Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant recently visited the sacred Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand with family members amid the ongoing Char Dham season, paying obeisance to Lord Shiva at the ancient Himalayan shrine.
Visuals from the temple premises showed the Chief Justice participating in customary religious rituals and offering prayers to the temple, situated against the backdrop of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges.
Justice Surya Kant, who assumed office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India in November 2025, undertook the pilgrimage during a period when lakhs of devotees travel to Uttarakhand’s sacred shrines as part of the annual Char Dham Yatra. Kedarnath, regarded as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and a key component of the Char Dham circuit, holds significant religious and cultural importance within India’s broader heritage landscape.
Located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, the temple attracts a large number of pilgrims each year despite its difficult terrain and high-altitude conditions. The shrine has also come to symbolise resilience in the aftermath of the 2013 floods, following extensive reconstruction, restoration, and infrastructure strengthening undertaken in the region, which has since facilitated improved accessibility and increased pilgrim footfall.
The portals of Kedarnath Dham for the 2026 pilgrimage season were opened on April 22 in accordance with traditional Vedic rituals and ceremonial practices, marking the commencement of this year’s Yatra. Since then, the shrine has witnessed a steady inflow of devotees, including pilgrims, public figures, and dignitaries.
The Chief Justice’s visit adds to the list of prominent constitutional functionaries and public personalities who have paid obeisance at the shrine during the ongoing pilgrimage season. His presence was confined to religious observance and participation in rituals, with reports indicating that the visit was not linked to any official judicial or administrative engagement.
As the Char Dham Yatra continues, Kedarnath remains a focal point of faith and pilgrimage, drawing devotees from across the country who undertake the arduous journey to the Himalayan temple in pursuit of spiritual devotion and religious observance.
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