11,755 feet above sea level, District Rudraprayag , near Chorabari Glacier (Source of Mandakini rover) : 26 Kms trek , 8-10 hours.
A ‘ jyotirlinga’ …and believed to be built by Adi Shankaracharya’s himself and his last remains buried here .
Drive Distance:203Kms | Drive Duration:8-10 Hours | Haridwar Pickup Location Haridwar: Shiv Shambhu idol at Haridwar Parking | Pickup Location Rishikesh: Hotel Bliss Ganga| Sightseeing: Devprayag, Dhari Devi Temple, Rudraprayag | Night Stay: Guptkashi | Meals: Dinner
Departure Information
Route Overview:
En Route Highlights:
Night Stay
Day: 3 Drive from Guptkashi to SonPrayag to Gaurikund and then start the trek to Kedarnath(25 kms Trek)
This is the day ! The night prior at 8 pm , the guides and organizers will instruct you with the do’s and Dont’s. Remember Kedarnath trek will take anywhere between 8-14 hours to cover by foot . Its 25 kms + in the new trek route which was built after the flash floods 2013! Its a Mid- High difficult trek. The first 5 kms are easy , followed by a Mid difficult (steep climb) , followed by another 3-4 kms easy. The last 6-8 kms are steep and due to reduced oxygen levels and clouds and dropping temperature at this high altitude , many meet with AMS (Acute mountain sickness symptoms). So please carry your medications , doctors advise and join a good trek group . Kedarnath should not be your first trek ….try to so some easier treks of Uttarakhand before you plan this one ! Also check your fitness levels and wear good trek shoes . Refer to my trek pages on the home page for more details.
You will need to carry a Porter for carrying your basic luggage for overnight stay at kedarnath . Temperatures in the night are expected to fall to below zero (June month onwards), so carry many layers of woolens. However while trekking wear light and comfortable clothes (almost like your gym wear!), and definately have a rain wear and extra pair of caps, shoe covers and socks and gloves . The trek route will have many water falls and rain almost can be expected anytime afternoon at kedarnath , you might be soaked and cold and yet have to keep climbing !
Take the name of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and keep taking your strides one at a time !
Eat light, keep protein bars, dry fruits, chocolates for quick energy. Carry a light refillable water bottle . Water is scarce up there ! Avoid eating oily/ high carb on way . Try to take small steps and breathe deep and slow and maintain your pace ! Carry cash/ signals will be weak at such high altitude. Keep in touch with your family and guide ; give them your alternate contact numbers and try to be together with your guide/porter/group . Sleep early the night before , since you have to start from Guptkashi to Sonprarag (1 hour drive , 30 kms) almost around 3-4 am to avoid the rush !
Be careful of the Ponies and maintain only left side while climbing up – Not the river side ! Take a walking stick and wearing knee Caps will be useful. There would be medical centres every 5 kms on the route and good toilet facilities by state tourism -so no worries on that one.
Trek route through : Sonprayag, Gaurikund,Bhimbali, Rambada, Lincholi, Kedarnath Temple | Night Stay: Kedarnath | Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Departure Information
Route Overview
Night Stay
You will spend the night at a hotel near the Kedarnath Temple. Rest well to prepare for the following day’s activities. You could pre book at Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (accomodation ) site online atleast 2 months in advance . Their properties are great and close to the temple . expect very basic and minimum facilities at kedarnath valley, due to the remote location and high altitude. Kedarnath closes post Deepawali around Oct every year and again open around May mid week . Avoid the Monsoon seasons (June-July ) and high rush periods (May) .
Day: 4 Trek back from Kedarnath to Gauri Kund and then drive back to Guptkashi
Drive Distance:35Kms | Drive Duration:1-2 Hours | Trek Distance:16kms | Sightseeing: Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Rambada, Bhimbali, Lincholi, Kedarnath Temple | Night Stay: Guptkashi | Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Departure Information
This is the highly anticipated day of Darshan. Please be prepared to be ready by 4:00 AM and ensure you are in the queue for Darshan at the Kedarnath Temple. After completing Darshan, the group will proceed to visit Bhairav Baba Temple, located approximately 800 meters from the Kedarnath Temple. The first 600 meters of this trek is steep, so be prepared for a challenging start. After visiting the Bhairav Baba Temple, we will enjoy a light breakfast before beginning our descent back to Gaurikund around 9:00 AM.
Route Overview
Night Stay
You will rest at Guptkashi for the night, enjoying a peaceful dinner and a well-deserved rest.
Day: 5 Guptkashi to Rishikesh
Drive Distance:203Kms | Drive Duration:8-10 Hours | Drop Location: Hotel Keys Lite| Activity: River Rafting | Activity Duration:3-4 Hours | Meals: Breakfast
Departure Information
After breakfast, we began our drive back to Rishikesh around 7:00 AM.
Route Overview
The return journey follows the same route via NH 109 and NH 58, following the scenic path previously taken.
River Rafting Adventure
Note:- River rafting is a complimentary activity included in the Kedarnath travel package. The overall package price will remain the same even if you choose not to participate. No refund or reimbursement will be provided in case the rafting is skipped for any reason.
Conclusion of the Trip
As the Kedarnath trip concludes, we hope you carry home cherished memories of your journey and adventure. Book your departure either late evening from Dehradun to Delhi / your location , or the next day if you wish to enjoy Rishikesh more !
The name “Kedarnath” means “the Lord of the Field”. It is derived from the Sanskrit words kedara (“field”) and natha (“lord”). The text Kashi Kedara Mahatmya states that it is so-called because “the crop of liberation” grows here (Wikipedia )
Kedarnath is a pilgrimage site or tirtha dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. It is one of the four pilgrimage spots that form a part of the Uttarkhand Char Dham yatra or Chota Char Dham yatra.[6] The temple’s construction is credited to the Pandava brothers mentioned in the Mahabharata.[7][8] However, the Mahabharata does not mention any place called Kedarnath. One of the earliest references to Kedarnath occurs in the Skanda Purana (c. 7th-8th century), which names Kedara (Kedarnath) as the place where Shiva released the holy waters of Ganga from his matted hair, resulting in the formation of the Ganges River.[9]
The Acharyas rebuilt the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand under the guidance of Adi Shankaracharya. According to the hagiographies based on Madhava’s Sankshepa-Shankara-Vijaya, the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya died near the Kedarnath mountains; although other hagiographies, based on Anandagiri’s Prachina-Shankara-Vijaya, state that he died at Kanchipuram. The ruins of a monument marking the purported resting place of Adi Shankaracharya are located at Kedarnath
Kedarnath is located at a distance of 223 km from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and close to the source of the Mandakini River at the height of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level.[12] The township is built on a barren stretch of land on the shores of Mandakini River. Behind the town and the Kedarnath Temple, stands Kedarnath peak at 6,940 m (22,769 ft), the Kedar Dome at 6,831 m (22,411 ft) and other peaks of the range.
May third week to June mid week ; Aug end week to September end week.
