Kedarnath Travel Guide
The highest of the four shrines, reached on a 16 km trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter from Phata.
- Altitude
- 3,583 m
- Best season
- May – Oct
- From Dehradun
- 250 km
- Category
- Char Dham
Why visit Kedarnath
- One of the twelve Jyotirlingas — among Hinduism's holiest Shiva shrines
- Dramatic setting at 3,583 m flanked by the Kedarnath and Kedar Dome peaks
- The 16 km trek via Gaurikund is a pilgrimage experience unlike any other in India
- Helicopter services from Phata and Sirsi make it accessible to all fitness levels
- Part of the Char Dham circuit — completing all four earns immense religious merit
- Gandhi Sarovar glacial lake, a 3 km walk above the temple, is almost always crowd-free
Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and the most visited of Uttarakhand's Char Dham shrines. The temple sits at 3,583 metres in the Mandakini valley, framed by the Kedarnath peak.
The shrine opens each year around Akshaya Tritiya (April–May) and closes after Diwali. Reaching it means a 16 km trek from Gaurikund — ponies, palanquins and helicopter services from Phata, Sirsi and Guptkashi are the alternatives.
Explore around
Places near Kedarnath
Glacial lake with reflection of Kedarnath peak — few pilgrims walk this far
Guardian deity of Kedarnath; ritual visit before leaving is traditional
Start/end of the trek; Gauri Devi temple and natural hot spring
Sonprayag5 km below GaurikundConfluence of Mandakini and Son Ganga; last stop for vehicles from other states
Guptkashi47 km from GaurikundVishwanath temple town; best overnight base with hotels and connectivity
High-altitude lake at 4,135 m; permit required; serious trekkers only
What to do
Activities at Kedarnath
Pilgrimage & Darshan
Morning darshan (4–6 am) inside the sanctum is the primary experience — arrive before sunrise for shorter queues and cooler air. Evening aarti at around 7:30 pm is mandatory if you're staying overnight.
Trekking
The 16 km trek from Gaurikund gains roughly 1,400 m in altitude. It is paved for most of its length, passing through Jungle Chatti, Bheembali and Linchauli; the final stretch above Linchauli is the steepest.
Helicopter ride
Helicopter services from Phata, Sirsi and Guptkashi cut travel to 7–10 minutes each way. Book through official IRCTC portal or authorised operators; fares change every season.
Gandhi Sarovar walk
A 3 km trail behind the temple leads to this moraine-dammed glacial lake. Almost no pilgrims continue here, so it is completely quiet.
Camping at Kedarnath
GMVN and a handful of private operators run fixed-camp setups between Linchauli and the temple. Camping in the open near the glacier area is not permitted.
Before you go
Kedarnath travel tips
- Yatra registration (biometric with Aadhaar) is mandatory and must be completed before you leave Sonprayag — online registration at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
- Sonprayag is the last point vehicles from other states can reach; local jeeps cover the remaining 5 km to Gaurikund base
- Carry warm layers even in May–June — temperatures at the temple drop below 5°C at night through the season
- Start the trek by 5 am from Gaurikund to avoid afternoon cloud and potential rain; most altitude sickness cases arrive mid-morning when people rush
- ATMs function unreliably above Guptkashi — carry sufficient cash in small denominations
- Helicopter fares are heavily regulated; book only through IRCTC or state government portals to avoid overcharging
- The 2013 floods reshaped the valley — the current trail and facilities are rebuilt, but the weather pattern of sudden heavy rain in July–August remains
- Mules and palanquins are available throughout the route; fix the price officially at the Gauri Kund stand before departure
Getting there
How to reach Kedarnath
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (250 km). Helicopter from Phata/Sirsi to Kedarnath directly; book via IRCTC helicopter portal.
Rishikesh railway station (229 km) is the practical railhead. Haridwar (248 km) connects to more trains nationally. Road from Rishikesh via Devprayag–Rudraprayag–Guptkashi takes 8–9 hours.
Dehradun to Sonprayag via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi is 233 km (8–9 hrs). Shared jeeps available from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Sonprayag → Gaurikund: 5 km by local jeep only.
