Kedarnath Yatra

• Moderate
• Post Monsoon
• Summer
• Trekking
• Uttrakhand

Kedarnath Yatra: Trekking in Uttarakhand takes you to some of the most beautiful destinations. The Kedarnath yatra route offers breathtaking views, adventure activities, salubrious weather, and more. Kedarnath dham is an altitude of 3580 meters and is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and also one of the most important dham among the Panch Kedar. Kedarnath dham is a great shrine of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Yatra is one of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. If you are planning to go for kedarnath Yatra then you should plan it well in advance. The Kedarnath journey will witness glistening streams and beautiful Himalayan peaks. You can also check Kedarnath Yatra, Char Dham Yatra full itinerary.

Kedarnath Temple Opening Date in 2022: 6th May

 

Kedarnath Weather

Endless gorgeous landscapes, lush greenery all around and breezy cool weather in summers. It is the perfect time to spend relaxing moments with family and friends and visiting Kedarnath Dham. Kedarnath weather plays an important role and changes frequently throughout the year as per seasons. The best time to do Kedarnath Yatra is from May, June, July, August, September, and October.

Kedarnath Temperature

Summers: The maximum temperature of Kedarnath Yatra in summers will be 17 degrees Celsius. Summers are ideal for scenic beauty and also the perfect time for visiting the Kedarnath temple. May- June is the best time to do Kedarnath Yatra.

Monsoon: The maximum temperature of Kedarnath Yatra in Monsoons will be 16 degrees Celsius. Avoid traveling in monsoon season, landslides and floods are very common during July end to August.

September – October is the best time for visiting Kedarnath yatra and also temperature drops down to 11-12 degrees Celsius. So, you can easily enjoy the trek to Kedarnath.

Winters: Kedarnath Temple is closed in winters for six months due to heavy snowfall. The Doli (Palki) of Lord Kedarnath is transferred to Omkreshwar mandir in Rudraprayag District of Ukhimath near Guptkashi.

 

Best Time to visit Kedarnath Yatra

The best time to visit Kedarnath Dham is in the months of May-June, September-October. Devotees love the summer months, summertime is extremely pleasant and also the ideal time for visiting Kedarnath dham.

Kedarnath Temple Opening Date: Kedarnath Temple opening date decided to open on the occasion of Mahashivratri every year.

Kedarnath Temple Closing Date: Kedarnath Temple will close during the evening of Bhai Dooj which falls after the Deepawali festival.

Day 1: Haridwar to Guptkashi/Sonprayag- Kedarnath Yatra

Distance: 210 km

Time taken: 7-8 hours

Drive from Haridwar to Guptkashi/Sonprayag the journey to reach the Sonprayag is certainly one of the highlights of Kedarnath Yatra. The total distance from Haridwar to Guptkashi is 210 km. Guptkashi to Sonprayag is 30 km. The journey is magical through beautiful landscapes, natural beauty. And via Devprayag Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Tilwara, Kund and then reached Guptkashi. And a few hours later you will reach Sonprayag. kedarnath dham is the third dham of Char dham yatra.

Devprayag: You can see the unique beauty of the Devprayag and is also known as the last Prayag. It is famous for the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River is know as Goddess Ganga. Devprayag is also a hub of adventure sports.

Srinagar: It is an exhilarating drive to continue to Srinagar, not to be confused with the capital of Jammu and Kashmir which is Srinagar. The beautiful city of Srinagar of Pauri- Gharwal district of Uttarakhand is located on the bank of Alaknanda River. Srinagar is the most important tourist destination and also known for its lush green beauty of mountains and forest. The journey gives you a sense of adventure and thrill.

Rudraprayag;

The drive takes you to the Rudraprayag, is also known as panchprayag of Alaknanda river. It is also famous for the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. Trekkers can also visit Hindu shrines Dhari Devi, Koteshwar Mahadev at Rudraprayag.

Tilwada: The drive continues to Tilwada which is about 10 km from Rudraprayag on the way to Kedarnath Yatra. Tilwara is a town located on the banks of Mandakini river in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. You can take a break for lunch and snakes.

Kund: Drive starts from Tilwara to Kund, it takes 30 minutes to travel from Tilwara to Kund. The total trekking distance is 25 km. The area is surrounded by immense beauty and then reached Guptkashi. Guptkashi is a holy town, there are many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Gauptkashi to Sonprayag distance is 30 km. Sonprayag is famous for the confluence of the Basuki and Mandakini rivers. It offers a mesmerizing view of the lush green Sonprayag valley and the majestic mountains. Night stay at Sonprayag.

Day 2: Sonprayag to Gaurikund then trek to Kedarnath

Distance: 5 km

Time taken: 30 minutes

Early morning after having your breakfast, the drive starts towards Gaurikund. The total distance is 5 km from Sonprayag. You need a photometric registration card to participate in Kedarnath Yatra, there is a counter at Sonprayag. Devotees need Aadhar card to complete the registration. You can also start trekking from Sonprayag. Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most paramount locations. Kedarnath Yatra is one of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

Gauri Kund is the base camp of Kedarnath Yatra and is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is lies at 6000 feet above sea level. It is believed that Gauri Kund is a place where Mata Parvati did meditate for around 100 years for Lord Shiva. The Kund lies on the banks of the Mandakini river and located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. There are two kund here, one has hot water and another has cold water spring.

There is also an ancient temple of “Gaura Maiya” which is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Triyugi Nayaran temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and also the Sirkata temple which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Sirkata Temple is half km away from Gaurikund.

Trek to Kedarnath

Rise early to start the yatra towards Kedarnath Temple which is based at an altitude of 11,755 feet above sea level. It’s a 14 km trek from Gaurikund and the trail climbs steeply between the lush green forest. The Kedarnath Yatra route is well maintained, there are medical facilities available in between. The first thing you notice after a few hours walk in the sparkling view of the Kedarnath peak is standing in front of you surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

There are many tea/Paratha stalls, toilets, medical facilities and many other safeties and arrangements provided by the government which make you feel safe and comfortable. Stop for lunch, brunch and continue after that towards Kedarnath Dham. Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most paramount locations.

After a few hours’ trek, you will notice the big commercial helipad. The Kedarnath Dham is just 500 meters from this place. On the opposite side of the helipad, there are many cottage and camps for the night stay. There are small hotels near Kedarnath Temple, you can stay overnight at Kedarnath.

Arrival at Kedarnath, freshening up and then you can take a walk to the temple and you notice the big Nandi Statue in front of the door of Kedarnath Temple. A big metal bell hanging at the door and you can hit the Bell at the entrance. Then perform Pooja and Dharshan at Kedarnath Temple. After that, you can also visit Adi shankaracharya Samadhi behind the Temple. Overnight stay at Hotel.

 

Day 3: Kedarnath to Gaurikund to Sonprayag

Early morning to go for darshan and Aarti and then trek descend further all the way back to Gaurikund. The trail passes through the rhododendron, Oak and Bhojpatra forest. The Kedarnath Yatra through this descending trekking trail is much easier and faster. You can take a break for lunch and relax in between on the way to Gaurikund. Reached Gaurikund and then drive to Sonprayag. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4: Sonprayag to Haridwar

Drive from Sonprayag to Haridwar in a taxi or a similar vehicle. The journey is through the same route, expect to arrive at Haridwar at 6-7 pm. You can also book for Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra and the best Chardham tour package. Himalayan climber also provides you the best Char dham Yatra Package cost.

Char dham Yatra full itinerary

Additional information

Duration	4 days
Physicality	Moderate
Location	Uttarakhand, India
Treks according to Months	May, June, July, August, September, October