Kedarnath Temple – A Piece of History Buried 400 Years Under the Snow

Kedarnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva survived the test of time and nature, without divine intervention. A mountain town, Kedarnath is framed by the stunning Mandakini River and snow-covered mountains. A natural sanctuary of forests, this town is rich in mesmerizing views. Many pilgrims visit Kedarnath each year to seek blessings in Lord Shiva’s temple.

The Story of Kedarnath

The Kedarnath temple, whose origins are unclear, is said to have been built in the 8th Century in the Himalayan Mountains. However, there are stories that claim it was Bhoj of Malwa who began construction on it in the 2nd Century. Undeniably, this is a much older piece of Indian history and certainly one of our most spectacular architectural marvels.

From Mahabharata

One of them leads on from where we left off with the Pandavas at Kurukshetra in the Mahabharat. It’s said that following their victory at Kurukshetra, the five Pandava brothers sought to meet Shiva and apologize for their sins by means of the war. But Shiva was not happy with them. He refused to give up his form as Nandi and escaped, making them realize through various means – first, in a face on Mount Rudranath, then arms on Mount Tungnath, navel and stomach on Madhyamaheshwar, locks of hair on Kalpeshwar and hump at Kedarnath – that he wasn’t going to let them get away so easily this time!

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The second statue here is Nara Narayan. It is a monolithic statue of Vishnu in a reclining position (this Hindu deity of ‘Hinduism’ stands erect and is taller but the name here refers to the same deity). Kedarnath was previously called “Naran Garh” and Nara Narayan used to reside there.

Under Snow For 400 Years

A Geologist recently told me that the temple at Kedarnath was under snow for around 400 years, a period known as the Little Ice Age. The story goes something like this: A few hundred years back there was a lot of snow in some areas at higher altitudes which resulted in glaciers moving over the land and displacing large rocks and stones.

These natural occurrences were recorded by various people who noted down important dates on several walls of temples and will probably be recorded for many more ages to come.  The scientist claimed that the temple not only survived being covered by ice for 400 years but also escaped any serious damage from glacial movement when the freezing temperatures began to melt away as they always do.

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The Kedarnath flood of 2013

Kedarnath is known for its beautiful mountain temples and its surroundings are rich in natural beauty. These temples were built hundreds of years ago, a striking testament to the architectural brilliance of their builders. Undoubtedly, one of the best-known aspects of Kedarnath is how it survived the devastating floods caused by torrential rainfall that hit Uttarakhand a few years back (in 2013 to be specific).

Many people say it was due to divine intervention – but what saved Kedarnath had more to do with technology than any like powers. The temple’s granite walls served as strong barriers against the water released from a nearby dam when its gates opened without forewarning on June 16 that year. This prevented flooding of most parts of the town and also preserved large swathes of forest around it too! The temple still stands, an incredible feat given all that it went through.

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Where is Kedarnath?

One of Hinduism’s holiest temples, the Kedarnath Temple is located in Rudraprayag, in the lap of the Garhwal Himalayas, 221kms from Rishikesh. It rests against the backdrop of the Kedarnath range, at an altitude of 3580m above sea level. It is a part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit alongside Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas or sites sacred to Lord Shiva.

How to reach Kedarnath?

Gaurikund is the last motorable point before Kedarnath. From here, one can walk up, ride a pony, or be hauled up in a palanquin. Alternatively, one can take a very short helicopter ride from Sirsi, Phata, or Guptakashi and then walk up the short distance to seek the blessings of Shiva.

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