Things to do near Kedarnath — the temple, the lake and the valley below
The pilgrimage to Kedarnath is mostly the walk, but there is more around it than the temple, and the valley below has its own stories.
At Kedarnath
The Kedarnath Temple is the reason for the journey. East of the temple stands the Bhairavnath Temple, whose deity is believed to guard the town while it is empty in winter. Wikipedia also records the ruins of a monument that marks the purported resting place of Adi Shankara, though other accounts say he died at Kanchipuram.
Chorabari Tal
Chorabari Tal, a glacier lake also known as Gandhi Sarovar, is roughly 6 km above the town. It was the source of the water that came down on 17 June 2013. We have no verified walking time or access rules for it, so ask locally before you set out.
The walk through the sanctuary
The route from Gauri Kund runs through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, the protected area created to protect the Himalayan musk deer. Wikipedia lists the Himalayan thar and the Himalayan black bear among its animals, and the waterfalls beside the path are a feature of the climb.
The valley below
The Triyuginarayan Temple is where tradition says Shiva and Parvati were married, and Guptakashi is the town where, by tradition, Shiva hid from the Pandavas as a bull. Kalimath, about 72 minutes from Gaurikund, holds one of the Shakta pithas, and Ukhimath, about 83 minutes away, is where Kedarnath is worshipped in winter. Ukhimath is the base for the Chopta area too.
The other Kedars
Wikipedia lists Kedarnath as the first of the five Panch Kedar temples, with Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. Each needs a separate base village and four involve trekking. Madhyamaheshwar's idol is also brought to Ukhimath in winter.
Plans and next reads
Use the two-day walk or the one-day road plan, and read when to visit Kedarnath and how to reach Kedarnath.
Places around Kedarnath
The Kedarnath guide →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What is there to see around Kedarnath?
Beside the Kedarnath Temple are the Bhairavnath Temple on the town's eastern side and the monument where Adi Shankara is said to have died. About 6 km upstream is the glacier lake Chorabari Tal, also called Gandhi Sarovar. Below, the road passes Gauri Kund, Triyuginarayan and Guptakashi.
Which temples are near Kedarnath?
Triyuginarayan, about 24 minutes by road from Gaurikund, where tradition says Shiva and Parvati were married; Guptakashi, about 55 minutes away, with the Vishwanath Temple; Kalimath, about 72 minutes; and Ukhimath, about 83 minutes, where Kedarnath is worshipped in winter.
Are the other Panch Kedar temples close?
They are in different valleys, each with its own base village, and four of them need a trek. Wikipedia lists Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar in the pilgrimage order. Madhyamaheshwar's idol also winters at Ukhimath. We have no verified travel times between them.