Darshan Guide —
Do Dham (Badrinath - Kedarnath).
Temple Timings & Highlights
Morning Abhishek
VIP/Pre-booked only
General Darshan
Public Entry
Afternoon Closure
Temple Closed for Bhog
Evening Darshan
Public Entry
Sacred Highlights
Kedarnath
One of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas — the self-manifested Shiva lingam inside the sanctum.
Small shrine on the hilltop above Kedarnath — considered the guardian of the valley.
The Mandakini and Saraswati rivers meet just below the temple — sacred bathing point.
Badrinath
Natural hot spring at 45°C — ritual dip mandatory before temple entry.
Sacred ghat for Pitru Tarpan — ancestor rites performed here by millions of pilgrims.
Last inhabited Indian village before the Tibet border, 3 km from the temple.
Plan ahead
Caution
VIP darshan exists only at Kedarnath and Badrinath — Yamunotri and Gangotri have no formal fast-track queue. At those two shrines, arriving at temple opening time (6:00 AM) is the only way to avoid long waits.
Tip
Mahabhishek at Badrinath (4:30 AM) and Rudrabhishek at Kedarnath both require advance booking via the BKTC portal. time_slots fill weeks ahead in May and October — book the moment your travel dates are confirmed.
Key point
Leather items — belts, wallets, leather shoes, leather jackets — are prohibited inside all four sanctum sanctorums, not just one. Most pilgrims are caught off guard at the first temple. Carry a cloth bag to leave leather items outside.
Nearby Attractions
Bhairavnath Temple
shrineGuardian shrine of the Kedarnath valley — short uphill walk from the main temple. Most pilgrims miss it.
Mandakini-Saraswati Confluence
naturalSacred confluence just below the temple — ritual bathing point, significantly less crowded than the main temple area.
Shankaracharya Samadhi
shrineAdi Shankaracharya's samadhi is directly behind the main temple — the philosopher who revived the Kedarnath shrine in the 8th century.
Pujas & VIP Darshan
Kedarnath
Rudrabhishek
₹1,100 – ₹5,100Pre-booking required via BKTC portal
Morning Abhishek
₹300 – ₹1,500Most intimate darshan experience, 4:00 AM slot
Badrinath
Mahabhishek
₹1,5004:30 AM only, pre-booking via BKTC mandatory
Vishesh Abhishek
₹750Pre-booking recommended
Pitru Tarpan
Negotiated on-siteAncestor rites at Brahma Kapal ghat
*Prices and timings are subject to change by the Temple Trust based on festivals and pilgrimage volume.
Site Decorum
Photography Rules
Please respect local customs regarding photography in sensitive sacred areas.
Modest Attire
Conservative clothing is recommended to honor the spiritual sanctity of the site.
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