Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

Kedarnath sits at over 3,500 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, at the head of the Mandakini valley. It is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and, unlike every other Jyotirlinga on this list, cannot be reached by road at all - the temple is reached by a trek of around 16 kilometres from Gaurikund, or by helicopter service during the season.

Architecture and significance

The temple is built from massive stone blocks in a style that has allowed it to withstand centuries of harsh Himalayan winters, including the devastating 2013 flash floods that caused widespread destruction in the valley - the temple structure itself survived largely intact, which many pilgrims regard as significant. The Pandavas of the Mahabharata are traditionally associated with the temple's founding, said to have sought Shiva's blessing here after the war at Kurukshetra.

How to reach

The temple is only open and accessible for roughly six months of the year, typically from around late April/early May through the onset of winter snow in November, when the deity is ceremonially moved down to Ukhimath for the winter. Outside this window the route is closed entirely. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh, followed by a long road journey to Gaurikund or Sonprayag and then the trek or helicopter.

Best time to visit

May-June and September-October tend to have the most stable weather within the open season; the trek should not be attempted outside the officially open dates, and conditions should always be checked before travelling given how weather-dependent this route is.