Kedarnath Trek: A Holy Journey To Complete The Char Dham Yatra (Explore The Complete Guide)
Kedarnath Trek is beyond a mountaineering experience. In the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, this route is the most wonderful fusion of trekking, spirituality, religious fulfillment, and cultural enrichment.
From the first ray of the Sun kissing the snow-capped peaks to spending the dark evening in the Kedarnath temple, the journey is something that touches your mind, soul, and body together.
Here, I present a concise guide, discussing a brief itinerary, expenses, preparations, and more about this trekking route in Uttarakhand. Let’s get going!
How Long Is Kedarnath Trek? (With A Detailed Itinerary)
🏔️ Kedarnath trek distance – 16 Km (From Gaurikund)
🏔️ How Much Time It Takes For Kedarnath Trek: 3 to 4 Days
🏔️ Difficulty Level: Moderate
🏔️ Altitude: 3583 Meters
You can reach Gaurikund by bus and taxi from various points like Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Haridwar. When the Karnaprayag-Saikot-Sonprayag-Kedarnath Railway line becomes active, you can even reach Gaurikund from Sonprayag.
Further, if you have physical limitations, you can make this beautiful journey by helicopter from Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi. You can avail yourself of this helicopter facility from May to October with prior bookings.
Here is a detailed picture of the itinerary that will help you better understand your journey to and from the holy shrine of Kedarnath. The journey here begins from Gaurikund. It has many camping sites like Linchauli, Jungle Chatti, and Bheembali.
| Day | Altitude Change | Highlights |
| 1st Day | From 1,982 m (Gaurikund) to 3,583 m (Kedarnath) | This is the route to behold the Himalayan landscape, which is all its glory. You will get to see many waterfalls, rivers, and forests. Take a break at Rambara, the most beautiful place on this trekking route. Attending the evening Aarti at the Kedarnath Temple offers a surreal experience. Spend the night at a guesthouse or lodge. |
| 2nd Day | N/A | See the Sunrise and have a spiritual experience. Take part in the morning Aarti and prayer in the Kedarnath Temple. Go for a short trek to Bhairavnath Temple. Visit Vasuki Tal and Gandhi Sarovar. Mediate and practice Yoga. Spend the night at a lodge or resthouse in Kedarnath. |
| 3rd Day | From 3,583 m (Kedarnath) to 1,982 m (Gaurikund) | It’s a 4-6 hour long trek route. Once you reach Gaurikund, take a bath in the hot springs. Feel rejuvenated and relax your muscles. Prepare for the journey toward your destination. |
Like any trekking in India, the trek to Kedarnath can also take longer than usual based on your physical fitness level and weather conditions like cloud bursts. One great thing is that the Kedarnath trekking route has many amenities. However, the amenities do not eliminate your requirements to acclimatize to the conditions and maintain a certain fitness level.
In addition, you must be respectful of the local people, culture, and their religious sentiments.
Do you want to hear a short anecdote that I heard from my father from his Kedarnath trek?
Here it is!
My father completed the Kedarnath trek twice. On his second trip, he found that all the lodges and hotels were filled with tourists. The owners could not do anything even with prior bookings, as the tourist pull was massive that year.
Anyway, my father somehow managed to spend the night at an Ashram.
He could not sleep all night as the bed felt wet with dew and drizzles of snow. However, as the darkness started going away, he thought that there could be no better accommodation than what he got.
He saw the first light of the Sun seeping through the highest clouds and hitting the snow-capped mountains. To my father, it appeared like a sage meditating on the mountain peak with divine auras surrounding him. That’s the magic of the Kedarnath trek!
How Many Km Trek To Kedarnath Through The Kedarnath Musk Deer Conservation Trek Route?
Today, many people take the Kedarnath Musk Deer Conservation trek route. As a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, this route allows for an encounter with the Himalayan wildlife, vegetation, and mesmerizing Himalayan range.
The duration of this trek is similar to the one from Gaurikund. However, to complete this 3-4 days trek, you will need prior permits and bookings. Further, this trek in Uttarakhand will need to be more particular with your clothes, gear, first-aid arrangements, and other essentials.
If you are taking this route, you must completely follow the guidance of your trek mentor.
What Are The Amenities Available During Kedarnath Trek?
The Kedarnath trek is not just a route for pursuits in the mountains. It is also a celebrated pathway to reach one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus. It is a part of the Char Dham Yatra, which every religious Hindu wishes to complete in their lives.
So, this trekking route has many amenities to support your journey. Let’s find out what you can find here.
Food, Water, And Accommodation
You will find local food and bottled water in the restaurants and roadside shops in Gaurikund and Kedarnath. The accommodation in the local lodges and guesthouses is basic but comfortable.
Medical Facilities
Pilgrims and trekkers get immediate medical attention on the trekking route thanks to various medical aid posts and facilities.
Pony And Mule Services
The elderly pilgrims and ones with certain physical conditions can hire mules and ponies from Gaurikund.
Mobile Network
Mobile network is available throughout the Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek route. However, in places, you may see poor or inconsistent network connections.
What Is The Best Time For The Kedarnath Trek?
September to November is the best time for the Kedarnath trek. So, essentially, Kedarnath is an autumn trek. Further, many people consider visiting Kedarnath during Diwali holy.
This season is also great as it comes just after the monsoon ends. So, the sky remains clear most of the time. The daytime temperature is moderate in Kedarnath during these months. It will be around 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature starts falling at night, reaching zero to 7 degrees Celsius.
You can even complete the Kedarnath trek from May to June. The average temperature of 10-20 degrees Celsius and Sunny days make the season delightful for trekkers.
