How to reach Kedarnath

The journey to Kedarnath can be done via road, or by air. For Road, you can check the route we followed and for the helicopter services from Haridwar/ Rishikesh or Phata, check here.

The nearest airport is at Dehradun whereas the nearest railway is at Haridwar or Rishikesh. Further, the journey to Sonprayag from Dehradun is 252 km, from Haridwar is 237 km and from Rishikesh is 212 Km.

Route from Haridwar till Sonprayag:

Route 1 (295.5 Kms) Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudarprayag – Agastmuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Sonprayag

From New Delhi

Buses go to Haridwar almost every half an hour. Road takes 8 hours. Also you can go by train, this will take 4-6 hours. From Haridwar you can go directly to Kedarnath but it is also possible to stay there at least one day – this beautiful city is placed on Ganga. If your group is more then 5-6 persons you may think about renting a jeep. If jeep is fast enough then you can reach Gaurikund in 9-10 hours. Please note that road from Rishikesh to Gaurikund will be closed from 8 pm to 4 am.

Kedarnath from Haridwar

From Haridwar every day morning buses start to Gaurikund. Advance bookings can be made at GMOA (Garhwal Mandal owners Association) office in front of the railway station. It takes almost one full day journey to reach Gaurikund if there are no Landslides. Bus journey is very beautiful because most of the 295.5 kms is ghat road journey with many mountains around and river Ganges following you through out the way.

Road Conditions till Sonprayag

Roads are good and there are many rough patches too. Expect few landslides on the way and at times you will be taking detours and driving just at the River bed. Char Dham Highway project, NH-58 i.e. four-lane roads for 900 kilometers, connecting 4 Dhams i.e. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri is on the go, so there are many roadblocks and traffic will be slow on the way.

Sonprayag to Gaurikund

Further, from Sonprayag; Gaurikund is around 6 Kilometers and can be reached via shared cabs only. Park your vehicle in the parking and move towards the registration counter. After registartion, walk for around 500 metres and you will see cabs there. Driver charges Rs.20 per head in a shared cab and jump in. It is the most economical means of transport.

Gaurikund serves as a base camp to Kedarnath Temple and once you debark here the real trek to Kedarnath Temple begins.

Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple

Before the trek to Kedarnath Temple was of 16 kilometers via Rambara but North India floods in 2013 completely destroyed the older route between Rambara and Kedarnath. So, the new route laid down now is of 16-17 Kilometers till Kedarnath Base camp (i.e. till the point where horses go, also known as Ghoda Phul).

From Kedarnath Base camp, there is further a walk of 2-3 kilometers till Kedarnath Temple and the same can be done via, walking, Palki (Palanquin) or Pithu’s only.

Complete new route map of Kedarnath Trek

Gaurikund – Rambara Bridge (7 Kms) – In between comes Jungal Chatti and Bheembali

Rambara – Linchauli (4 Kms)

Linchauli – Kedarnath Base Camp (3-4 Kms)

Kedarnath Base Camp – Kedarnath Temple (2-3 Kms)

Facilities on the way to Kedarnath Trek

The Kedarnath track is paved and barricaded except at the few patches. In the midst of the trek, there are shelters, proper medical facilities, tented accommodations, drinking water, and small shops/ restaurants.

Horses/ Ponies/ Palki/ Kandi / Helicopter

Horses, Palki, and Kandi services are available at the base camp as an alternative to trekking. Remember you can get horses/ ponies easily at the base camps but the chances of getting them on the way are bleak; whereas Kandi and Palki service is available throughout. Rates for Horses/ Ponies is Rs.2300/- from Gaurikund base camp to Kedarnath base camp and Rs. 1500/- for vice versa. Whereas rates for Palki and Kandi varies with weight and you can refer the below chart for the same.

The Helicopter services to Kedarnath are available from Guptkashi, Phata and village Sersi. Helicopter drops the pilgrims just behind the temple and for the revised rates, refer here.

Medical Services

Special arrangements for medical services has been made by the health Department at all the main stops i.e. at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali, Linchauli, and Kedarnath. Doctors are available for 24 hours and there is an arrangement of medicines, oxygen cylinders, telemedicine and even airlifting. There is also a 10 bedded hospital with ECG and other modern facilities at Kedarnath.

Accommodation

Accommodation on the way is available at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali, and Linchauli. At Bheembali there is GMVN Bheema Complex and at Linchauli, there are Shivlok Cottages. At Kedarnath, there are several accommodation options. We stayed at Agra Bhawan, which is just next to Kedarnath Temple.

