The adventures and spiritual trek to Kedarnath Dham will start from Gaurikund which is 17km. Though the level of trekking is a bit difficult still the on route beauty of this place will not let you feel tired. There are various tea stalls and food stalls where you can relax and get refreshed by drinking the special tea. If you are having a shortage of time or any other inability to trek then you can also opt for Helicopter, Doli, or Poney. After offering prayers in Kedarnath Dham you can also visit Bhairon temple, Ram gufa where Lord Rama meditated for Lord Shiva and Shankaracharya samadhi.
You can further visit Triyugi Narayan Temple where Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati got remarried. To reach Triyugi Narayan you need to come back to Sonparayag from Gaurikund and from Sonprayag you can sit in your cab, from there you can ask the driver to take you forward to Triyugi Narayan which is approx. 12 km away and only a small vehicle can go as the route is very narrow. Here, you can still see the burning havan kund there during all 12 months of the year. Kunda like Saraswati Kund, Lakshmi Kund, Brahma Kund, and Vishnu kund are present in Triyugi Narayan. Other than this you can visit Vishwanath temple and Ardh Nareshwar temple (Half body of lord Shiv and Half of goddess Sati).
There are 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and Kedarnath Dham is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Dham is located at an elevation of 11660 feet above sea level. The jyotirlinga in Kedarnath Dham was created by Pandavas, where the Torso of Bull incarnation of Lord Shiva is worshipped. Kedarnath Dham is the third Dham among the four holy dhams of Uttarakhand located in Guptkashi. You need to cover the distance of 17km by trekking from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Dham other than this you can also opt for Poney or Doli to reach the temple. If there are some old aged elder with you, or you are having scarcity of time then you can also opt for a Helicopter ride which can be started from Phata, Sersi, or Sitapur Helipad.
Why go on Kedarnath Trek?
Kedarnath Trek is one of the most famous treks of Uttarakhand that is done by most of the adventure lovers, but during the winter months, the path gets covered with a huge sheet of snow that makes it difficult to trek. Kedarnath is located at the elevation of 11660 feet so you need to be physically fit to do this trek, as it is located at a height and the trekking level is difficult. You will get a motorable road till Gaurikund but from there you need to cover the distance of 17km more to reach Kedarnath by trekking. Kedarnath trek is undertaken by various beginner adventure persons and can be covered with a group of friends and family. Kedarnath trek route is like a blessing for an individual who is seeking for some peace and tranquility, and you will get to see many mighty mountain peaks and waterfalls. On the way, you can spot various Deodar trees, Green Meadows, and many such landscapes that can make you awestruck.
Seasons for Kedarnath Trekking
Summer
During the summer months, the weather of Kedarnath Dham remains clear and present. The Mighty Himalayas can easily be visible and can also feel the cool breeze passing through during the evening and early morning. During this time period, it is advisable to carry some light woolens as it may get Chilly during the night time.
Winter
During the winter months, the complete area gets under the blanket of thick snow and at this point, the doors of the temple are shut and no one is allowed to go beyond Gaurikund. The difficulty level of the track increases during the winter season due to heavy snowfall on the route.
Monsoon
The Monsoon season upgrades the greenery of this spot yet the degree of the track turns out to be all the more testing because of weighty precipitation as there are more odds of occurring a landslide. During the rainstorm month, the picturesque magnificence and scene of Kedarnath Dham get upgraded however you have to face the challenge for having the sight of it. During this period it isn't prudent to do the track yet if you still want to, at that point you have to carry a raincoat and umbrella to keep yourself from getting wet and catching cold.
Altitude : 11660 feet of Kedarnath Dham.
Durations : A complete trek can be done in a period of two days.
Temperature : Summer 10°C to 32°C, Monsoon 9°C to 27°C, Winter 9°C to -8°C.
Trek Distance : The distance of trek from Gurikund to Kedarnath is 17 km.
Trek Type : Moderate to Difficulty
How To Reach
By Rail
Haridwar and Rishikesh railway stations are the nearest railway stations that are connected to the major cities of India. From the railway station, you can hire local bus private vehicles for a taxi to reach Sitapur which is the base camp for the trek.
By Road
There are many private buses, taxis, and government buses that run from Haridwar to Sitapur. The total distance between Haridwar and Sitapur is around 230 km which can be covered in the time period of 9 hours.
By Air
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport which is located in Dehradun. From the airport, you can hire any local vehicle for a cab to reach Sitapur by covering the distance of 200 kilometres in 8 hours.
