Kedarnath Temple stands at 11,755 feet (3,583 m) in the Garhwal Himalayas, near the Mandakini River. It is dedicated to Shiva and is one of the twelve jyotirlingas. The article says it is not certain who built the original temple or when. The Skanda Purana is among the earliest references, and it was a prominent pilgrimage center by the 12th century. The stone temple has a small pillared hall, and Adi Sankara's samadhi shrine lies behind it.
No road reaches it. Pilgrims make a 11-mile (17 km) trek from Gaurikund or take a helicopter, and it is open from April to November. The deity is moved to Ukhimath for winter.
The floods of June 16 and 17, 2013, destroyed the surrounding complex and town. The temple itself was not majorly damaged, reportedly because a large rock diverted debris.
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