Yes, Kedarnath is not the only attraction at the site. There are various places in Kedarnath, where you can go trekking, exploring and meditating. Not only that, there are many other famous temples and other places near Kedarnath. You may consider that Kedarnath in itself is a package and all the places around Kedarnath are a part of it. While visiting Kedarnath, you must visit nearby places which are extremely beautiful.
About Kedarnath
Kedarnath or Kedar Khand is an ancient town in the Uttarakhand state of India. The town is located at a height of 3580 ft. above sea level. Although only one thing is famous about Kedarnath and that is the Kedarnath temple. However, near Kedarnath, there are other equally magnificent sites which might be less popular than Kedarnath. But they are very beautiful. If you want to read more about Kedarnath, you may also check this link from Wikipedia. Kedarnath is also a part of the Chota Char Dham Yatra along with Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Places to visit in Kedarnath
There are various sites near Kedarnath which are magnificent and this is the best thing about Kedarnath. These sites are immensely beautiful and you should indeed consider visiting once when you are in Kedarnath. These sites are not very far from there and if you enjoy trekking then it is for you. Although there are many places near Kedarnath we always have time constraints while travelling. That is why we have tried to filter the top 5 places in Kedarnath that you must visit.
Also, make sure you do the packing for the Kedarnath Trip. If you have no idea about what to pack. Then this is a must-read for you: Things to Carry while Travelling to Kedarnath
Top Places in Kedarnath
There are definitely many sites in Kedarnath that you should surely visit when you are in Kedarnath. Some of them are best for trekking, some are best for sightseeing. These are also not very far from Kedarnath temple so you should actually consider visiting them.
1. Ukhimath
It is a town in the Rudraprayag which is a district in Uttarakhand. The scenic view of Kedarnath Peak, Chaukhamba Peak and Neelkanth Peak is visible from here. The deity of Lord Kedarnath temple and Madhyameshwar temple are kept here at the Omkareshwar temple during winter.
2. Guptakashi
It is a town in the Kedar Khand of Uttarakhand. Guptakashi is a little distant from the Kedarnath temple and is 47 km before the temple. So you can take a halt on your way to Kedarnath Temple or also while returning back. The town is famous for its ancient temples of Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe) and Ardhnareshwar (Half male and half female God; signifying the amalgamation of male and female energies).
3. Vasuki Tal
This Tal is at a height of 14,200 ft from the Kedarnath temple. Vasuki Tal is indeed a glacial sweetwater lake known for its scenic beauty. It is the spot where one can find many Himalayan flowers along with the Brahma Kamal which is a sacred flower according to Hinduism. Vasuki is in fact the name of the Snake which we see around the neck of Lord Shiva. Although some do believe that Lord Vishnu took a bath in this lake during the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
4. Charobari glacier/ Charobari Tal
This is a glacial lake 2 km above the Kedarnath temple. Charobari Glacier is also known as Gandhi Sarovar. It is the source of the Mandakini River. The Kedarnath floods of 2013 were due to this lake only which created massive havoc and damage in the area.
5. Manikarnika Kund
It is situated near the Ardhnareshwar and Vishwanath temples in the Guptakashi region of Uttarakhand. The Kund holds a Shivlinga and there are two sources that water the head of the lingam. One is from Ganesha’s head and another is from a cow’s head. It is said that from one the water from the river Ganga emerges and the other one I’d from the river Yamuna.
