‘Kedarnath Temple – One of the 12th jyotirlinga’, is located 3584 metres above sea level, where the River Mandakini follows. The famous Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Temple, is of Lord Shiva, where he manifests himself as a blazing column of light. The Kedarnath Trek distance is about 16 km and starts from Gaurikund. To reach Gaurikund, one must first reach Haridwar. So, let’s get a brief idea of the Kedarnath trek, distances from the main cities, how to reach Kedarnath, staying options and other information.
Kedarnath Trek Distance & Route
As there are three routes for Kedarnath, depending on the route you choose, the distance and availability will be there.
Haridwar(0 km) – Rishikesh(26.8 km) – Devprayag(72.2 km) – Srinagar(35.9 km) – Rudraprayag(32.3 km) – Phata(55.4 km) – Sonprayag(16 km) – Gaurikund(5.2 km) – Kedarnath(16km)
How to Reach Kedarnath?
You can reach Kedarnath by road, train and air. There are various places where these facilities are available but you have to trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund.
By Road
The nearest city where all facilities are available is Haridwar or Rishikesh. One has to reach Haridwar. From Haridwar & Rishikesh, you can get direct buses or hire a car to reach Gaurikund.
There are GMOU buses, UPSRTC buses and other private buses available. From Gaurikund, you have to trek to Kedarnath. One can drive a car to Gaurikund as well.
The expected ticket prices are as follows.
- Haridwar to Gaurikund – Rs. 700 to 1000 by Bus
- Haridwar to Gaurikund – Rs. 3000 to 4000 by Car
Distance from Gaurikund
| City | Distance to Gaurikund (Approx) |
| Haridwar | 230 Km |
| Rishikesh | 210 Km |
| Dehradun | 260 Km |
| Delhi | 450 Km |
| Chandigarh | 480 Km |
| Lucknow | 530 Km |
| Mumbai | 1,700 Km |
| Kolkata | 1,600 Km |
| Bangalore | 2,100 Km |
| Chennai | 2,200 Km |
| Jaipur | 750 Km |
| Ahmedabad | 1,100 Km |
By Train
To reach Kedarnath temple by train, the nearest station is Rishikesh or Haridwar. One has to reach Rishikesh by train and from there, you will get a bus or hire a car to Gaurikund.
You can book your train on the IRCTC website.
By Air
The Kedarnath route has the nearest airport at Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. From Rishikesh, it is 21.7 km. You can reach Dehradun airport from any city by taking a flight or connecting flight. After that, you can take a bus or car to reach Gaurikund.
By Helicopter
You can book a seat in a helicopter to reach the destination. So, you can take a helicopter from Dehradun, Haridwar, or Rishikesh to reach Phata Kedarnath.
From Dehradun
You can travel from Dehradun to the Shastradhara Helipad in Dehradun. Within 40 minutes, the helicopter will deliver you to your destination.
From Haridwar/Rishikesh
Take a cab from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Phata, which is around 200 km and 195 km away from the two cities, respectively, if you intend to fly to Kedarnath from Rishikesh/Haridwar.
Kedarnath Trek Route
The Kedarnath walk or trek starts from Gaurikund. At Sonprayag, there is a parking space. You cannot take your personal vehicle from Sonprayag to Gaurikund. There are sharing autos available there. You have to travel to Gaurikund with this guide.
The Kedarnath Trek Route of 16 kilometres is as follows:
The route goes through beautiful Himalayan landscapes, including forests, waterfalls and rivers.
Haridwar(0 km) – Rishikesh(26.8 km) – Devprayag(72.2 km) – Srinagar(35.9 km) – Rudraprayag(32.3 km) – Phata(55.4 km) – Sonprayag(16 km) – Gaurikund(5.2 km) – Kedarnath (16 km)
Kedarnath Trek Distance Table with Route
| Location | Distance from Previous Location (Approx.) |
| Haridwar | 0 km |
| Rishikesh | 26.8 km |
| Devprayag | 72.2 km |
| Srinagar | 35.9 km |
| Rudraprayag | 32.3 km |
| Phata | 55.4 km |
| Sonprayag | 16 km |
| Gaurikund | 5.2 km |
| Kedarnath | 16 km |
Kedarnath Route Map
Kedarnath Trek Distance with Route
The Kedarnath Yatra starts from Gaurikund. The trek starts here and there are several halt points throughout the trek. Here is some information on it.