How Much Is Kedarnath Trek?
The cost of the Kedarnath trek will depend on various factors, including the size of your group, how you are commuting to Gaurikund, and the purpose of your visit.
For example, if you are going to Kedarnath as a pilgrim, you will want to stay there for a couple of more days. So, the overall expenditure will be more. At the same time, when you are a trekker, your route and itinerary will be more definite.
As there are so many factors to consider, the cost of the Kedarnath trek will be between INR 9000 and 32000 per person. The cost will include accommodation, mule and pony charges, food, water, medical expenses, permits, transportation costs, etc.
How To Prepare For Kedarnath Trek Physically?
Despite having a moderate difficulty level, the Kedarnath trek comes with steep slopes. So, you need to prepare yourself physically before making the attempt. Your physical training should begin at least one month prior to the trek.
The fitness training will involve strength training, cardio training, and altitude training. These exercises will help your body to be in the perfect shape. Further, the strength training will be more focused on your core and leg muscles.
Cardio training, such as running, walking, and swimming, will improve your stamina and will not allow you to feel fatigued easily. Finally, short trekking sessions will be the best for your altitude training as you will learn to walk or trek a certain distance while carrying your luggage.
Along with physical training, you will also need to focus on mental training or conditioning. Yoga and meditation are the most popular techniques to get rid of their mental blockage.
Moreover, to keep your body in sound condition, you must be careful about your food and hydration. You can have seeds, fruits, pulses, and veggies.
Which Trek Is Difficult Kedarnath Or Tungnath?
Kedarnath and Tunganath, despite officially being moderate treks, have their share of difficulties. Kedarnath is more popular, and thanks to the massive crowd pull today, it has many amenities.
However, the Tungnath-Chandrashila trek of 3.5 Km is quite difficult to climb. At least 1.5 Km of this route is muddy and filled with stone.
Further, with an elevation of 12k feet, Tunganath is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Altitude sickness is common at such a height.
Here are some common challenges in the Tungnath trek.
Steep Terrain
As mentioned, the terrain is rocky, and it’s quite steep in the Tungnath. So, you have to wear the right boots with the best grip and use hikers’ poles to trek safely.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Heavy snowfall is common on this route. The subzero temperatures cause hindrances in movement and trekking.
Altitude Sickness
With an elevation of 12k feet, the Tunganath temple trek can cause nausea, breathing problems, and headaches.
Accommodation Problems
The number of camps, lodges, and hotels is very low on this route.
Kedarnath Trek: History, Legend, And Mythological Stories
The Kedarnath Trek has a deep association with Hindu mythology, and the story of Pandavas is the most popular among the stories.
The Pandavas prayed to Lord Shiva to repent for their sin of killing their kin. However, Lord Shiva took the disguise of a bull as he wanted the Pandavas to repent.
The Pandavas were continuously trying to get hold of Lord Shiva, and finally, Bhima, the strongest of them all, could hold the hump of the bull or Lord Shiva. That hump is believed to be the “Linga” of Kedarnath.
Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Devotees believe that this Shiva Linga exudes the celestial light of Lord Shiva. In addition, Kedarnath is the first of the Panch Kedar locations. In these sites, Lord Shiva took the form of various body parts of bulls.
Adi Shankaracharya, the pioneer of the Hindu school of Advaita Vedanta, is said to be instrumental in reconstructing Kedarnath.
There is another mythological story about the Kedarnath. It is said to be the meeting ground of sages Nara and Narayana. They received blessings from Lord Shiva and became permanent dwellers of this holy place.
Kedarnath Trek Is Likely To Get A Massive Boost Thanks To The Rishikesh To Karnaprayag BG Rail Line Project
The Ministry of Railways brings great news about the expansion of the “Rishikesh To Karnaprayag BG Rail Line Project.”
An X post from the Ministry of Tourism on 19th September 2024 confirmed that the tunnel work of 176 KM has been completed out of the total tunnel construction of 213 KM.
The Rishikesh to Karnaprayag rail line is a brilliant initiative from the government to boost tourism in Uttrakhand and accessibility to the Char Dham sites in the state, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Further, under this Char Dham Railway Project, the Karnaprayag-Saikot-Sonprayag- Kedarnath Railway line will have 7 stations.
The train will pass through stations like “Siwai, Saikot Junction, Bairath, Chopta, Makkumath” before reaching Sonprayag.
Once the railway station becomes functional, you can take a walk of around 1 KM before getting a jeep to Gauri Kund, from where the Kedarnath Trek starts.
Now, the distance between Sonprayag and Gauri Kund is just around 5 KM. So, you will be able to cover the distance by road within less than 30 minutes.
Therefore, when the trains in all these proposed lines become functional, you can take the Rishikesh Karnaprayag Railway line, and from Karnaprayag, you will get the train to Sonprayag.
So, the overall journey before the trek will be faster, more pocket-friendly, and less hectic. In other words, with better accessibility to the base or Gauri Kund, there can be a surge in the Kedarnath Trek in the upcoming years.
Final Words
The Kedarnath trek in the Himalayas is a trekkers’ delight and one of the holiest sites for Hindus. The high altitude, diverse landscape, and meditative nature of the place ensure an immersive experience. The “Har Har Mahadev” chant and soaking in the hot springs of Gaurikund keep you going through this moderate terrain.
The evening and morning Aartis at the Kedarnath temple are the two biggest highlights of the journey. So, take this holy journey toward one of the most venerated Hindu pilgrimages in the world and into the lap of the Himalayas.
And once you come back, don’t forget to share your experience with us!
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