Best Time To Visit
The best and ideal time for visiting Kedarnath Dham is throughout the mid-year months that is from April to May month, upon the occasion of Akshay Tritiya the doors of the sanctuary open. Again the doors open from September to October and after the event of Diwali, the doors of the sanctuary shut again. While in the middle of the mentioned month the sanctuary stays open yet because of precipitation in June and July because of landslides, yatra gets troublesome.
Points to be taken into consideration
You need to have a tracking stick without that you can't Move in the mountains.
No tight on body-hugging clothes are allowed.
You need to wear light clothes which can dry easily.
Your body should be fully hydrated and you need to carry a water bottle along with you on the trek.
A pair of raincoats should be taken along on the trek.
You should have good Sports or trekking shoes.
While moving upward you should put down your heel first and while coming downwards you need to walk on your flat foot.
Any kind of meditation should only be taken after the Consultants.
Things to Carry
Track pants.
Full sleeve T-shirts with a collar.
Jacket with full sleeves.
Woolen inner wears.
Normal comfortable clothes.
Woolen muffler, scarf and cap.
Raincoat or umbrella.
A medical kit containing bandage, Crepe bandage, Crocin, combiflam, cotton, Betadine, moove and other sprays.
Four pairs of sports socks.
Sports or trekking shoes.
100% UV protection sunglasses.
Lip and skincare balms.
Hot bag or water bottle.
Drinking water bottle.
Walking stick.
Torch or an LED light.
Lightweight Towels
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Que: Who is the God of Kedarnath?
Ans: Kedarnath is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This holy temple was established by Adi Shankaracharya, about 1000 years ago. This Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is related to the Epic Mahabharata. Pandavas arrived at this place while going towards Swarga for having the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Que: Is Kedarnath safe to travel?
Ans: While traveling to Kedarnath Dham in the crowd you need to take the utmost care of your belongings and also during the rainy season, there is a major landslide on the way to Kedarnath so it is advised not to plan a trip during that time.
Que: Can we visit Kedarnath by helicopter?
Ans: Kedarnath can be visited by a helicopter from Dehadun’s Sahastradhara helipad you will fly till Phata or Sitapur helipad and from the changing helicopter you will fly to Kedarnath Dham. Yatra can be completed in one day by helicopter.
Que: Does Kedarnath have snow?
Ans: Kedarnath is located at an altitude of 3,553 m which is even higher than Badrinath so it receives heavy snowfall in a good amount. Due to the Snowfall, the temple remains closed and the doli of Lord Shiva shifts downwards.
Que: Atm facilities in Kedarnath?
Ans: There are a number of ATM services near Kedarnath Dham. Special service in the Kedarnath Dham was started by HDFC bank recently. Cash can also be withdrawn in Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, and Agastya muni.
Que: How can one visit Kedarnath from Rishikesh and Haridwar?
Ans: You can hire a private taxi service as the distance from Rishikesh is 225 km and from Haridwar, it is 397 km. You can also board the local buses from Rishikesh to Gaurikund which is about 17km before Kedarnath Dham and from there trek toward Kedarnath Dham starts.
Que: How long is Kedarnath trek and how can it be covered?
Ans: Trek for Kedarnath Dham starts from Gaurikund which is almost 17 km of a distance. You can cover this distance by trekking but if you don’t want to trek then you can take helicopter service from Phata and Sitapur helipad. If you don't want to trek and also don’t want to spend a huge amount of Helicopter then you can also take poney and doli service or can also take a stick for covering the distance.
Que: Restaurant facilities in Kedarnath?
Ans: There are various restaurants like Mayadeep restaurant, snow view restaurant, and magpie restaurant in the market area, offering various types of dishes.
Que: Where to Stay in Kedarnath?
Ans: There are many good hotels located near Guptkashi and Sitapur, which offer the best comfortable accommodation for the guest and if you don't want to stay in a hotel then you can also opt for Dharamshala.
Que: How is the condition of the road to Kedarnath Dham?
Ans: It's very important to take the pre-knowledge of roads before going in the hilly area. During the monsoon season, there can be landslides that cause difficulty otherwise roads to Kedarnath are very good and smooth as they are part of NH-109 and NH-58 till Gaurikund.
Inclusions
Pickup and drop from Haridwar bus stand/railway station or Dehradun airport.
Proper accommodation in camp or guest house with attached washroom.
Accommodation on the basis of triple sharing.
Breakfast, evening snack and dinner all meals included.
Entry charge in the forest.
Fees of trek guide.
Safety gears and the first aid kit.
Any other tax.
Exclusions
Pickup from any part of India to Haridwar/Dehradun.
Any personal expenses.
Any other transportation taken during the trek.
Hotel in Dehradun.
Extra baggage charges.
Any extra cost occurs due to roadblock, landslide or any other natural calamity.