Shops & Restaurants

There are several shacks and restaurants on the way of supplying cold drinks, buttermilk, biscuits, Maggi, and food. The pricing is higher than the regular pricing but it’s worth as it is tough to get and maintain regular supplies here.

Best time to visit Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath is cold during most of the year and weather too changes here drastically. So, the best time to go is May- June, and September – October. Avoid going during monsoons i.e. July – August as there are heavy rainfall and high chances of landslides.

Kedarnath Temple opens up on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya (which falls in April – May) and closes on Bhai Dooj i.e. after Diwali (October – November). In 2020, the temple opened up on 28th April and probably will close on 16th November.

Temple Timings are: 4:00 am -9:00 pm

Timings for Kedarnath Trek

Because of the unpredictable weather conditions, there are fixed timings for Kedarnath Yatra too. One cannot go up from Gaurikund base camp after 1:00 pm and cannot trek back from Kedarnath base camp after 5:00 pm.

Trek Level: Steep and Tough

Registration for Kedarnath Trek

As soon as you park your vehicle in Sonprayag and move from the parking there is a Biometric Registration counter. There is a separate queue for men and women. The police personnel sitting behind the window will ask you for I- card verifies your details, take a picture and issue a Char Dham, Yatra Card.  The whole process takes around 15-20 minutes.

Just adjacent to this counter is a prepaid booking counter for horses/ ponies/ palkis and Dolis. One can book the same from here or from Gaurikund counter. We booked for ourselves from Gaurikund at the fixed government rates only.

About Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath; is formed from two Sanskrit words where “Kedara” means field and “Natha” means Lord. So, it is known as a place where the “Crop of Liberation” grows. 

The Kedarnath Temple is located at 11,755 feet in the Garhwal Himalayan range of Uttarakhand, on the banks of Mandakini River (a tributary of Ganga), near the Chorababari glacier. It is a Hindu Temple (Shrine) dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also one of the Jyotirlinga. The temple is 85 feet high, 187 feet in length and 80 feet wide. Its walls are 12 feet thick and are built from extremely strong stones.

Tokens for Kedarnath Temple

For a visit to Kedarnath Temple, one needs to collect the Tokens. They are available at the Kedarnath entry gate, near the market. Remember, the token is for one person only and the collected token is valid for the same day Darshan only. After getting your token, wait for your number to be displayed on the display board.

Note: For the next day you need to collect new tokens and the personnel’s are available form 5:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Story of Kedarnath Dham

There are several stories of Kedarnath Temple. Some claim it to be built by Guru Adi Shankaracharya in the 8^th century whereas others claim it to be built by Raja Bhoj of Malwa in the 2^nd century.

Acc. to Hindu mythology, the temple was initially built by Pandavas. Pandav Brothers after killing their kin during the Kurukshetra war, wanted to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva but Shiv was not interested in meeting and forgiving them. So, the Lord Shiva left Kashi his abode and came to dwell in these Himalayan range at Guptkashi. However, Pandavas got to know about his presence and they reached here too. To further hide, Lord Shiva turned himself into a bull and got mixed with the grazing cattle. But the Pandavas especially Bhima being too smart tracked Lord Shiva, and on realizing this Lord Shiva tried to disappear by sinking himself head-first into the ground. One of the brothers grabbed his tail and hind limb, forcing him to appear and forgive them. So, the hump is found at Kedarnath whereas the rest body parts are found at four other locations and together these places are known as Panch Kedars.

There is another Hindu story, in which a Hindu Deity Nar Narayana performed a severe act of austerity and on getting pleased, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them to grant their wish. The Deity requested Lord Shiva to stay here in the original form i.e. Jyotilingam for the welfare of humanity. Shiva granted their wish and Kedarnath became his abode.

Now, the most Interesting story is that Geologist believes that the Kedarnath temple remained hidden under the snow for 400 years during the Little Ice Age era i.e. from 1300to 1900 AD. The yellow lines on the temple structure completely depict the glacial activity it had undergone.

Inside Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is an ages old stone temple. Its architecture truly looks quite stout and that has been proved, as it still stands magnificently even after all the natural calamities and catastrophes.

Climb 3-4 stairs and you enter the first hall of the Kedarnath Temple. The Temple is dark and gloomy form inside, It houses statues of the five Pandava brothers (Bhim, Nakula, Yudishitra, Arjun and Sahadeva) and their consort Drapudi, Lord Krishna, Nandi- the vehicle of Shiva in the center and Virabhadra (one of the guards of Shiva). Another beautiful silver door decorated with Om makes you enter the main hall. In the center of the main hall, is a conical or triangular shaped stone considered to be the Dhad (Torso) of Lord Shiva. The stone was completely covered in ghee and butter by pilgrims. Earlier the pilgrims used to pour milk and water on Shivlinga but now the management has stopped it. The statue of Shiva and other deities are also installed in the main hall.

