In News:

=> Recently, A section of priests opposed the gold plating being done on the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath temple.

=> Currently, the sanctum sanctorum  is covered with 230 kilogram of silver.

Kedarnath Temple:

• Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is located in Uttarakhand on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river and is an integral part of the famous Char Dham Yatra.
• It was built in the 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India.
• The temple is closed during winter, since during the winter season the deity is brought down to a village called Ukhimat.
• The deity is carried back to the temple in summer, when the weather improves, amid much fanfare and rituals.
• Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Mandakini river:

• The Mandakini River is a tributary of the Alaknanda River.
• The river runs between the Rudraprayag and Sonprayag areas and emerges from the Chorabari Glacier.
• The Mandakini River merges with Songanga river at Sonprayag.
• At the end of its course it drains into the Alaknada, which flows into the Ganges.