Rahul Gandhi prays at Kedarnath shrine

After a trek of 16 km to Kedarnath, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at the shrine of Lord Shiva at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand on Friday.

The Gandhi scion said he was there to also pay respects to the victims of the 2013 flashfloods in the state.

Thousands of people lost their lives following a cloudburst which led to flashfloods and landslides when the Char Dham yatra was underway.

He spent the night at a hut at Linchauli on Thursday and trekked to the shrine, covering about 16 km in the forenoon.

Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel and others accompanied Gandhi to the shrine, where he mingled with the devotees.

On the way, he stopped for a tea break at Jungle Chatti.

Gandhi later told reporters here that he felt at peace during his visit to the shrine.

On being asked what he sought from god, he said he did not ask for anything, adding that he felt "a fire-like feeling" inside the shrine.

Gandhi said the reason for visiting the Kedarnath shrine was to "pay respects to those who lost their lives in the 2013 tragedy".

He said he was offered a chopper to fly to the shrine by the state but he chose to walk up as a "mark of respect" for the people who died on this route.

He also hailed the army, government officials, police and the local people for the hard work they put in the rehabilitation process.

The Congress leader also praised the state government and said "it has done commendable restoration and rehabilitation" work in the aftermath of the calamity.

He said other states should emulate Uttrakhand's idea of building a helipad to help in the rescue efforts in case of natural calamities.

Earlier, the 'kapaat' (portal) of the shrine was opened at 8.50 a.m. on Friday amid chanting of hymns.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat was present on the occasion.