Outside Kedarnath Temple

As you step out the temple and start circumvallating around the temple; you will see the temple is surrounded by snow-covered peaks from all three sides. On the front, there is a huge statue of Nandi.

And rest on all the sides, dozens of Sadhus and Saints, half-dressed half naked are sitting in various colorful attires. They are Lord Shiv devotees and live a hard tough life, like him.

On both sides there are beautiful colorful doors which resemble the ones from Badrinath Temple and at the back is an Amrit Kund. Some Pilgrims just wanted to just touch and taste this water whereas others wanted to fill the bottles and take back home.

Just Like Bheem Shila in Mana village near Badrinath temple, there is a huge Shri Divya Bhim Shila behind the Temple. This stone is believed to be the one which protected the temple from devastation during 2013 North India flash floods. But the locals or priests have another story to it. They believe the Shila is just another stone which came down during natural calamity towards Kedarnath Temple and it is the pilgrims who have made a temple around it and now consider it to be sacred.

Accommodation at Kedarnath

At Kedarnath, there are several accommodation options from Hotels to guest houses to Bhawans. During our visit, only a few of them were operational whereas the others were closed or in bad shape due to the extreme snowfall in winters. The government claims to have made an arrangement of 3000 pilgrims but we really doubt that.

GMVN (Garhwal Vayu Mandal Nigam) the government authorized tents were also operational at Kedarnath but they were far from Kedarnath Temple and charges were Rs.900/- per bed for 6 Bedded huts, Rs. 750/- per bed for 10 Bedded huts and Rs. 300/- for tents, with common sharing washrooms.

We stayed at Agra Bhawan, just next to the Temple, where a four-bed room with attached washroom costed us Rs. 3000/- and 1 bucket of hot water costs around Rs.80/-. Another good option we recommend to stay is Himachal Bhawan just opposite to Agra Bhawan and near to Temple.

Food and Market at Kedarnath Dham

As you leave the Kedarnath Temple and move down the stairs, starts the Kedarnath Haat Market. During our visit, there was lots of snow around the shops and the whole of the market looked closed only.

20-25 steps down from the Kedarnath Temple is a food shop which serves Indian food, Tea, snacks, etc. Just opposite to it there was another operational Dhabha.

Another option for getting food is the guest house or Bhawan, where you are staying at but we opted to have it in the market itself.

Weather at Kedarnath

Kedarnath is really unpredictable in terms of weather. If one moment it is sunny, other moment weather can take a twist and it will be snowing. You will find banners everywhere on the route quoting you to carry Warm Clothes, Raincoats, and Umbrellas with you, and they actually make a lot of sense. We experienced all types of weather in a single trip.

Here, the Day temperatures varies between 5- 10 degrees Celsius whereas the night temperatures can go low to -5 degree Celsius too.

What you need to wear for Kedarnath Trek

For Kedarnath trip, one needs to pack and wear clothes in layers. While walking or at some places you may feel hot and removing layers but be really cautious. The clothes you must wear are:

• Inner Layer
• T- Shirt
• Fleece Layer
• Jacket (Wind and water proof)
• Gloves and Cap

Packing for Kedarnath Temple Trek

At Kedarnath Dham, you have limited options for everything from living to food, so just pack a small backpack. The must in the backpack should be a towel, toiletry kit, an extra pair of your clothes, medicines and a small portion of energy food like nuts, chocolates or energy bar.

In case of emergency, there is a medicine shop and relief center at Kedarnath, from where one can make a purchase.

Facts about Kedarnath Temple

• Just like Badrinath Temple, Kedarnath Temple is a part of Badrinath and Kedarnath Temple act
• The head priest of Temple belongs to Karnataka and is known as a Raval
• Raval does not perform the puja in the temple. The pujas are carried out on the instructions of the Raval by other priests.
• The Raval moves with the deity to Ukimath during the winter season
• About 6000 pilgrims visit Temple every day during the season
• Temple opens for only 5-6 months and during rest months it is engulfed among the snow

Places around Kedarnath Temple

Bhairon/ Bhairav Nath Ji Temple

The Bhairo Nath Temple, located at a very short distance from Kedarnath Temple is known as a guardian of the Kedarnathji. It is believed that Bhaironathji guards the Kedarnath Temple by keeping away the evil while the temple remains closed. Therefore the Bhairon Nath Temple is visited ceremoniously at the opening and closing of Kedarnath.

