Kedarnath is one of the main Hindu holy places of pilgrimage in the Himalayas, 225 km north-east of Rishikesh, part of the so-called Char-dham (four holy places - Yamunotri , Gangotri , Kedarnath and Badrinath ) . Kedarnath is so important because here is one of the most important and ancient temples of Shiva in India. The temple was built in the 8th century AD at the head of the Mandakini River by the Hindu guru Shankaracharya.
