SOCIAL - HISTORY BEHIND KEDARNATH TEMPLE

Kedarnath Temple  is a Hindu temple (shrine) dedicated to Shiva. Located on the

Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, Kedarnath is located in the state of Uttarakhand.
It is not certain who built the original Kedarnath temple and when. The name "Kedarnath" means "the
lord of the field": it derives from the Sanskrit words kedara ("field") and natha ("lord").
According to systematic studies, the god Shiva agreed to dwell here at the request of Nara-Narayana.
After the Kurukshetra War, the Pandava brothers, came here to meet Shiva on the advice of the
sage Vyasa, because they wanted to seek forgiveness for killing their kin during the war. However,
Shiva did not want to forgive them: so, he turned into a bull and hid among the cattle on the hill. When
the Pandavas managed to track him, he tried to disappear by sinking himself head-first into the ground.
One of the brothers, Bhima, grabbed his tail, forcing him to appear before them and forgive them. The
Pandava brothers then built the first temple at Kedarnath. The portions of Shiva's body later appeared
at four other locations; and collectively, these five places came to be known as the five Kedaras
("Panch Kedar"); the head of the bull appeared at the location of Pashupatinath.
Mahabaratha did not provide any information about the place called kedarnath. One of the earliest
references to Kedarnath occurs in the Skanda Purana (c. 7th-8th century), which contains a story
describing the origin of the Ganges river. The text names Kedara (Kedarnath) as the place
where Shiva released the holy water from his matted hair. According to the hagiographies based on
Madhava's Sankshepa-shankara-vijaya, the 8th century philosopher Adi Shankara died at Kedaranatha
(Kedarnath); although other hagiographies, based on Anandagiri's Prachina-Shankara-Vijaya, state that
he died at Kanchi. The ruins of a monument marking the purported death place of Shankara are located
at Kedarnath. Kedarnath was definitely a prominent pilgrimage centre by the 12th century, when it is
mentioned in Kritya-kalpataru written by the Gahadavala minister Bhatta Lakshmidhara.
According to a tradition recorded by the English mountaineer Eric Shipton (1926), "many hundreds of
years ago", the Kedarnath temple did not have a local priest: the priest of the Badrinath temple used to
hold services at both the temples, travelling between the two places daily.
SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENT OF KEDARNATH,UTTARAKHAND
The Kedarnath lies on 3680m above sea level Generally, it is cold and temperate in Kedarnath. The is a
great deal of rainfall in Kedarnath, even in the driest month. The average temperature in Kedarnath is
5.1 °C | 41.2 °F. The annual rainfall is 1278 mm | 50.3 inch.The below staistics shows about
The least amount of rainfall occurs in November. The average in this month is 24 mm | 0.9 inch.
The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in July, with an average of 240 mm | 9.4 inch.
The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 12.3 °C | 54.1 °F. The lowest average
temperatures in the year occur in January, when it is around -3.7 °C | 253 °F.
KEDARNATH WEATHER BY MONTH // WEATHER AVERAGES
FOOD
Due to very extreme weather conditions there are some very basic stall and dhabas like places where
you can get some local cuisine along with Indian food and Chinese fast food. Being a Hindu religious
place any kind of Alcohol and non-vegetarian food are strictly prohibited in Kedarnath. Though, it is in
Uttrakhand, places that are available here for food, also serve local Garhwali and Kumaoni cuisines
with authentic taste and preparation.The major some of the foods are
1. Thenchwani : It is an authentic Garhwali cuisine whose main ingredient is mountain radish root
and mountain potato
2. Chaunsu : This is a protein rich dish prepared by using black lentils. 
3. Phaana: A special Garhwali preparation which is prepared by using lentils like Gahat and Kulath.
4. Kaafuli : This is another Garhwali version of Saag dish of north India. It is prepared with the
ingredients such as fresh spinach, onion, ginger, garlic and other aromatic spices .
5. Kode ki Roti : This is a special Garhwali Roti prepared with the help of a local grain which grows
in large quantity on the hills and which also holds various health benefits which is known as Koda
or Ragi.
6. Aloo Ke Gutke kumaoni : This is a famos Kumaoni dish with an extremely easy method of
preparation, yet considered to be culinary gem of the region. The bustling dish consists of fried
potatoes and seasoned with red chili flakes, coriander leaves and other spices.
7. Bhatt Ki Churkani : This is one of the commonest and most loved dishes for the Kumauni
communities of Uttrakahand. It is prepared with locally grown black soya bean, blended with rice .
8. Dubuk : It is a kind of Dal gravy, prepared with the help of either Arhar, Gahat or other lentil of
one’s choice.
9. Bhang ki Chutney : It is a very unique dish of Pahari region of Uttrakahand and Kedarnath. As the
name suggests that the main ingredient of this dish is Bhang seeds. 
10. Kumauni Raita : This is very tasty and refreshing food item among the most common delicacies
of Uttarakhand. The dish is prepared with fresh cucumber, coriander, local herbs, and yoghurt.

FLORA and FOUNA (animals, plants, many more)

Set amidst the temperate, sub alpine, coniferous and alpine forest cover the entire region of the
Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. Enveloped in different hues of green all throughout the sanctuary region,
the entire region is also dotted with numerous brilliantly colored plants and flowers. Along with the
immense lush greenery it is also home to a myriad of fauna life. On visit to Kedarnath wildlife
sanctuary the possibility of sighting animals like, jackal, leopard, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan
musk deer, the red giant flying squirrel and more. Along with flora and fauna this wildlife sanctuary is
visited by numerous colorful and vibrant birds throughout the year making it a heaven for bird
watchers. The entire sanctuary is also well known for possessing world’s rich bio diversities. Higher
up on the altitude the landscape changes dramatically to high altitude bugyals (meadows) and
grasslands. Along with the said topographic features, this region is also known to possess numerous
medicinal and aromatic plant species out of which 22 of them are extremely rare to find and some are
even endangered making it an important destination for people seeking peace, lovers of nature, birds
and animals enthusiasts as well as admirers of quietness.
PLANTS AND VEGITATION
76 Saxifrag - 3000- CH Pere Jul-Dec
a 4500
brachipo
da
77 Valeria Samewa Valerianaceae 2000- CR Pere Mar- RT,LF,F Epilepsy,
na 3000 Jun L hysteria, mental
jatama disorder
nsi
78 Nardostachys Jata- - 3400- CH Pere Jun-Oct RZ, WP Hysteria, Epilepsy,
grandiflora mansi 5000 Diuretic, blood
purifier
79 Viola biflora Bana-ksha Violaceae 2300- HE Ann Jun- RT, FL, Emetic,
3600 Aug WP, LF constipation
80 Viola Banfasa - 3000 HE Ann Aug LF,WP Blood disease,
betonicifo - diaphoretic
lia Sep
t