During our visit, the Bhairav Nath Temple was yet not opened. So, the Aarti ceremony was not performed at the Kedarnath Temple.

Kunds at Kedarnath

It is said that there are several Kund at Kedarnath but still many of them haven’t been revived after the 2013 Disaster. The one we could see clearly was Google Kund.

Google Kund

Around 0.5 Km from Kedarnath Temple, there is an interesting semi-frozen Kund known as Google Kund.

Chorabari Sarovar / Gandhi Sarovar

At a distance of 3 kms from Kedarnath Temple, at 12,795 feet lies a beautiful lake known as Chorabari Sarovar or Gandhi Sarovar fed on Chorabari Glacier. The trek to Lake passes through green grasslands and it is advised to carry the trek during the morning only as temperature and weather changes here drastically.

The Sarovar was initially known as Kanti Sarovar and was renamed to Gandhi Sarovar in 1948 when ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed into the Sarovar. But now, no more the lake exists as the glacier has resided.

Vasuki Tal

Vasuki Tal lies at 13, 566 feet and can be reached by trekking for 8 Kms from Kedarnath Temple. The trek is said to be extremely steep, difficult and can be carried only under supervision. Vasuki Tal is surrounded by high mountain peaks and offers a view of Chaukhamba peak.

There are several beautiful, colorful flowers around the Vasuki Tal and one of the famous flowers is Brahma Kamal. During winter the lake it is completely frozen. 

Rudra Meditation Cave/ Modi meditation Cave

Around 1.5 kilometers from Kedarnath Temple, at GMVN, in isolation are available underground mediation caves known as Rudra or Modi Meditation caves. The caves have a window for the direct view of Shrine and can be booked at Rs.990/- per day, for a maximum period of 3 days. They are equipped with electricity, water, heater, attached toilet, and phone to call authorities in case of emergency.

Before dwelling into the cave, one needs to undergo a medical test at Guptakashi and only those found medically fit can stay here. And only one person can stay at a time inside the cave. For more details and bookings check here.

Shankaracharya Samidhi

The resting place of Adi Shankaracharya is an extremely renowned place in Kedarnath. The hot water spring present there is believed to remove all the suffering of the devotees.

Places to stay in Base Camp Gaurikund

There are several hotels, guest houses and Bhawans to stay in Gaurikund but if you have no prior bookings then availability will be completely on your LUCK. We went prior booking and trust me, we had a tough time in finding one for ourselves. Finally, we got a room in the market at Subash Hotel, with attached washroom. 4 of us (We and our parents) accommodated in a 3-bedroom which costed us Rs. 1500/. And a bucket of hot water cost us Rs. 60/- per head.

Note: Hotels, guest house people don’t take advance bookings in Gaurikund, even on giving advance and pricing changes every day. The maximum they can charge is Rs.3000/- per night.

The tip to remember here is bend forward while climbing upward and bend backwards while climbing down and hold the saddle tightly.

Things to Remember before taking up Kedarnath Trek

• Check the weather forecast before planning the trip. Also, inquire about the weather at Sonprayag check post and then at Gaurikund check post. Further government has made special rules for the continuation and discontinuation of the trek.
• Get a medical checkup done before going for a Kedarnath trek
• People with respiratory disorders, cardiac disorders, and high blood pressure should take special care
• Remember while trekking to Kedarnath doesn’t exert yourself too much. Do not lose your breath while walking and halt if you think that you are experiencing shortness of breath.
• Hire a pony/ horse/ palki from the base camp itself, if you have made up your mind to trek with them. Also check, your horseman is not less than 18 years, as they are not allowed to ride passengers up and down
• There are fixed trek timings. Also, if personnel’s stop you going further beyond one-point it’s for your safety and please abide by the rules
• There are accommodations available on the way at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali and Linchauli
• All mobile networks work well at Kedarnath. The best ones were Vodafone, Jio and BSNL. Airtel was showing 4G but the signal was playing hide and seek
• Be safe and cautious from the falling stones especially during rain and snow. Recently one pilgrim from Punjab was hit by a shooting stone and she died on the spot.

Overall Experience

Trek to Kedarnath Temple is quite challenging and one actually needs a good fitness level to do it. The lofty snow-covered peaks, verdant grasslands, and River Mandakini makes the trek to Kedarnath unforgettable. The facilities and cleanliness on the way and at Kedarnath Temple are completely beyond expectations. Incredible India is definitely doing a great job to make Char Dham Yatra seamless.

