Kedarnath

Activities in Kedarnath

Pilgrimage – Perched at an altitude of 3,500 meters, Kedarnath is one of the most revered Hindu shrines and thousands of pilgrims partake in arduous pilgrimage every year. The shrine sleeps under a thick blanket of snow during winters. 

Trekking – Kedarnath temple is located 19  km from Gaurikund, the nearest town with road connectivity. Thus, one has to trek 16 kms to the Kedarnath shrine making it a wonderful trekking experience. You can also extend your treks to Chorabari Tal, Vasuki Tal and Bhairon mandir in Kedarnath

Camping in Kedarnath – Since there is only little accommodation at Kedarnath, tourists and pilgrims can also set up tents near the town and enjoy the natural beauty that envelops the town as well as the towering Kedarnath peak in the background.

Staying in Kedarnath

You will find a big Govt tented colony consisted of Tents, Cottage, and rooms just before Kedarnath is operated by GMVN, which are sufficient to accommodate more than a thousand pilgrims and tourists. There are many hotels and lodges around the temple since Kedarnath is a small place. You can find a room upon reaching there.

All the stays and food is extremely basic, the geyser is a big luxury, so don't expect running hot water or room service, you're getting to sleep on a bed at that height is enough in itself.

Nowadays, many tourists take Helicopters to Kedarnath for a day's visit and come back from Kedarnath the same day. They generally stay in these locations: Phata, Rampur,  Gaurikund, Sitapur, Sonprayag, Guptkasthi, etc. For more details check hotels in Kedarnath.

Kedarnath Food Guide

Apart from few roadside dhabas and tea stalls there are not many good eating options at Kedarnath. The local restaurants serve north Indian vegetarian food. Due to being a revered religious place, alcohol and non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited at Kedarnath.

History of Kedarnath

According to Mahabharata, the Pandavas had built the Kedarnath Temple where they pleased Lord Shiva with their penance. The temple was revived by the great Hindu philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya in the 8^th century CE, when he visited the place with his four disciples. Sadly, the temple was hit by the catastrophic floods of 2013, which engulfed hundreds innocent lives.

Mythology about Kedarnath

There is a famous Hindu mythology related to the origin of Kedarnath temple, which states that after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas went on an anonymous journey to beg mercy from Lord Shiva. After failing multiple times, Bhima was able to find Lord Shiva, who had incarnated as a bull to hide from the Pandavas. 

Bhima tried to catch it and hit its hind part with his mace. The injured bull then immersed in the earth and its body parts appeared indifferent places. It is believed that the hind part of the bull appeared at Kedarnath, from which a 'Jyotirlinga' or light flickered and Lord Shiva appeared in his divine avatar. 

It is said that after taking the blessings of the cosmic light, the Pandavas were exempted of their sins and Lord Shiva told them, “from now onwards, I will be present here as a triangular shaped Jyotir Linga and by paying obeisance at Kedarnath, the devotees would attain piety". From then onwards, a triangular shaped rock is worshiped in the 'Garbhagriha' or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The other four parts of Lord Shiva fell at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhmaheshwar and Kapleshwar. Kedarnath along with these four are also described as Panch Kedar.

Pilgrims believe that a visit to Kedarnath:

• Washes away sins
• Grants moksha (liberation)
• Completes the Char Dham pilgrimage

Suggested Kedarnath Tour Itinerary

If you're planning your first Kedarnath trip and aren't sure how to plan the Kedarnath Dham yatra, this itinerary will help you map it out.

A 4 to 5 day itinerary for Kedarnath Dham offers a good mix of spirituality and adventure.

Day 1: Reach Rishikesh

Rishikesh is well connected by rail, and inter-state and national bus routes. If you're flying in, Jollygrant Airport is about 20 km away, roughly a 35-minute drive. It helps to travel overnight so you reach Rishikesh in the early morning and can start the road journey to Kedarnath the same day.

Day 2: Rishikesh to Sonprayag or Gaurikund (211 km / 8 hours by road)

From the Rishikesh bus terminal, you can catch a bus or shared Tata Sumo toward Sonprayag. Direct buses to Sonprayag are hard to find, so it's usually easier to book to Guptkashi instead — the last major town before Kedarnath, with regular daily service from most major cities in Uttarakhand. You can also route via Rudraprayag and then on to Guptkashi. From Guptkashi, shared jeeps or Tata Sumos cover the remaining stretch to Sonprayag.

Road route from Rishikesh to Sonprayag:
Rishikesh > Devprayag > Srinagar > Rudraprayag > Augustmuni > Guptkashi > Sonprayag

Rudraprayag - Confluence of Mandakini & Alaknanda rivers.

Biometric registration at Sonprayag

Every pilgrim is required to complete biometric registration for the Kedarnath yatra. You can do this in advance online — see how to complete Char Dham biometric registration online — or complete it on arrival at Sonprayag. Either way, carry your Aadhaar card with you.

Facilities available at Sonprayag:

• Biometric registration for the Kedarnath and wider Char Dham yatra.
• Accommodation ranging from budget to deluxe hotels.
• Parking for personal vehicles.
• Shared jeep shuttle service onward to Gaurikund.

