There are more than 200 Shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important is Kedarnath. Kedarnath shrine, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is a scenic spot situated against the background of majestic snowy Kedarnath range.
'Kedar' is also another name for lord Shiva - the protector and the destroyer. There are 200 shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli distinct itself, the most important is Kedarnath. Shrine of Kedarnath lying at the altitude of 3584 Mts. on the head of river Mandakini is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindu.
The origin of revered temple can be found in great epic Mahabharat. After the wars, the Pandavas lost their peace of mind after committing the great sin of slaying their Guru and brothers and sought the blessing of Lord Shiva for redemption. Lord Shiva avoid them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of bull. On being followed, He dived into the ground, leaving behind His hump of the surface. The hump is worshipped in the temple of Kedarnath in the conical Shiva pinda form.
The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at other places.

Tungnath for the arms (Bahu)
Rudranath for the face (Mukha)
Madmaheshwar for the navel (Nabhi)
Kalpeshwar for the hairs (Jata)

Jointly these five parts are worshipped as Panch Kedars.
The Lingam at Kedarnath is pyramidal unlike its usual form statue of Nandi -the celestial Bull stand at the entrance of temple and exquisitely carved images adorn the interiors of the temple.
Words can not express the true real feeling experienced by an individual when he is surrounded with so much beauty, majestic in style and architecture, constructed of evenly cuts from massive stone slabs temple along with the village is situated on a large glaciers terrace. The walls of the temple are embellished with large sized images of deities and scenes from mythology.
The shrine has a 'Mandap' and a 'Garbha Griha' in the centre of rich is a conical rock (The Hump of the Bull), encircled by a narrow 'Pradikshana Path', which is worshipped as Lord Shiva. In the Mandap right in front of the Shiva 'Pinda is Nandi, the divine bull an Shiva's Mount, in the courtyard facing the Garbha Griha is a very large Nandi- here again one wonders of the massive stone, on which the bull is carved, was brought up to these heights. Outside, there are many idols and small temples. The temple is made of Grey stones and with a glided pinnacle. The large Grey steps of the temple have inscriptions in Pali or Brahmi.

Hundreds of devotees flock every day to worship at the shrine both morning and evening. The morning puja, called the Nirvana Darshan, worships the Shiva Pind in the natural form when Ghee and water are offered. In the evening puja, the Pind is adorned with ornaments and flowers while a golden umbrella hangs from above chandeliers glow. The bells chime and the pujaris chants mantras disseminating love and peace, the whole scene in the glittering Mandap is charged with emotions, worldly cares melt away and are forgotten in the bliss of religious fervour