Places of Interest on the way to Kedarnath

Devprayag – where Sangam of River Alaknanda and River Bhagirathi happens

Rudraprayag – where Sangam of River Alaknanda and River Mandakini happens

Sonprayag – where Sangam of River Basuki and River Mandakini happens

Agastmuni – 20 Kms from Rudraprayag is known for Agastmuni Templebuilt in the name of famous Saint Agastya

Guptkashi – is believed to be a place where Lord Shiva hid from the Pandavas. The place has two temples. Viswanath temple has several incarnations of Lord Shiva. Ardhanareeshwar temple, on the other hand, depicts Lord Shiva in the form of half man and half woman. In addition, there are two streams of water located in the temple, which symbolizes the two holy rivers, Ganges and Yamuna.

Gaurikund – The base camp to Kedarnath houses an ancient temple of Goddess Paravati. It is said that Goddess Paravati meditated here for a long time to win Lord Shiva as her husband. There is also a common hot water spring here. For Ladies, there is a separate one too but currently, it was not operational.

Ukhimath- is the winter abode of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar

Triyuginarayan Temple – located at a distance of 5 Kilometers from Sonprayag, is a Temple where Lord Shiva tied the knot with Goddess Parvati. Tourists visiting this sightseeing place can also make a visit to other attractions such as Vishnu Kund, Rudra Kund, and Brahma Kund.

Avoid Mistakes While Coming #Kedarnath

Out of all dhams #Kedarnath demands most planning. Keep following points in mind while coming for Kedarnath

1) If one have trouble in walking, allergy to pony or mule or horse urine and dropping or time is short plan by Helicopter

2) A normal traveller takes only 7-8 hours to reach at temple from Gaurikund by walk. So walk patiently never rush while walking which could trigger gasping.

3) Avoid taking Pony or Horse from Sonprayag it will increase your journey by two hours. Take pony from Gaurikund or even start your walking trip from Gaurikund.

4) Start early in morning (5AM) from Gaurikund so that by Afternoon  you can reach till temple. Have darshan and Stay overnight at GMVN facility at Temple and next day after darshan start for Gaurikund.

Remember if one is planning same day return then there is full chances he will reach Gaurikund by early evening or late evening in that case he will find difficult to get seat for Gaurikund to Sonprayag transfer. In evening huge line takes for transfer to Sonprayag. Secondly getting room becomes very difficult at Gaurikund as there are very few lodges at Gaurikund while footfall is around 4000 pilgrims in May ,June.

5) Never travel with kids of age below 12. Weather is very unpredictable some time bright sunny, next hour may turn stormy with hailstorm, snow fall. At this 3000 meters oxygen levels are low.

6. Most comfortable mode of travel is palanquin or Doli which may charge between 8000-10000

Kandi charges for round trip around 5000

Pony charges for round trip around 5k-6k

Helicopter tickets around 7k

By walk…Free:)

7) Carry BSNL, Vodafone, Airtel and Reliance jio SIM. Out of four any one will work for sure

8) Carry raincoat, water resistant boot, flashlight, fleece or quilted jackets, wind cheater, regular medicine, rucksack. do not carry suitcase it is difficult to carry on pony.

9) Carry aadhar card or any identity card.

10) During Yatra one can lodge complaint at police booth if you find anything inappropriate report at nearest police station

11) Carry your Yatra card

12) Do not miss Triyuginarayan this is must visit place near Sonprayag.

13) Avoid night trekking as there are black bear in Kedar valley

#KedarnathCharDham

#BapanRoy

Password management is indeed a very important and critical aspect which should be adhered by every user. Here we are sharing some important tips and best practices relating to password management.

· Sharing passwords is a security risk.

· Change passwords at least once every 90 (ninety) days.

· Unique Characters                         : An acceptable password must have at least five (5)                                                                    different characters. Repeated characters can make for palindromes and make it easier to crack.

· Character Types                             : An acceptable password must have characters from at                                                                      least three (3) different character types — upper case,                                                                        lower case, digits,     punctuation, etc. A password that                                                                    includes a sample from a rich character set is difficult to                                                                          crack.

· Long Alpha Sequences                   : An acceptable password must not have an alphabetic                                                                       sequence any longer than three (3) characters.

· Long Digit Sequences                     : An acceptable password must not have a digit sequence                                                                   any longer than two (2) characters.

· Forbidden Characters                    : There are a few characters that will cause problems if                                                                       used in a password – the “delete” character is one of the                                                                   obvious ones.

