Kedarnath Dham, Uttarakhand

Being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India this pilgrimage is covered mostly by devout Shaivites from across the subcontinent. The temple doors open up for Darshan during the summer seasons and remains inaccessible for most part of the year due to heavy snow coverage.

The legend of this temple dates back to the 7th and 8th century, when Lord Shiva had released the holy Ganga River from this place. Kedarnath temple was also the place where after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas brothers, as per the advice of sage Vyasa, they had visited here as a way of seeking forgiveness from Lord Shiva for killing their cousins. The presiding image inside the temple is that of a lingam and is also adorned by images of the Pandavas on the walls. Sitting on the lap of the mighty Himalayas, Kedarnath still remains one of the most prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites.