Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the highest of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, sits at a staggering altitude of 3,583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, access...
Kedarnath
Abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas
Uttarakhand, India
4.9
JyotirlingaHimalayan TrekChar Dham
spiritualmountain
Duration: 3–4 Days
Budget/day: ₹2,000 – ₹7,000
Best season: May – Jun, Sep – Nov (temple open)
Altitude: 3,583 m
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (260 km)
Nearest railway: Rishikesh Railway Station (200 km) / Haridwar Junction (215 km)
Best places to visit in Kedarnath
Things to do in Kedarnath
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2–4 hours (queue-dependent)
Temple Darshan
Seek blessings at the Kedarnath Temple — one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva, believed to be over 1,200 years old and constructed by Adi Shankaracharya. Set at 3,583 m against a magnificent backdrop of Kedarnath Peak, the stone temple has miraculously survived multiple natural disasters including the catastrophic 2013 Kedarnath floods.
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5–8 hours one way
Himalayan Trek
Trek the 16 km traditional pilgrimage route from Gaurikund (1,982 m) to Kedarnath Temple (3,583 m) through one of India's most dramatic high-altitude landscapes — climbing through the Mandakini River gorge, crossing suspension bridges, passing stone dhabas, and ascending through alpine meadows with towering peaks on all sides.
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4–6 hours total (with transfer and temple time)
Helicopter Ride
Fly to Kedarnath by helicopter — a 7-minute flight from Phata, Sersi, or Guptkashi helipad that offers a spectacular aerial view of the Kedarnath Peak, the Mandakini River gorge, and the entire valley. Helicopter darshan packages include a limited time at the temple with priority entry.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: May to June, September to November
Temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) and closes on Bhai Dooj (Oct/Nov). Closed in winter due to heavy snowfall.
Opening Season
Best Time ⭐May – Jun
5°C – 15°C
Temple freshly opens. Wildflowers bloom. Good trekking weather before monsoon clouds move in.
- Book helicopter from Phata/Guptkashi if not trekking (₹4,000–₹7,000 one way)
- Register for Char Dham Yatra at Rishikesh
Post-Monsoon
Best Time ⭐Sep – Nov
2°C – 12°C
Crystal clear skies. Stunning Himalayan views. Fewer crowds than May–June.
- Best photography opportunities
- Trail is clear post-monsoon
Monsoon
Avoid 🔴Jul – Aug
8°C – 15°C
Heavy rainfall. Trek trail becomes slippery and risky. 2013 flash flood memory reminds of the danger.
- Temple open but conditions hazardous
- Helicopter services suspended in heavy rain
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (260 km to Gaurikund (trek base))
Duration: ~6 hrs by road
Fly to Dehradun, then drive to Guptkashi/Gaurikund. Helicopter from Phata or Guptkashi to Kedarnath (20 min).
Taxi: ₹4,000 – ₹7,000 (helicopter one way)
Airlines: IndiGo, Air India
🚂By Train
Station: Haridwar Junction / Rishikesh (then road to Gaurikund)
Take train to Haridwar, then hire a cab or share jeep to Gaurikund (200 km, 8 hrs).
- Shatabdi Express — Delhi (4.5 hrs to Haridwar)
- Jan Shatabdi — Delhi (5 hrs to Haridwar)
🚌By Road
Drive/bus to Gaurikund (200 km from Rishikesh). Then 18 km trek or helicopter to Kedarnath.
- Rishikesh: 200 km to Gaurikund, 8 hrs via Rudraprayag–Ukhimath
- Haridwar: 215 km to Gaurikund, 8.5 hrs via NH-58
Local Food
At 3,583 m, food is basic but warm. Simple dal, rice, roti, and tea are the pilgrim staples on the trail.
Kedar Prasadam
Dry fruits, sugar, and ghee mixed prasadam from the temple — energizing.
Where: Temple prasad counter
₹50 – ₹150
Dal Chawal
Simple lentil and rice meal — a staple for pilgrims after the long trek.
Where: Dhabas near the temple
₹80 – ₹150
Maggi Noodles
Every trekker's trail companion — served at every dhaba on the 18 km route.
Where: Tea stalls along the Kedarnath trek
₹50 – ₹80
Ginger Tea (Adrak Chai)
Hot ginger tea is the best antidote for cold mountain mornings.
Where: All dhabas and tea stalls on the trail
₹20 – ₹40
Food is simple at this altitude. Carry your own energy bars, dry fruits, and snacks. Restaurants near the base at Gaurikund are better equipped.
FAQs
- Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham yatra. The temple at 3,583 m is one of India's highest shrines, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The backdrop of snow-capped peaks makes it breathtaking.
Best Places Similar
Badrinath
Badrinath, one of the most revered Vishnu shrines in Hinduism and the final destination on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, sits at 3,133 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The colorful Badrinath Temple, framed by the towering Nilkantha Peak, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during its six-month opening season each year. The nearby Tapt Kund hot springs for ritual bathing, the mythologically significant Brahma Kapal ghat, and the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib nearby make Badrinath a destination of extraordinary spiritual and natural richness.
Gangotri
Gangotri, situated at 3,100 meters in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is the site of the Gangotri Temple dedicated to the River Goddess Ganga and the starting point for the trek to Gaumukh — the actual glacial source of the holy Ganges River. One of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Gangotri is believed to be the place where the sage Bhagirath meditated for thousands of years to bring the divine river Ganga to earth. The dramatic setting amid soaring Himalayan peaks, including the magnificent Bhagirathi group visible from the temple, makes Gangotri as visually awe-inspiring as it is spiritually significant.
Yamunotri
Yamunotri, the source of the sacred Yamuna River and the first stop on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit in Uttarakhand, sits at 3,293 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas and can only be reached by a 6-kilometer trek from Janki Chatti through majestic mountain scenery. The Yamunotri Temple, dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, is flanked by natural thermal springs where pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in the boiling water as a sacred offering. The Divya Shila rock pillar near the temple and the dramatic glacial Champasar Glacier above form a setting of raw Himalayan grandeur that leaves a lasting spiritual impression.
Nearby destinations
Chopta
30 km · Chopta, often called the "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand," is a serene meadow destination in the Rudraprayag district at an altitude of 2,700 meters and one of the best-kept secrets of the Garhwal Himalayas. It serves as the base camp for the highly revered trek to Tungnath — the world's highest Shiva temple — and further up to the Chandrashila Peak, which offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of peaks like Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, and Nanda Devi. Chopta's dense rhododendron forests and undisturbed natural beauty make it a paradise for birdwatchers, trekkers, and nature photographers.
Gangotri
32 km · Gangotri, situated at 3,100 meters in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is the site of the Gangotri Temple dedicated to the River Goddess Ganga and the starting point for the trek to Gaumukh — the actual glacial source of the holy Ganges River. One of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Gangotri is believed to be the place where the sage Bhagirath meditated for thousands of years to bring the divine river Ganga to earth. The dramatic setting amid soaring Himalayan peaks, including the magnificent Bhagirathi group visible from the temple, makes Gangotri as visually awe-inspiring as it is spiritually significant.
Badrinath
41 km · Badrinath, one of the most revered Vishnu shrines in Hinduism and the final destination on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, sits at 3,133 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The colorful Badrinath Temple, framed by the towering Nilkantha Peak, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during its six-month opening season each year. The nearby Tapt Kund hot springs for ritual bathing, the mythologically significant Brahma Kapal ghat, and the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib nearby make Badrinath a destination of extraordinary spiritual and natural richness.