· Writing down your password        : One should never write down a password. Someone may                                                                 discover the password. Make the password difficult for                                                                    others to guess or crack but easy for you to memorise and                                                               remember.

· Passwords should not be any of the following:

· Dictionary words (including foreign and technical dictionaries)

· Name of a person or a thing, a place, a proper noun, a phone number or a vehicle number

· Simple pattern of letters on keyboards

· Any of the above reversed or concatenated

· One possible method for picking a good password is to make up your own acronym.

· Do not let your computer remember your password. Do not accept auto complete option    

   provided by your computer/ browser.

· As far as possible do not use un-trusted system to access a sensitive service. If you must,      

   change the password on the first occasion immediately thereafter from a trusted system.

· Do not divulge your password to anyone.

· Enter your user-id and password only in the space provided for that you are normally used to.

· Any changes from normal make sure there is no attempt to steal your personal information

   before providing it.

· Do not provide user-id and passwords on any page that appears as a popup when you click on a

   hyperlink received through email. Better practice would be to log on to the service by typing

   in the URL in the address bar after making sure the page opening up is from the genuine

  service provider.

· Do not store passwords in a file on ANY computer system (including Palm Pilots or similar

  devices) without encryption.

#BapanRoy

#HussainM

#RahulForever

#WahengbamSj

The Ganga Aarti in Hardwar

Ganga Aarti, Haridwar Overview

Ganga Aarti is a religious prayer that takes place at the bank of the sacred river Ganga at the Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar. Bringing in tourists and devotees from all over the world, it is a ritual of light and sound where the priests perform prayers with bowls of fire and the ringing of the temple bells. Visitors float “diyas” (small candles) and flowers, surrounded by the chanting of the mantras and the reflection of the lights off the surface of the flowing river, which is said to be blessed by the Goddess Ganga.

Ganga Aarti Timings

The Ganga Aarti at Haridwar takes place twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The starting of the Aarti depends upon the time of the sunrise and sunset in Haridwar.

In the summer months from March to October, the morning Aarti commences anytime between 5:00 AM and 6:50 AM, while the evening Aarti starts between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

During the winter months, the morning Aarti begins between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM, and the evening Aarti begins between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM.

Ganga Aarti Pre-Ceremony

The Ganga Aarti in Haridwar is a magnificent event that attracts around 3,000 to 30,000 tourists every evening. The number of tourists can even touch a lakh during times of important festivals. The evening ritual commences with the bringing of an idol of Ganga from a small temple that is located nearby. The goddess is carried in a decorated ‘palkhi’ (palanquin) to a platform near the river and is accompanied by the singing and dancing of the pundits as well as devotees. Worshippers then seek the blessing of the idol, following which the ceremony begins.

The pundits chant Sanskrit mantras and offer milk, honey, curd and other such items to the idol. Loudspeakers in the vicinity of River Ganga ensure that the chants can be heard by all devotees, including those who are standing far away. This is then followed by the singing of ‘Ganga Lahari’, which is a Sanskrit poem that was written by Pundit Jagannath. The pundits then ask the gathered devotees to promise that they would not pollute the sacred holy river, and the people acknowledge by raising their hands and chanting the phrase ‘Har Har Gange, Jai Ma Gange’.

What follows next is a short break wherein the workers of the Ganga Sabha collect donations that the people are willing to offer. These donations are used to meet the expenses of the Ganga Aarti, as well as for other religious and social purposes. Finally, the main Aarti begins. The Aarti is just a five-minute song, and the background music of bells enhances the overall experience.

Best Time to Experience Ganga Aarti in Haridwar

The best time to visit the Ganga Aarti entirely depends on your personal preference. If you like to be a part of a large crowd that is bustling with activity, visit the river in May or June; and to explore a quieter side, visit the river in July and August.

Evening aartis are much more vibrant than the morning ones since the lights from the candles and diyas can be thoroughly enjoyed, and hence are more recommended.

History of Ganga Aarti at Haridwar

The exact period when the tradition of the Ganga Aarti was started has not yet been ascertained. However, the ritual of the Ganga Aarti at the Har Ki Pauri was started by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in the 1910s.

According to Hindu traditions and culture, the river Ganga is not a mere river; instead, it is the Divine Mother who gifts life in the form of water. When the fury of sage Kapil reduced the ancestors of Saint Bhagirath to mere ashes, the latter prayed and meditated for a very long time and was ultimately blessed with Ganga by the gods. Lord Shiva had held Ganga to reduce the steady flow of water, and the flowing water then provided liberation or moksha to the ancestors. This same water of the holy river is also believed to remove sins from the devotees who take a dip in the sacred water. The Ganga Aarti is thus a way to thank the River Ganga for all that she offers.

