Kedarnath Temple Darshan on May 10 (Kapat Opening Ceremony)
The Kedarnath temple opened its door for pilgrims on May 10th, 2024 & I was so Fortunate to be Present at the Kapat Opening Ceremony
One should be proud of the journey to Kedarnath. A profound sense of fulfilment and personal development result from overcoming the practical challenges and arriving at the sacred shrine.
Hi, I am Basu, & I am a travel blogger who also loves to make vlogs. I Started my Journey on May 8 from Mohali on my Bike
Mohali to GauriKund: 11 hours, 6 minutes (451.4 km) via NH 7
First and Foremost is to do Your registration, and I already got the date, thankfully, because i wanted to witness the Opening Ceremony event, which was on May 10th.
8th May: I started my ride from Mohali and reached Dehradun in 4:45 hours, along with a few halts. Then, from Dehradun to Rishikesh, it took me around 1:20 hours. From Rishikesh, I headed to the mountains and decided to stop in Rudrapayag, but it became dark, and I had to stop at Srinagar, which is 106 km from Rishikesh. While travelling, I always go for budgetary hotels or homestays, and I found this hotel called New Menka , which charged me Rs 500 for a double bed room with an attached bathroom, which was absolutely fine for me. And I would suggest you all that if you are heading to Kedarnath or Badrinath and if you are thinking for a night halt, then Srinagar is the best option according to me, because of the options you get for your stay, including parking and food. Next morning, we headed for Sonprayag, which is where you have to park your vehicles. We reached Sonprayag in 3:30 hours, parked my bike, and, surprising enough, the parking area was full on May 9th. They charged me Rs 50 for 12 hours of parking my bike, so I decided that 48 hours meant 2 days, and I had to pay Rs 200. From Sonprayag, you will have to catch local taxis that will drop you off in Gaurikund. I reached Gauri Kund by 4 p.m. (9 May). I was already late and decided to start my trek without wasting any minutes.
Do Watch My full, Detailed Vlog on Kedarnath Yatra
Gauri Kund: 16Kms Trek Start from here
Before You Start Your Trek you can take a bath in a Holy Kund which is Called gauri kund or Parvati Kund.Taking a dip in the Gauri Kund is a ritual many pilgrims observe before embarking on the trek to Kedarnath Temple. The hot water bath is believed to cleanse the body and soul before entering the holy site of Kedarnath. It’s a symbolic way to begin the pilgrimage with a clean slate.
Gauri Kund to Kedarnath Temple is a 16-kilometre trek that will take around 8 to 9 hours, or may be more depending on your pace and health. You have options like hiring Mule or Pitthu, but the best would be trekking if your health permits.
GauriKund–Jungle Chatti–Bhimbali–Rambara–Lincholi–Kedarnath Base Camp–Kedarnath Temple.
This 8- to 9-hour trek is considered moderate to difficult, and if you want to complete it with ease, make sure you walk with easy steps, take enough rest, and stay hydrated. My suggestion is that if you have time, always start your trek early in the morning when you are fresh and energetic. I made a mistake after riding for long hours without rest. I started my trek in the evening, and after crossing Rambara, it became very difficult for me. So, according to me, you should acclimatise to the altitude area, & it will be best if you stay at Sonprayag or Sitapur for 1 day and then start your trek. You won’t have much difficulty trekking uphill.
Between GauriKund and Kedarnath, you will find many shops where you can rest and eat. Medical relief camps are also put up at a few points where you can find necessary medicines and other medical attention, and a few toilets are available on the way. While trekking, carry less baggage, which will make your trek less tiring.
