Kedarnath: The Land of Devotion and Natural Beauty

Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu temple, one of the twelve jyotirlinga of Shiva. The temple is located on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Kedarnath is seen as a homogenous form of Shiva, the 'Lord of Kedarkhand', the historical name of the region.

Best time to visit :

Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open to the general public only between the months of April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima, the autumn full moon). During the winters, the vigraha (deity) of the temple is carried down to Ukhimath to be worshipped for the next six months.

History of Shri Kedarnath Dham :

The temple is not directly accessible by road and has to be reached by a 22 kilometres (14 mi) uphill trek from Gaurikund. Pony, mule and manchan service is available to reach the temple. According to Hindu legends, the temple was initially built by the Pandavas, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Shiva. The Pandavas were supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath. This temple is the highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas.

How to reach Kedarnath Dham ? :

By Road : The highway to Kedarnath terminates at Gaurikund, where a short 14-kilometre hike begins. Motorable highways link Gaurikund with the main cities in Uttarakhand and the northern Indian states. Through ISBT Kashmiri Gateway in Delhi, buses are accessible to Rishikesh.

Rishikesh (24 km) – Devprayag (74 km) – Srinagar (34 km) – Rudraprayag (33 km) – Gaurikund (via Augustmuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Sitapur – Sonprayag 74 km) – Kedarnath by trek (16 km)

By Train : Rishikesh is the station that is closest to Kedarnath. Located on NH58, Rishikesh Train Station is 216 kilometres from Kedarnath. The railway system connects Rishikesh with the main cities in India.

In Rishikesh, trains run often. Rishikesh and Gaurikund are well interconnected by highways. Buses and taxis may be easily found to travel between Rishikesh and Gaurikund.

By Air : The closest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant, which is located 238 kilometres away. With frequent flights, Jolly Grant Airport is well-linked to Delhi. Jolly Grant Airport and Gaurikund are well accessible by road. From Jolly Grant Airport, cabs are easily accessible to Gaurikund.

How to reach to Kedarnath temple from GuptKashi ?

By Helicopter : In case one decide to reach Kedarnath temple via a helicopter then you will be traveling from Haridwar / Rishikesh to Phata via a taxi service which will be covering a distance of almost 200 kms. There are only 3 helipads from where you can take the helicopter to reach the temple.

Guptkashi – Rs 7,750

Phata – Rs 4,720

Sersi – Rs 4,680

You can book heli services from this website - heliservices.uk.gov.in

By Trekking : The trek to Kedarnath is a 18 km trek which starts from Gaurikund till Kedarnath. The trek has changed since the 2013 flood disaster in Uttrakhand and since then the 14 km trek to Kedarnath has increased to a 16km trek.

Route Map of the Kedarnath Trek..

The Kedarnath trek is a 18 km trek which starts from Gaurikund. Earlier the route followed was from Rambara, it was a well developed, well fenced and a facilitated trek route. However the Gov has now changed the trek Route of Kedarnath after the 2013 disaster as the old trek route to Kedarnath was completely erased. The New Trek Route to Kedarnath is given below which will be your Travel Guide to Kedarnath Trek.

- Reach at Gaurikund (6km approx) through shared taxi from Sonprayag

- Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti(6km) through the Rambara Bridge.

- Jungle Chatti to Bheembali (4km)

- Bheembali to Linchauli (3km)

- Linchauli to Kedarnath Base Camp (4km)

- Kedarnath Base Camp to Kedarnath Temple (1km)

Timings of Kedarnath Trek from Gaurikund commences from 04:00AM in the morning till 01:30PM. This timing is fixed because Kedarnath is located in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and therefore the pilgrims are not allowed to trek anytime. No pilgrim is allowed to leave after this specific time. These are high altitudes trek so it is advisory for the ones with respiratory problems to first consult with a doctor before trekking. The Kedarnath Trek facilities include the services of Palki/Dandi, Kandi & Mule/Ponies. Anyone can book these services from the booking counter at Gaurikund/Sonprayag. Different distances have different rates such as the Gaurikund to Kedarnath Dandi will cost Rs 4450, Kandi will cost Rs 3350 and the Poni will cost Rs 4100. In the midst of the trek there are proper facilities of tented accommodation, drinking water and small shops/ restaurants are also there in the trek route. There is also Helicopter services from the Kedarnath helipad to Phata and other helipads.

How to plan Kedarnath yatra ? A typical itinerary to visit Kedarnath is as follows :

Day 1: Arrival in Haridwar/Rishikesh

Arrive at Haridwar or Rishikesh by rail, which are the nearest major cities accessible by road and rail. Check into your hotel and rest for the day.

One can explore the local markets and take part in the Ganga Aarti ceremony in the evening. Visit ashrams and the mighty Ganga river.

Day 2: Haridwar/Rishikesh to Guptkashi

On the second day wake up early. After breakfast, start your journey towards Guptkashi, which is about 200-220 kilometers from Haridwar/Rishikesh. Roads are in good condition but be careful about landslides if its rainy.

Check into your hotel in Guptkashi and rest for the night.

Day 3: Guptkashi to Kedarnath

Early morning, check out from the hotel and proceed to Sonprayag, which is the base point for the Kedarnath trek.

From Sonprayag, you can either trek to Kedarnath (approximately 16 kilometers) or take a helicopter ride (subject to availability).

Upon reaching Kedarnath, visit the Kedarnath Temple for darshan (worship).

Stay overnight in a guesthouse or dharamshala in Kedarnath.

Day 4: Kedarnath to Guptkashi

After morning darshan at the Kedarnath Temple, start your journey back to Guptkashi.

Check into your hotel in Guptkashi and relax for the night.

Day 5: Guptkashi to Haridwar/Rishikesh

Check out from your hotel in Guptkashi and drive back to Haridwar or Rishikesh.

Check into your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

Day 6: Departure

Depending on your travel arrangements, you can explore more of Haridwar or Rishikesh or proceed with your onward journey.

Please note that this is a general itinerary, and the actual duration of your Kedarnath Yatra may vary depending on your travel preferences and the mode of transportation you choose.

Additionally, it's essential to check the weather conditions and obtain any necessary permits or passes for the trek before starting your journey to Kedarnath. Always consult with local authorities and experienced tour operators for the most up-to-date information and guidance.

Thank you for reading...

For more travel stories and information follow @wanderer_shivani