Sonprayag to Gaurikund shuttle, and staying overnight at Gaurikund

Sonprayag is the last point any vehicle — personal or public — can reach. Beyond this, the remaining 5 km to Gaurikund is covered only by shared shuttle jeeps; there's a large parking area at Sonprayag on the bank of the Mandakini for pilgrims arriving by car. Shuttle fares are modest and charged per person — confirm the current rate at the counter, since it's revised from time to time.

Once you reach Gaurikund, hotel rooms are available directly from local owners — room charges vary by hotel and by season, with rates rising sharply during peak yatra months (May–June). It's worth asking two or three owners before settling, rather than assuming a fixed budget rate.

Baba Kedar Doli at Gaurikund, on its way toward Kedarnath temple.

Day 3: Gaurikund to Kedarnath (16 km trek / 5–6 hours)

The trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund runs 16 km along a paved path. Horses and ponies are available if you'd rather not walk the full stretch.

A few trekking tips for the journey:

• Start early in the morning to avoid the harsher midday sun.
• Don't set off on an empty stomach — it makes the climb harder than it needs to be.
• Carry a rain poncho or umbrella; weather in the valley can shift quickly.
• Pack light and wear shoes with good grip — a heavy bag slows you down and can strain your back over 16 km.
• Carry a reusable water bottle, and don't discard plastic on the trail.
• Stay alert on the path, especially near returning ponies — they use the same trail downhill and can be dangerous if you're not paying attention.
• The stretch between Jungle Chatti and Linchauli is where most first-time trekkers feel it the most — it's steeper than the earlier part of the route, so pace yourself rather than pushing hard early on.

Trek route to Kedarnath Temple

Starting around 8 AM, you'll typically reach Kedarnath by early-to-mid afternoon, around 3 PM. Find a room for the night — solo travellers may end up sharing a room, while families with a bit more budget can book a room to themselves. Evenings are a good time for photography and simply taking in the temple atmosphere.

It's worth chatting with fellow pilgrims about their own journeys — it's a good way to unwind after a long trek. Walking around the temple with the snow-capped Himalayas as a backdrop is, for many pilgrims, one of the most memorable moments of the whole yatra. Have an early dinner and turn in on time — you'll want to be rested for the trek back down the next day.

Day 4: Kedarnath Temple to Sonprayag via Gaurikund (16 km trek / 5–6 hours)

Wake early, bathe, and head to Kedarnath Temple for darshan. From joining the queue to completing darshan usually takes about three hours, though this can run longer during peak season. Prasad shops are available around the temple. Afterward, consider visiting Baba Bhairav Temple, about 600 metres away on a nearby hilltop.

Mule stand — you'll need to buy a token if you want to cover the trekking route on mule-back.

eUttaranchal Tip 1: If you plan to visit Bhairavnath Temple, do it right after checking out of your hotel — there's a small shortcut from Bhairav Temple that rejoins the main trail, saving you real time on the way back to Gaurikund/Sonprayag.

You can hire a pony, palki, or trek the distance yourself. It takes 5 to 6 hours to reach Gaurikund, from where a shuttle takes you on to Sonprayag.

eUttaranchal Tip 2: If you reach Sonprayag by 2–3 PM, push on to Guptkashi (30 km / roughly 1.5 hours) the same evening. It saves you time the next morning and gets you ahead of the morning traffic out.

Day 5: Guptkashi to Rishikesh (184 km / 7 hours)

The final leg back to Rishikesh takes 7–8 hours. Start early so you have time to catch a night bus or train onward from Rishikesh if needed.

Guptkashi main market, on the Kedarnath highway.

Easy Way to Visit Kedarnath Temple

If a 16 km trek isn't realistic for you, a pony, palki, or helicopter can get you to Kedarnath without walking the full route. Helicopter fares in particular have changed a fair amount over recent seasons and vary by helipad, so rather than quote a fixed number here that may already be out of date by the time you read this, check the current fare on the official IRCTC Heli Yatra portal before booking.

• Book your stay at Phata, one of the closer helipad towns to Kedarnath.
• Book your helicopter service to Kedarnath from Phata, Sersi, or Guptkashi — Phata and Sersi tend to run cheaper than Guptkashi, but availability shifts by season, so confirm current rates and open dates on the official portal.
• Complete your darshan and return via the Kedarnath Helipad to your starting point.
• If budget is a bigger concern than time, Sersi is usually the lower-cost route; some pilgrims fly one-way and trek back down, since the descent is easier than the climb.
• For pony or palki instead, check the official Kedarnath Pony and Palki rate chart before hiring — rates are set seasonally and vary by route segment.

Note: Helicopter and pony fares are revised each season and vary widely across booking sources online — always confirm the current rate on the official portal or at the counter rather than relying on a number you've seen elsewhere, including this page.

Kedarnath in Winters

Kedarnath Temple stays closed for around six months over winter due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold. Check the Kedarnath opening and closing dates before planning a visit outside the main yatra season.