Where to stay in Kedarnath
- Kedarnath base has GMVN dormitory tents and basic lodges — electricity is limited, geysers are rare, conditions are genuinely austere
- Linchauli (14 km from Gaurikund) has private tent camps popular with those splitting the trek into two days
- Guptkashi (47 km below) has the best hotel range — mid-range properties with hot water and reliable power; recommended for families and older pilgrims
- Sonprayag and Phata have budget guesthouses suitable for an arrival-night halt before the yatra
- Book Kedarnath accommodation at least 3–4 months ahead for May–June and September; this is when queues for darshan are also longest
Food & dining
- The temple town is a strict no-meat, no-alcohol zone — all eateries serve vegetarian only
- Dal, rice, puri, aloo sabzi and khichdi form the standard menu at dhabas along the trail
- Maggi, biscuits and packaged snacks are available at rest points along the trek but cost 3–4× the plains price
- Prasad from the temple — rice cooked in the Gauri Kund hot springs — is a ritual offering rather than a restaurant experience
- The GMVN canteen near the temple offers the most consistent cooked food at the base
Background
History of Kedarnath
Kedarnath's origins in recorded history trace to the Mahabharata period, when the Pandavas are said to have sought Lord Shiva here to atone for the sin of killing kin in the Kurukshetra war. Shiva, unwilling to grant them absolution easily, took the form of a bull and submerged into the earth at Kedarnath — his hump remaining above ground as the stone Shivalinga worshipped today.
The present stone temple is widely attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, who visited in the 8th century CE, restored the shrine and established the tradition of the Rawat (head priest) being appointed from among the Veerashaiva Lingayat community of Karnataka — a tradition that continues to this day. Shankaracharya is believed to have attained samadhi at Kedarnath at the age of 32; a small samadhi shrine stands behind the main temple.
The catastrophic floods of June 2013 buried much of Kedarnath town under rock and debris — thousands of pilgrims lost their lives. The temple structure itself survived, protected in part by a massive boulder that deflected the debris flow. Subsequent years saw a major rebuilding effort: the current trekking path, infrastructure and GMVN facilities are the rebuilt versions completed between 2014 and 2019.
Plan your trip
Suggested Kedarnath itinerary
- Day 1Arrive Rishikesh or Haridwar by train or flight. Overnight at Rishikesh.
- Day 2Drive Rishikesh → Guptkashi (185 km, 7 hrs via Devprayag and Rudraprayag). Check in and rest. Evening visit to Ardhnareshwar or Vishwanath temple in Guptkashi.
- Day 3Drive to Sonprayag (25 km), jeep to Gaurikund (5 km). Begin trek at 5 am. Rest halt at Jungle Chatti (5 km) and Bheembali (11 km). Reach Kedarnath (16 km) by noon. Afternoon darshan or rest.
- Day 4Early morning darshan at 4 am. Walk to Gandhi Sarovar if fit. Return trek to Gaurikund by noon. Drive back to Guptkashi or Rudraprayag overnight.
- Day 5Drive back to Rishikesh or Haridwar. Depart or continue to next Char Dham stop (Badrinath via Joshimath).
Common questions
Kedarnath FAQ
- Is yatra registration mandatory for Kedarnath?
- Yes. Biometric registration with Aadhaar is compulsory for all Indian pilgrims. Register online at the Uttarakhand government portal or at registration counters in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Sonprayag.
- Can I visit Kedarnath in July–August?
- The temple is open but the July–August monsoon brings heavy rain, trail slippage and frequent helicopter cancellations. Experienced pilgrims generally prefer May–June or September–October.
- How difficult is the Kedarnath trek?
- Moderate to challenging — 16 km with 1,400 m altitude gain. Anyone in reasonable health can complete it with a slow pace and early start. Mules and palanquins are available for those who cannot walk.
- What is the best time to visit Kedarnath?
- May–June for clear post-winter skies, and September–October for post-monsoon clarity and fewer crowds. The June–July monsoon period is passable but wetter.
- Are mobile phones usable at Kedarnath?
- BSNL, Jio and Airtel have limited coverage near the temple. Signal is stronger during clear weather. Do not rely on connectivity for navigation or bookings above Guptkashi.
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