Aryan Aviation’s operations for the Char Dham pilgrimage suspended after helicopter accident.

Kedarnath, located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, is an ancient and sacred pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the four major sites in India’s Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and is situated in the Himalayas, near the Mandakini river. The temple at Kedarnath, believed to have been originally constructed by the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata and later rebuilt by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, is revered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India.

Char Dham is a set of four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in India that are widely revered and visited by thousands of devotees each year. The sites include Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, each located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The pilgrimage holds deep spiritual significance and is believed to help achieve moksha (liberation), with origins tracing back to the 8th-century philosopher and reformer Adi Shankaracharya who revitalized these shrines.

Guptkashi is a religiously significant town located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India. Known for its ancient temples, it houses the prominent Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, mirroring the one in Varanasi. The town holds historical importance as it is believed to be the spot where Shiva proposed to Parvati and also where Shiva hid from the Pandavas, who were seeking his blessing to atone for their sins in the Mahabharata, hence the name ‘Gupt’ (hidden) Kashi.

Shri Kedarnath Ji, located in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India, is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and is situated in the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, at an altitude of approximately 3,583 meters. Dating back over a thousand years, the temple’s historical and religious significance is immense, with its architecture believed to have been initially constructed by the Pandavas from the Mahabharata epic and later revived by the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. The temple is accessible only by foot and is open to pilgrims only between April and November due to extreme weather conditions in the winter months.

Gaurikund is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, serving as the commencement point for the trek to the holy shrine of Kedarnath. This place holds religious importance as it is associated with Goddess Parvati, also known as Gauri, who is believed to have performed penance here to win Lord Shiva’s affection. The area is known for its hot springs and also suffered considerable damage during the devastating floods in 2013, which led to extensive reconstruction efforts to restore its accessibility and facilities for pilgrims.