India is a land of culture and tradition. Thousands of temples are available and evenly distributed across the country. Panch Kedar yatra is the most sacred yatra for Hindus after the yatra of 12 jyotirlingas in India. There are five temples in the Panch Kedar circuit: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar. As per the holy scriptures, it is believed that after disappearing from Kedarnath, body parts of Lord Shiva appeared at five different locations: at Kedarnath, the hump of the bull is present; at Tungnath, the forelegs are present; at Madhyamaheshwar, the central body parts are available; at Rudranath, the face is available; and at Kalpeshwar, the hairs are available. All these temples are located in the lap of the Himalayan ranges in the Uttarakhand state of India. Most of these temples are not accessible by road, and you need to trek for a few kilometers to reach them. But most of these temples are located in very beautiful locations with some amazing views all around.
History of Panch Kedar:
As per the holy scriptures, it is believed that after the war of the Mahabharata, all Pandavas were in great guilt for killing their loved ones. They visited Lord Krishna for the remedy, and then Lord Krishna suggested they visit Lord Shiva. He is the only person who can relieve them of the sin of killing their loved ones. So they handed over their kingdome to their grandchild and went to Kashi, knowing that it was one of the favorite places of Lord Shiva and that he would meet them for sure. Getting news of Pandavas, Lord Shiva moved from Kashi to one place now located in India, now known as Guptkashi, to avoid them, as he was very angry with them and didn't want to relieve them from their sin so easily. Pandavas were also determined to meet him, so they went to Guptkashi, but Lord Shiva moved to a small hamlet on a mountain named Kedar. But Pandavas also reached Kedar village in search of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva takes the form of a bull to deceive them and gets mixed with other cattle grazing nearby, but Bhim, one of the Pandavas, identified Lord Shiva and tried to catch him, but he started entering the earth, but he kept his hold tight on his hump, and other Pandavas pleaded with him to pardon them. Lord Shiva was pleased by their worship and took his original form, and the body part of the bull appeared at five different places. Pandavas worshipped Lord Shiva, and he relieved them of their sin. Pandavas requested Lord Shiva to stay at this panch kedar forever to help the people of Kalyuga get rid of their sins and attain salvation. Pandavas had created temples at all these places before proceeding to heaven.
Architecture of Panch Kedar Temple:
All five temples of Panch Kedar Circut were constructed in classic North Indian architecture using gray slabs using interlocking technology. No mortar was used to join these rocks. Only iron clamps were used to keep these rocks together. Some attractive designs and carvings can be seen on the outer side of some temples, depicting Mahabharata heroes and other Hindu deities. Every year, millions of devotees visit Panch Kedar temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and admire the beauty of these temples.
How to reach:
By Air:- Dehradun, also known as Jolly Grant Airport, is the nearest airport to these Panch Kedar temples. You will get a direct flight from your hometown to this airport. Almost all the major flight operators in India, like SpiceJet, Indigo, Air India, and Vistara, have regular flights from the majority of cities in India. The nearest international airport to Panch Kedar Temples is Indira Gandi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi.
By train: Rishikesh is the nearest airport to this place, but you will not get any direct trains from your hometown to this station, so alternatively, you can book your train for Haridwar or Dehradun. These cities are very close to Rishikesh, and you will get a direct train to this location.
By Road: The best way to travel to Panch Kedar temple is by road. There are mainly three options available to us. The first is to book your cab, which will stay with you for the entire trip. This is going to be one of the most expensive ones, but very convenient, as there are no direct conveniences available at most of these places. The second option is to take a shared cab, which will drop you off at your desired location. This is going to be pocket-friendly and a bit convenient, and the last option is to travel by government bus and other public transport. This is not that convenient, but it is perfect for those who are looking for a budget trip.
Conclusion:
Panch Kedar is one of the most sacred yantras in India. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit this location to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the most famous among all the Panch Kedar temples. So if you are not in the mood to spend a long time at the Panch Kedar temple, then you can book at least the Kedarnath Yatra package. The complete Panch Kedar package will cost you around INR 25,000 per person, including transportation, meals, a guide, registration, etc. But if you are looking for a Kedarnath tour package, then it is going to cost you something between INR 8,000 and INR 20,000, depending on the package and services you are getting. The best way to complete the Panch Kedar Yatra is in parts, i.e., you can go to one or two temples in Panch Kedar Temple in one go.