History of Har ki Pauri

The word ‘Har’ means Lord Shiva, who is the god of the universe according to Shaivite Rishav Bhagwan’s school of Hindu theology. The word ‘Ki’ means ‘of’, and ‘Pauri’ translates to ‘steps’.

The area within Har Ki Pauri where the Ganga Aarti is performed is known as the Brahmakund and is considered to be the most sacred place in the entire area. This is because the Brahmakund is thought to be the spot where drops of Amrit or God’s Nectar fell from the sky, while the Amrit was being carried by the celestial bird, Garuda at the time when the world came into existence. It is also believed that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu had visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri in the Vedic times. On a stone wall at the ghat, there is a large footprint that is said to belong to Lord Vishnu.

Tips

1. Be sure to reach the Ghat at least 45 mins before the morning Aarti and 75 minutes before the evening Aarti to grab a seat for yourself and visit the Aarti closely.
2. Since there is a massive rush at the time of the Aarti, be sure to take care of your belongings and valuables. Do not let children go out of your sight.
3. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws to take you to Har Ki Pauri often quote exorbitant prices, and hence you may have to bargain.
4. Seats near the clock tower and across the Ganga Temple, on the stairs of the ghats (cross the footbridge) are preferable for a good view.

How To Reach Ganga Aarti in Haridwar

Har Ki Pauri is located on the main highway, in the centre of the city. It can be reached either by bus or train. It is about 3 km away from the Haridwar Railway Station. You can hire an auto rickshaw from ay part of the city.

Kedarnath Dham, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. The air appears to be reverberating with the name of Lord Shiva amid the mighty snow-clad peaks, enchanting meadows and forests of the lower mountain range of Himalayas. Situated in a breathtaking location, near the source of Mandakini River and at the height of 3,584 meters, Kedarnath Dham celebrates the greatness of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingams and is also the most important temple among the Panch Kedars (group of 5 Shiva temples in Garhwal Himalayas). It is also one of the significant temples of the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, raising the glory of the place to further heights.

Accessible from major destinations of Uttarakhand, the motorable road towards Kedarnath temple stretches till Gauri Kund. After that one needs to take a 14 km trek towards Kedarnath temple. Ponies and palanquins (doli) are easily available; one can also avail helicopter services during peak season of yatra.

The hard journey till the great shrine of Shiva is well compensated with the spiritual atmosphere which is created by the unruffled, tranquil and splendid beauty of the region. The majestic Kedarnath peak (6,940 meters) stands behind the temple along with other peaks, forming a perfect setting for the holy land of the supreme deity. The conical-shaped Shiva lingam in the Kedarnath temple is a unique feature of the temple among all Shiva shrines.

Legend behind the Kedarnath Temple

Burdened with the guilt of killing their blood relatives, Pandavas sought Lord Shiva to absolve themselves of their sins. Shiva didn’t want to release them from their wrongdoings so easily and disguised himself as a bull to roam in Garhwal Himalayas. On being discovered by Pandavas, Shiva dived into the ground. Bhim tried to catch him and could only get hold of the hump. Other body parts of Shiva (in the form of bull), came up at different places. Hump of the bull was found in Kedarnath, navel emerged at Madhya-Maheshwar, two forelegs appeared at Tunganath, face in Rudranath, and hair came up at Kalpeshwar. Together these five sacred places are called Panch Kedar. It is believed that originally Pandavas built the temple of Kedarnath; the present temple was established by Adi Shankaracharya who restored and revived the glory of the shrine.

What to See in Kedarnath Dham?

Kedarnath Temple

The grand and impressive structure of Lord Shiva’s shrine is made of grey stone. Steep climb stretching to 14 km from Gauri Kund brims with abundant beauty of nature. The paved and steep path gifts the pilgrims the fantastic views of snowy-peaks, alpine meadows and delightful forests of rhododendrons. A large stone statue of Nandi Bull stares at the shrine, guarding it, sitting right opposite it.

There is one Garbha Griha which houses the primary idol (pyramid shaped rock) of Lord Shiva. The idols of Lord Krishna, Pandavas, Draupadi and Kunti find a space in the Mandapa section of the shrine. The temple has withstood natural calamities like avalanches, earthquakes and floods for over thousand years and still stands as strong and elegant as it must have originally been.

