Looking for ways on how to visit Kedarnath temple? Well, it is quite an adventurous journey that is lying ahead of you.
Reopening on April 25, 2023, the Kedarnath temple does not stay open all through the year. Due to the extreme winters in that altitude, the temple does not open during that climate.
With the onset of another summer, devotees are excited and all set to make their plans to go to Kedarnath. Let us find out all the ways you can use to come to this holy place.
Where is Kedarnath?
Uttarakhand is called ‘Dev Bhoomi’ or ‘Land of Gods’ for a reason. You will find plenty of ancient temples here. These temples have greatly contributed to making Uttarakhand for tourism and worship.
Among numerous temples in Uttarakhand, four ancient temples stand out. They are known as Char Dham and are recognised as the holiest places in India. Kedarnath temple is one of these Char Dham.
Kedarnath is a town in the state of Uttarakhand. It is mostly famous for having the Kedarnath Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. This place is built on a holy land dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and the Pandavas. If you are a believer, you will know the essence of this place.
Kedarnath town is rich in history. It is believed that the Pandavas once prayed to Lord Shiva after winning the war in Kurukshetra. But Lord Shiva deceived them by escaping to Kedarnath by taking the shape of a bull. Returning to his original form, he left his hump in Kedarnath.
Behind the temple of Kedarnath stands Mount Kedarnath. The height of this mountain is 6,940 meters. You can witness the mountain from the temple of Kedarnath as well.
Sonprayag is another great tourist destination situated 20 km from Kedarnath.
Also, don’t miss the visit to Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, which consists of the rare Himalayan musk deer.
Best time to visit Kedarnath
Most people can’t decide how to visit Kedarnath. The journey to come here is not easy, and the place is not open all year round.
In monsoons, the roads become too dangerous to travel. In July and August, this place experiences plenty of rainfall. Moreover, there are high chances of landslides as well. It might not be the best time to visit Kedarnath.
Similarly, winters are harsh in Kedarnath. Temperature goes down below zero, making the place difficult to access. Also, the temple remains shut during winter months.
Kedarnath offers cold weather throughout the year. Before monsoon and after monsoon is the best time to visit the place.
The best time to visit Kedarnath is May to June and October to November.
How to reach Kedarnath from Delhi
While planning to go on a trip to Kedarnath from Delhi, you have to think about some important aspects. For starters, you must explore how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi.
In that case, you have three options to choose from. You can catch a flight to Kedarnath, hop on a train or reach your destination by bus.
By air
First of all, Kedarnath itself has no operational airports. That’s why it’s impossible to catch a direct flight to Kedarnath from anywhere in India.
However, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is just an hour from Delhi Airport. You can fly to Dehradun and hop in a rental car or a bus.
Additionally, Heli Charter services are also offered by the Government of Uttarakhand. If you are willing to pay for comfort, you can reach out directly.
By train
The same is applicable when it comes to a train journey to Kedarnath. Kedarnath has no railway stations as of now. If you are in Delhi, you can always get a train to either Haridwar or Dehradun from Delhi.
You can catch a train to Rishikesh as well. The rest of your journey will be quite pleasant by taxi or a rental car.
By road
In the summertime, buses are available, which are the easiest transportation mode. Those who visit Kedarnath to pay homage to Lord Shiva choose this way to reach the destination.
You can hop on a bus early in the morning from either Haridwar or Rishikesh. Sharing a taxi is also a good option.
Kedarnath trip package
The Kedarnath tour is an unforgettable experience for a tourist. It is not only one of the most beautiful places in India, but it’s also immensely significant according to Hindu Puranas. Plenty of devoted Hindus travel to Kedarnath every year just to glimpse an eternal divine experience.
The routes to Kedarnath remain closed during winter. The roads cannot be accessed this time as it is too risky to trek. Summertime is ideal for visiting Lord Shiva in Kedarnath temple.
Visiting Kedarnath has been immensely popular for decades. Plenty of popular travel agencies have come up with different tour packages for travellers’ convenience.
You can choose any package according to your preference. After that, visiting Kedarnath won’t be a dream anymore.
Some of the Kedarnath tour packages include other tourist attractions. You can choose packages which include Badrinath, Haridwar, Guptakashi, Rudraprayag, and Srinagar. In that case, you can visit all these places in one trip.
You can visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri (known as Char Dham) under one package. In that case, you will see packages starting from around INR 18,000. If you want to visit via helicopter, the price can increase to more than 1 lakh rupees.
Kedarnath trip budget
Kedarnath is one of the four dhams located in Uttarakhand. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Kedarnath, hence the name.
Before planning a trip to Kedarnath, you must know the budget. Then you can plan a tour without worrying about money.
This article on how to visit Kedarnath will help you find answers. So here’s everything you need to know about the Kedarnath trip budget.
First, remember that the budget can increase or decrease depending on your source city. The total budget amount varies from city to city. Your source city is the one to determine how much money you have to spend on the journey.
