Har Har Mahadev!
There are some journeys in life that stay in the heart forever. My recent Kedarnath Temple Yatra was one such experience — a journey that completely transformed my spiritual life and left an everlasting impact on my soul.
In early May 2026, my husband, my daughter Anjali, and I went on a Do Dham Yatra covering Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple. We were fortunate to travel with Prem anna, a truly blessed soul devoted to Lord Shiva. He organizes yatras for people of all age groups and takes devotees to places that are otherwise very difficult to reach. We feel deeply grateful to have experienced this sacred journey under his guidance.
Gratitude to Prem Anna
I will always remain deeply thankful to Prem anna for this unforgettable spiritual experience. The guidance, and dedication with which he leads every yatra is truly admirable. Taking people through such difficult Himalayan journeys with much patience and devotion is not an easy task. More than an organizer, he felt like a guiding force throughout our journey.
I have immense respect for him and the way he selflessly helps devotees experience these sacred places with faith and confidence. Meeting souls like him in life itself feels like a blessing from Mahadev.
Instagram: @premyatra.in
Places We Visited During the Do Dham Yatra
During our journey, we also visited beautiful spiritual destinations like Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Vishnuprayag, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
But in this blog, I want to share only my Kedarnath experience — because it is something I can never remove from my heart and mind.
Beginning the Journey to Kedarnath
On the day we started our journey to Kedarnath, I honestly knew very little about the place. I simply trusted Prem anna and followed all his guidance with faith.
To reach the Kedarnath temple, one has to travel nearly 18 kilometers uphill from Gaurikund. The temple is located at an altitude of around 3,584 meters in the Himalayas. I heard that people walking for the first time may take almost 12 hours to reach the top. It was impossible for me and my daughter to walk that distance, especially at such high altitude. Most people in our group either took horses or dholis, so the three of us also chose horses for the journey.
The horse ride itself took nearly 4 to 5 hours. It was not easy at all. The path was steep, rocky, and filled with continuous bumps. Sitting on a horse for such long hours on an uphill mountain trail was extremely difficult. Somewhere deep inside, I felt this was the beginning of Mahadev’s test.
When we finally reached the top point where the horses stopped, we still had to walk around 3 kilometers uphill to reach the temple area. Due to the altitude, breathing itself became difficult. Those 3 kilometers felt like 10 kilometers. Every step tested our strength and patience.
And then finally — from a distance — I saw the temple.
That moment cannot be explained in words.
The happiness, relief, and emotion I felt while seeing Kedarnath Temple for the first time was beyond anything I had ever experienced.
Anjali’s Faith and Strength During the Yatra
Our daughter Anjali was truly a blessed soul to receive the darshan of Bhole Baba at such a young age. Watching her throughout the journey filled my heart with pride and gratitude.
Despite the extreme weather conditions, freezing temperatures, and high altitude, she remained incredibly cooperative, patient, and strong during the entire Yatra. She walked so much along with us in that difficult terrain without complaining, even while facing the intense cold and breathlessness caused by the altitude.
What touched me the most was her devotion toward Lord Shiva. Even at this young age, she is already a devotee of Mahadev, and she genuinely wished to visit Kedarnath with us. Seeing her faith, patience, and determination during the journey felt truly special.
I truly believe not everyone gets called to Kedarnath Temple so early in life. It felt as though Bhole Baba himself blessed and guided her throughout this sacred journey.
Facing the Extreme Cold of Kedarnath
By the time we reached, it had already started snowing heavily. The temperature was around -6°C. Coming from Hyderabad, where even 20°C feels extremely cold to us, I could never have imagined surviving in such freezing weather.
Our hotel was only five minutes away from the temple, and somehow our group managed to reach it through the snow. As I walked toward the temple area, I suddenly saw the Kedarnath temple standing right before me — the same temple I had seen countless times in YouTube videos.
But standing there in front of it felt completely unreal.
Still, at that point, I had not fully experienced or understood the spiritual energy of Kedarnath.
We went to the hotel to rest because we had started our journey early in the morning and reached only by evening. The cold was so intense that we immediately covered ourselves with nearly four thermal blankets and did not move an inch.
Later, Prem anna arranged VIP darshan tickets for the night. After resting for some time, we layered ourselves with thermals, jackets, gloves, woollens, and multiple layers of clothing before stepping out again into the snowfall.
Yet, the cold still pierced through everything.
Mahadev’s Test Outside the Temple
When we reached the queue, the temple was temporarily closed due to the Shayan Aarti, where prayers and offerings are presented to Lord Shiva. Although the queue was short, we had to wait for nearly two hours in the freezing cold.
And that is when Mahadev’s next test began.
Suddenly, I started feeling dizzy and weak. It felt as if I might faint at any moment. I sat down there itself, completely confused about what was happening to me. My feet had already become almost numb because of the cold.
After a few minutes, the dizziness reduced temporarily, but I still could not stand properly. Then the weakness returned again.
My husband became worried and told me that we should go back to the hotel and not force myself if I was unwell. But something inside me refused to leave.
I had come all the way to Kedarnath. I was sitting right in front of the temple after such a difficult journey. Returning at that moment without darshan felt unbearable to me.
So while sitting there, I silently started talking to Mahadev.
I prayed to him with all my heart. I requested him not to send me back. I kept chanting his name continuously, hoping he would hear me.
After around 30 minutes, something changed.
Slowly, my strength returned. I stood up again. I continued chanting Shiva’s mantra without stopping, and suddenly my energy came back. Deep inside, I felt that Mahadev had heard me. I felt as if I had passed his test and he had accepted me.
Even though our feet were almost frozen, I kept focusing only on him.
The Moment That Changed My Life Forever
Finally, we entered the temple.
We received the divine opportunity to touch the Swayambhu Lingam and offer Abhishekam to Lord Shiva.
The moment I came out of the temple, I experienced an energy that I cannot explain even today. It was something beyond words, beyond logic, beyond understanding.
I became completely emotional and cried continuously for almost five minutes.
I hugged Prem anna and thanked him wholeheartedly for bringing me to Kedarnath.
That night changed me forever.
I have always been a devotee of Lord Shri Ram, but after this Kedarnath Yatra, Bhole Baba completely captured my soul. There is something magnetic about his energy. Even after returning home, my mind and heart still remain in Kedarnath.
I now take Bhole Baba’s name during every part of my daily life — whether I am happy, tired, relaxed, stressed, working, or resting. Once you truly experience his energy, it becomes impossible to forget.
Mahadev completely takes over your heart.
A Spiritual Journey That Has Just Begun
Even after returning from Kedarnath, I still feel emotionally connected to that divine place. My spiritual journey has only just begun. Many of my confusions cleared there, and many unanswered questions found peace within me.
Kedarnath Temple is not just a travel destination. It is an experience. It is a feeling. It is a place that transforms you from within.
I now wait desperately for the day Mahadev calls me back again.
This is one sacred place that everybody must visit at least once in their lifetime.
Har Har Mahadev!