Halt Points From Gaurikund to Kedarnath
Gaurikund – Jungle Chatti – Bhimbali – Lincholi – Kedarnath base camp – Kedarnath temple
- Gaurikund – Jungle Chatti (4 km)
- Jungle Chatti – Bhimbali (3 km)
- Bhimbali – Chhota Lincholi (4 km)
- Lincholi – Kedarnath base camp (4 km)
- Kedarnath base camp – Kedarnath temple (1 km)
Gaurikund
It is the starting point of the Kedarnath trek. From Gaurikund, the Kedarnath temple is 16 km away. The route has its ups and downs, but the beautiful scenery will surprise you.
Jungle Chatti
From Gaurikund, the second stop is at Jungle Chatti by the Rambara Bridge. The distance between these two is around 4 km. You can use the Pony and Palki services to complete the journey.
Bhimbali
From Jungle Chatti, Bhimbali is 3 km away. The next stop after Bhimbali is at 4 km. So eat light and stay hydrated. You will find plenty of facilities, like GMVN tents, free drinking water, free restrooms and free wifi, available here.
Lincholi
From Bhimbali, the next stop is at Lincholi, at 4 km. Lincholi is only 2 halts away from your destination. You’ll get a soul-satisfying view of the highlands where the River Mandakini originates. There are medical facilities, along with private and GMVN tents, available here.
Kedarnath Base Camp
On your way further to Lincholi, Kedarnath base camp is there at 4 km. It is the last stop from Kedarnath Temple. You can see the temple from here. You will find the GMVN camp here, in this basecamp and reservations may be made there through their official website.
Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple, the destination of your trek, is 1 km from Kedarnath base camp. Take the blessings of this divine temple of Lord Shiva. Along the route, there are glaciers and mesmerising panoramas.
The Best Char Dham Route Map
Online registration for the Char Dham Yatra
What to Expect on the Kedarnath Trek?
The 16-km Kedarnath Trek is a moderate-to-difficult walk. You must be in relatively good physical condition for the trek. Every pilgrim must have their fitness level evaluated before setting out on a trip. Because it is important to see whether they are capable of doing so.
The Kedarnath Trek from Gaurikund is scheduled to last from 4:00 AM to 1:30 PM. This timetable is usually fixed. The location of the temple is difficult. The location of the temple is difficult. Moreover, the temple is within a wildlife sanctuary. Hence, the trek must take place in the daylight.
Things to Remember on Kedarnath Trek
- Carry enough Warm Clothes
- Carry light Baggage
- Carry a water bottle
- Carry Medicine and first aid
- Need to carry an individual umbrella and raincoat
Where to Stay in the Kedarnath Route?
There are several stay options all along the route. Some Dharamshalas and hotels are also available. It is advisable to book your stays all along the route and plan your journey for a hassle-free journey.
FAQs
The Kedarnath trek is 16 km long. This distance is from Gaurikund. You can take a taxi or bus to reach Gaurikund.
Around 6 to 8 hours is required for an average person to reach Kedarnath temple from Gaurikund.
As the trek to Kedarnath is the longest, avoid overnight trekking and plan to stay. The minimum time required to reach Kedarnath is 4 to 5 days. You can book comfy accommodations along the Kedarnath trek.
The 16 km Kedarnath hike requires a good level of physical condition as it is a moderate-to-challenging hike.
Tourists can find several stores offering trinkets and pictures of Badrinath, Kedarnath and other deities. You may also get real Rudraksha here, as well as other items like crystals, saligrams, plants like shilajit, valuable stones and tulsi beads.
The Kedarnath Temple, Vasuki Tal, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila and Sonprayag are the prominent attractions in Kedarnath.
Depending on your health, the 16 km hike will take approximately 6 hours. Start your trip early in the day. Do not forget to eat a healthy but light breakfast and hydrate yourself by drinking water.
In the summer, April to June and September to October are the best times to visit Kedarnath.
Hope this information will be helpful during your Kedarnath trek yatra. If you have any queries, let us know in the comment section.
good detailing . quite informative
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