Dehradun, Haridwar and Delhi are some of the closest cities to Kedarnath. You will spend less if you plan your next Kedarnath tour from one of these cities. So, first read about these cities as a source and then talk about the other cities.
From Dehradun
From Dehradun, you can catch a flight to Rudraprayag. Then you can reach Kedarnath by helicopter or bus.
By bus, you can reach Rishikesh, Sonprayag, and then Gaurikund. Kedarnath is 16 km away from here.
The overall budget to visit Kedarnath from Dehradun ranges between INR 12,000 to INR 15,000 per person, which includes food, hotel, and transportation expenses.
However, if you choose to have a luxury tour to Kedarnath, it can cost you around INR 53,000 per person.
From Haridwar
From Haridwar, you can take a helicopter or a taxi to Sonprayag. The rest of the road you have to walk your way through.
The average budget is between 10,000 rupees to 15,000 rupees per person.
From Rishikesh
The average cost of visiting Kedarnath from Rishikesh is around 10,000 to 15,000 per person. However, a luxury tour can cost you around INR 30,000 per person.
From Delhi
A budget trip to Kedarnath from Delhi will cost you around 15,000 rupees per person. A luxury trip will cost you around 41,000 rupees per person. You have to reach Rishikesh or Gaurikund to reach Kedarnath.
Additionally, you must spend around INR 15,000 to INR 22,000 for a Kedarnath trip to Chandigarh.
How to reach Kedarnath by train
Most tourists want to know how to reach Kedarnath by train. In case you are curious about it, read below.
Just like Kedarnath has no operational airports, it also doesn’t include any railway stations. Naturally, there’s no way of reaching Kedarnath directly. But you can go there on a helicopter.
The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is Rishikesh Railway Station. Rishikesh Railway Station is just 221 km away.
After you reach Rishikesh, take a cab to travel at least 207 km near Kedarnath. Then you have to walk 14 km.
You can take a bus from Rishikesh as well.
How to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund
This article lets you know how to visit Kedarnath easily. However, surely you know by now that reaching Kedarnath is tricky. So it would help if you explored all aspects properly before you plan a trip.
Here’s how to visit Kedarnath after you reach Gaurikund.
Gaurikund to Kedarnath trip is a lifetime experience that will stay with you forever. That’s because you have to trek to cover a 16 km distance between Gaurikund and Kedarnath. If you have no physical issues with trekking, you can go for it.
However, hiring ponies and palkies is also an option to reach Kedarnath.
The original trek used to be 14 km. After the flood disaster of 2013, the trek is now 16 km.
Kedarnath Trek is a memorable experience where you can enjoy nature at its best. You have to walk through the shores of River Mandakini.
The Kedarnath Trek is known as ‘Paidal Marg’. You won’t have to cover 16 km at once. There are plenty of resting places where you can take a break.
Places like Limcholi, Bhimbali, and Kedarnath are some resting places. Here you can avail medical facilities as well aided by the Government.
The natural background of Uttarakhand and Garwal is something to cherish forever. Surely you need to take in the beauty of the Garwal while walking through Kedarnath.
Your trekking route is Jungle Chatt, Bheembali, Linchauli, Kedarnath base and then Kedarnath temple.
If you want to avail of the pony service, the rate is around INR 2,300 per person. If you opt for a palki service, four people can sit in one. These prices vary depending on the weight of the devotees.
Rishikesh railway station to Kedarnath distance
Rishikesh railway station is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. It is located around 229 km away from the temple of Kedarnath.
Because of the short distance between Rishikesh to Kedarnath, most travellers prefer this particular route. After reaching the station, you must take a bus or taxi to access the transportable route to Kedarnath.
How to reach Kedarnath from Rishikesh
Rishikesh railway station is very close to Kedarnath. This is why most travellers want to explore this route to avoid inconvenience.
This section is about how to reach Kedarnath from Rishikesh.
By helicopter
The fastest and most comfortable way to visit Kedarnath from Rishikesh is by helicopter. Nowadays, many travellers are choosing helicopters to reach Char Dham. However, it is a very expensive way of travelling, though you won’t have to compromise with comfort.
You can reach Phata by taxi from Rishikesh. From there, you will get plenty of helicopter services. After that, you will need around 40 minutes to reach Kedarnath.
By bus
Take a bus from Rishikesh and reach Kedarnath. The bus route will take you from Rishikesh to Gaurikund. Then the rest of the road, you have to trek.
There was a time when most people didn’t know how to visit Kedarnath safely. The roads were trickier than now, and transportation wasn’t easily available. Now the time has changed, and due to modern facilities, reaching Kedarnath is easy.
These days everyone knows how to visit Kedarnath with ease. This article will also help you plan a tour of Kedarnath quickly.
Final Thoughts
It is best to avoid using animals to reach the Kedarnath temple. The voiceless species cannot protest and take extreme pain every day to do a job that is not meant for them. If you cannot trek up, you should opt for helicopter services.
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