Vriddha Kedar Tirtha

Vriddha Kedar Tirtha is a revered Hindu pilgrimage site and Shiva temple located in Kaithal, Haryana. It is one of the 48 Kos Tirthas of the Kurukshetra pilgrimage circuit. Traditionally associated with the ancient town of Kapisthala, the tirtha is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vriddha Kedar. The site includes a temple complex and sacred tank and attracts devotees especially during Maha Shivratri and Somvati Amavasya.

Visitors can expect a modest temple complex centered on a Shiva shrine with a lingam, accompanied by a sacred tank (kunda) used for ritual bathing and prayers. The setting is within the urban area of Kaithal with paved courtyards, small shrines and open bathing ghats. The atmosphere is devotional with daily worship, chanting and offerings. Visitors can walk around the temple and tank, observe rituals and explore the immediate religious precinct.

Vriddha Kedar Tirtha is traditionally identified with the ancient town of Kapisthala, founded by Yudhishthira according to local tradition. It is listed among the 48 Kos Tirthas of Kurukshetra described in the Vamana Purana and other texts. The tirtha is associated with worship of Shiva as Vriddha Kedar and has long served as a centre for ancestral rites and pilgrimage within the Kurukshetra region.

The tirtha holds religious importance for Shaivite devotees and pilgrims undertaking the 48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra. Bathing in the sacred tank and worship of Vriddha Kedar is believed to bestow spiritual merit. The site is culturally significant during festivals such as Maha Shivratri and Somvati Amavasya when devotees gather for prayers, ritual bathing and pind daan for ancestors.