Trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath June 2012 Part 2

Day -4  2nd June  -We started from sitapur early morning at 5.00 am , but got stuck at gate

There is gate system at Sonprayag  to Gurikund to regulate the traffic.The gate opened at 7.30 am and we reached Gaurikund at 9.30 am .we have to walk another half km t o reach the base of trekking from where we heired 3 ponies for our trip up to Kedarnath for Rs-1100.00 per pony one way . On the way there were many waterfalls ,snow at the sides which were not melted , We reached Kedarnath at 2.00 pm . we had booked our stay at Punjab and Sindh Guest house which is near  to Kedarnath Temple .


About Kedarnath -The Sri Kedarnathji shrine is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva . It is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Sri Kedarnathji range. Its ia at  an altitude of 3,581 mts. It is a 14 kms. trek from Gaurikund.
The Kedarnath Temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas and is almost 1000 years old. In the 8th century AD, it was refurbished by Adiguru Shankaracharya. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the idol is in the form of a pyramidal lingam. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country and is revered highly. The statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva, stands at the entrance of the temple. During the winters, the statue is carried to Ukhimath, and is reinstated in Kedarnath in the month of May. The breathtaking view of the Kedardome peak behind the temple is a major attraction.


Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva the protector and the destroyer. Shiva, is considered the embodiment of all passions-love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.
There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Sri Kedarnathji. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Sri Kedarnathji in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar.
Sri Kedarnathji and the four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.


 
early morning at Sitapur

base for treking

prepaid counter for ponies , dandi , doli
Rates for Ponies

on the way to Kedarnath


waterfalls on the way

we on the ponies

snow at the mountains

Kedarnath market

Kedarnath Temple

We stayed at Punjab and Sindh Guest House
As there was long queue for the darshan , we went to the guest house and rested for an hour , At 5.00 pm we stood in the queue and after 3 hrs we had the Darshan .
Long queue at the Kedarnath temple , we waited for 3 hrs

and  finally got darshan at 8.00 pm

Kedarnath Temple

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