward Journey.

Trek to Kedarnath From GauriKund

The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level near Chorabari Glacier, the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. The nearest road head is at Gaurikund, at a distance of 14 k.m.

Kedarnath (about 3400 m high) is approachable on foot from Gaurikund (about 2900m high), 5 km below Gaurikund, Sonprayag. vehicles move in one direction only from SonPrayag to Gaurikund. It ensures minimum traffic snarls, It is advisable to park your vehicle at SonPrayag and hitch a ride to Gaurikund.

Kedarnath is 14kms from Gaurikund and you can choose to walk or take a mule. Older people can take the doli, which is carried by 4 hired people. If you can walk half a kilometer towards kedarnath you will find the office of booking mules and dolis. There will be plenty of people on the side ways asking you, if you need a mule. Its always better to book in that office because the mules which they give are good in health and strong.

Dont commit anything to them the people who own mules will start asking you if you need a mule for trek to kedarnath.Make sure your mule has been adequately rested before you start (it's a very steep climb to kedarnath), mules run on auto-pilot if not controlled by the guide.

Porters (pitthus in local language) are also available to carry your luggage up to Kedarnath and leave you free to walk up lighter. They can deliver to your hotel directly or walk with you.

Once you start from Gaurikund, there is a concrete road to walk on and there is a small shop for every 200 meters where you can get some tea, chocolates, biscuits, maggi noodles etc., After 7kms , you reach a place called Rambara. There are couple of guest houses here to stay including one by GMVN. Most pilgrims take a break here and eat some food and then resume the journey towards kedarnath.

Reaching Rambara enroute to Kedarnath

The air gets thinner after Rambara and many people experience breathing trouble between Rambara and Kedarnath. This is particularly acute for people walking up. The ascent flattens out about a KM before Kedarnath. Thus, one climbs up about 1500 m in the 13 KM between Gaurikund and this point.

From Rambara to Kedarnath

The view is fantastic while moving towards temple but the dung of mules make you feel uncomfortable because of so many mules. A good pair of binoculars would make the journey even more breath-taking.