I started my trekking at 4:30 p.m. from Gauri Kund, and I reached Kedarnath Base Camp by 1AM and was so exhausted. After i Reached i started looking for a Camp to recover from the body pain and keep myself healthy for the opening Ceremony in the morning. At Kedarnath Base Camp You will See majority Camps . So I took a sharing tent, paying Rs 600 for the bed, and there are tents of 6 beds or 8 beds . In Kedarnath, you will mostly find camps, and if you wish to get GMVN bunk beds, Which is much comfortable with an attached bathroom, but you need to book them online through there GMVN website. Also, there are many hotels near the temple where you also try. In camps, the rate varies from Rs 500 to Rs 1000, and if you go to a hotel, it may vary from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per bed.
Things to do in Kedarnath
After taking 4 hours of sleep, we woke up. It’s May 10th. I reached Kedarnath Base Camp at midnight, so I was unaware of the landscape, but in the morning, when I came out of the camp, I was awestruck by the snow-clad mountains and the landscape. We freshened up and headed to the Temple. Before entering the temple, if you want to have darshan of the shivlingam, you need to take the darshan token by presenting your registration, or else you can enter without a token too. Surrounded by snow-clad mountains, it feels like you have come to a different dimension of Lord Shiva.
There are few things you can do while you are in kedarnath. After you have completed your darshan, You can visit Bheemshila which is right behind the temple around 30feet away
Kedarnath Temple was shielded from the 2013 flood by the Divya Bheem Shila.
Unexpectedly falling off the mountain in 2013, a huge rock came to a standstill a short distance from Kedarnath Temple.
The temple and its devotees were spared damage even though this heavenly boulder, known as “BhimShila,” took the brunt of the floods.
Not a single devotee within the temple at the time was hurt, even though the entire Kedarnath valley was destroyed and countless lives were lost.
A short walk behind the Kedarnath Temple lies the Shankaracharya Samadhi, a monument dedicated to Adi Shankara, the 8th-century philosopher and saint who is credited with unifying the various strands of Hinduism. It is said that Shankara breathed his last here. He is the one Who Popularised Char dham yatra of uttarakhand.The renowned Hindu philosopher attained nirvana (enlightenment) at the age of 32. It is said that Shankaracharya became one with the earth. One of Kedarnath’s most visited tourist destinations is the Shankaracharya Samadhi, which is frequented by hundreds of pilgrims.
Next is Bhairavnath Temple. A short distance from the Kedarnath Temple is the Bhairavnath Temple, dedicated to the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, Bhairava. This temple is believed to be the Bhairav who guards the portals of Kedarnath. It is customary for pilgrims to visit Bhairavnath Temple before or after visiting the Kedarnath Temple.
With a wooden door and a shikara (tower), the temple is a little stone building. Devotees decorate the small brass figure of Lord Bhairav with garlands and flowers. A trident, or trishul, which is considered to be Lord Shiva’s weapon, is also present in the temple.
Retas Kund: Do you know that if you recite “OM,” “OM Namah Shivay,” or “Har Har Mahadev” at the entrance to a secret pond close to the Kedarnath temple, bubbles will rise? This is situated in the opposite direction of the Bhaironath temple, just 500 metres from the Kedarnath temple. This is a fantastic location close to the Kedarnth Temple, especially for individuals who enjoy using reason and science to unravel mysteries.
Atm in Kedarnath
One more important thing I would like to mention is that you should carry cash. There is no UPI payment mode functional in Kedarnath Valley, but there are two ATM kiosks of SBI & HDFC Bank available near the temple. No shops or hotels accepts UPI payments, and apart from that, you will face network issues, so it is better to carry cash according to your expenses.
Conclusion
As I leave Kedarnath, my heart overflows with the blessings of Lord Shiva. The trek itself was an exhilarating journey, testing my resilience and rewarding me with breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Standing at the holy shrine, I felt a profound sense of peace wash over me. Visiting Shankaracharya Samadhi, Bheem Shila, and Bhairavnath Temple deepened my understanding of the rich history and spiritual significance of this sacred place.
I am especially grateful to the people of Kedarnath Ghati for their warm hospitality. Their kindness and support made my yatra even more memorable. With a deep sense of gratitude, I take these experiences and memories with me, forever cherishing the divine beauty of Kedarnath.