With the onset of winters, the portals of the temple are closed on the 1st day of Karthik (Oct/Nov) amid elaborate rituals, and a moveable idol of Shiva is shifted to Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district). The Shiva idol is welcomed back and the temple is opened again after 6 months in the Vaisakh (Apr/May) period of Hindu calendar.

Gaurikund

It is the starting point of the trek towards the temple of Kedarnath. As per a legend, Goddess Parvati (also known as Gauri) meditated over here in order to marry Lord Shiva. It consists of natural thermal springs and offer refreshing bath to pilgrims before they embark for the holy darshan of Kedareshwar (the Lord of Kedar, Shiva).

There is also an ancient Gauri Devi temple over here, honouring the goddess. Half Kilometre from Gauri Kund is the temple of Sirkata (headless) Ganesha. According to Skanda Purana, this was the place where Shiva beheaded Ganesha and then attached the head of an elephant on his headless body.

Chorabari Tal

Fed by Chorabari glacier, the serene and pristine Chorabari Lake can be reached after undertaking a trek of less than 4 km from the Kedarnath town. It is also known as Gandhi Sarovar as some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed in its waters. On the way, there is a waterfall which one needs to cross. It looks amusing but care should be taken while going across it.

Bhairav Temple

In the temple complex, to the south side, there is another ancient and important temple. It is dedicated to Bhairav Nath, who is believed to be the one who guards the temple compound when the shrine is closed in the winter season.

Vasuki Tal

Located at 3,135 meters, the crystal clear blue-water lake of Vasuki is about 8 km from Kedarnath. It is quite a difficult trek and involves going across glaciers, but the walk among the untouched Himalayas is worth every bit of effort.

How to Reach Kedarnath Dham?

Route

Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh-Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Tilwara – Agastamuni – Kund – Guptkashi – Phata – Rampur – Sonprayag – Gaurikund – Trek to Kedarnath

By Air:

Jolly Grant airport on Rishikesh-Dehradun road is the nearest airport to Kedarnath. Hire a taxi to Gaurikund or till Haridwar/Rishikesh.

By Train:

Regular trains from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun are available at all times of the year. Hire a cab or get a bus from here.

By Bus:

Gaurikund is connected with motorable roads, and buses and taxis from important destinations like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Uttarkashi and Tehri, Pauri and Chamoli are easily available.

Best Time to Visit Kedarnath

Featuring a cold climate mostly round the year, Kedarnath can best be visited in summers. May to June and September to October offers an ideal weather for visitors to explore this place. During this period, the climate of Kedarnath remains a lot pleasing and cool. Winters here are harsh, with sub-zero temperatures and heavy rainfall. Monsoon season characterizes heavy downpour, so one must carry few essentials while journeying to this pilgrimage place in the monsoons.

Summers

Summers of Kedarnath beginning from May and lasting till June, are pleasing with the temperature hovering around 17°C. It is the perfect weather to pay visit to the Kedarnath shrine and also to indulge in some sightseeing of famous spots in and around Kedarnath. The weather remains moderate during this time and hence, this season is the ideal time to travel to this place.

Trip Essentials

Don’t forget to carry a day pack, a pair of trekking shoes/comfortable walking shoes along with trekking pants, windproof jacket, light weight woollen clothing, sun cap, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, lip balm, torch/flashlight with extra batteries, walking stick and personal toiletries. Carrying a water bottle is a must. Along with that you should also pocket some dry fruits, energy bars and energy drinks like electoral (ORS)/Gatorade.

Monsoon

Monsoons hit Kedarnath starting from July and ending till August, with temperatures dropping down to 12°C. In this season Kedarnath is frequented with heavy rain falls and landslides hence visitors are advised to be prepared to overcome the difficulties. One must pack few essentials to save themselves from the heavy rains.

Trip Essentials

Don’t miss to carry a day pack with rain cover, a pair of waterproof trekking/hiking shoes, trekking pants, windproof/water resistant jacket, thick fleece, woollen clothing, waterproof gloves, thick wollen socks, walking stick, raincoat/poncho, torch/flashlight with extra batteries and personal toiletries. Don’t forget a water bottle along with few dry fruits to munch and energy drinks to avoid dehydration.

Winter

Winters in Kedarnath begin in the month of November and last till April. This season is not a good time to go to this place as roads to Kedarnath get blocked due to heavy snowfall. Owing to this, the Kedarnath Temple remains closed during the winter months. Winters are chilly here featuring sub-zero temperatures. Kedarnath remains carpeted with snow at this time making this place inaccessible for a while.

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