Kedarnath

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Kedarnath

4 Days

Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accomodation
Transportation

Overview

Kedarnath is a divine Hindu town situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand in India. It is also considered one of the Char Dhams present in the Himalayas. Nestled at an amazing height of 3584 meters above sea level, Kedarnath is present near the head of Mandakini River. Also called the Shiv-Lok on Earth, this jyotirlinga is said to be the most vital among all 12 Jyotirlingam sites around India. Kedar means powerful that is another name for Lord Shiva who is the destroyer and protector. The beautiful aura around the Kedarnath temple is no less than heaven. Shiva temple is the main attraction of Kedarnath Yatra. It is one of the most famous Hindu shrines and devotees from across the world come here.

Kedarnath is also one of the important temples of the revered Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, increasing the importance of the place further. Reachable from major destinations of Uttarakhand, the motorable road towards Kedarnath temple is present till Gauri Kund. After that, you need to trek for at least 14kms in order to reach the Kedarnath temple. Ponies and palanquins are available easily. During the peak season of this yatra, you can also avail helicopter services. Due to extreme weather conditions, the Kedarnath temple always takes a winter break of six months that starts from the Diwali time festival i.e., Bhai Dooj and after the Akshaya Tritiya festival, this yatra is again opened for the devotees.

When it comes to the weather in Kedarnath, it is generally cold. While the summers are rainier when compared to the winters. You will find that 2.4 degrees Celsius is the average temperature here. From the month of November, winters in Kedarnath begin and stays till the month of April. The winters at Kedarnath are extremely cold due to heavy snowfall. However, the Kedarnath temple gets closed during the winters because this place receives heavy snowfall. When the temple is closed, the idol is taken to Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. Here the priests carry out the worship for 6 months unless the Kedarnath temple is opened again. The hard journey to the shrine of Shiva is rewarded with the divine atmosphere which is created by the relaxed, calm as well as breathtaking beauty of the region.

The grandiose Kedarnath peak is standing behind the temple along with other peaks, creating a perfect setting for the blessed land of the ultimate deity. The conical-shaped Shiva lingam is one of the unique features of the Kedarnath temple when compared to other Shiva shrines. As per the legends, it is believed that the Pandavas used to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva in order to wash away their sins after the fight of Mahabharata. Outside the temple, there is also a statue of Nandi Bull that guards the temple.

It is said that every year thousands of people from across the world visit the Kedarnath temple in order to take the blessings of Lord Shiva and experience an incredible mystical experience. The paved and steep path is sure to offer you stunning views of snow-capped mountains, alpine paddocks, and enchanting forests of rhododendrons. If you are an adventure seeker and religious person at the same time then plan for the Kedarnath Yatra which is sure to leave you stunned with its eye-catchy and mesmerizing sights.

Trip Highlights

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 :

Haridwar to Guptakashi via Rishikesh

Everyone needs to meet at Haridwar Railway Station and then proceed to Guptakashi which is located at a distance of 47km from the divine shrine known as Kedarnath. From Haridwar, we need to drive for almost 9 hours to cover the distance of almost 225kms.

Guptakashi town holds religious significance because it is home to well-known old temples such as Vishwanath temple and Ardhnarishwar temple. On your way to Guptakashi, we will also pass through Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is a beautiful city located in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. It is nestled in the Himalayan foothills beside the river Ganga. Get ready to experience the beauty of nature at its best while heading towards Guptakashi from Rishikesh.

In the evening, we will reach Guptakashi, where your night stay will be scheduled and a hot dinner will be served.

Guptakashi means hidden Benares. It is believed that the Pandava brothers were looking for a glimpse of Shiva and Shivji first buried himself at Guptakashi. But later Shivji flew from them to the valley of Kedarnath, where the Pandavas got their wish fulfilled finally.

When the Kedarnath temple closes in the winter season, the image of Kedarnath is passed through Guptakashi on its way to Ukhimath and stays here for winter.

Day 2 :

Guptakashi to Kedarnath via Gaurikund

After trekking for almost 16km through a paved road from Gaurikund, you can easily reach Kedarnath. To climb up the steep path, you can also take a horse or ponies.

It is always suggested to begin the trek early in the morning to avoid the harsh sunlight of noon. Never start your trek on an empty stomach because this will make it hard for you to trek. Make sure you walk with good grip shoes and carry only necessary items in the bag because heavy bags can slow down your speed while trekking and even hurt your back.

Stay attentive while trekking because sometimes ponies that come back from the temple can hit you and cause serious injury. In the afternoon by 3 pm, you will reach Kedarnath valley. Walking around the temple and witnessing the sights of the snow-covered Himalayas is sure to offer you the best experience of life.

Day 3 :

Kedarnath to Guptakashi

Get up early in the morning, take a bath and pay your respect at Kedarnath temple. Right from standing in the temple row to darshan, the complete process involves the time of almost 3 hours.

After seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva, visit the Baba Bhairav Temple which is located on a peak near Kedarnath. The temple of Baba Bhairav Nath is almost 600 meters away from the temple. On the same day, we will trek back to Guptakashi and reach it by the evening.

Get up early in the morning, take a bath and pay your respect at Kedarnath temple. Right from standing in the temple row to darshan, the complete process involves the time of almost 3 hours.

Day 4 :

Guptakashi to Haridwar

Say goodbye to the beautiful town of Uttarakhand and head towards Haridwar. To reach Haridwar from Guptakashi, it will take almost 7-8 hours of time.

In this way, your beautiful journey to Kedarnath Yatra will come to an end.

Costs

The Cost Includes

Transportation : Ex Haridwar , Rishikesh
Meals : All Meals as per menu from first day Dinner to last day breakfast , Vegetarian Meal.
Permit fees: permit fees for Indian Nationals.
Stay: Hotel, Guest house, Camping