Kedarnath

Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and one of the four sites of the Char Dham pilgrimage, situated at 3,583 metres at the head of the Mandakini River valley. The ancient stone temple, believed to have been built or restored by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century, stands against a dramatic backdrop of the Kedarnath, Kedar Dome, and Bhairavnath peaks. The 16-kilometre trek from Gaurikund passes through alpine meadows and rocky moraines, with the temple coming into view only in the final ascent.