The closest airport, Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, is roughly 235 kilometers from Kedarnath. From the airport, some taxis go to Sonprayag.
Kedarnath's closest train station is either Haridwar or Rishikesh. Some buses go directly to Guptkashi and Sonprayag from Haridwar and Rishikesh. However, there aren't many of these buses. To find out the bus time, visit online bus websites. Additionally, buses from Delhi (ISBT) are now available to Guptkashi, Karnaprayag, and Gopeshwar.
There is a large parking lot in Sonprayag where you can leave your car overnight. A few meters in front of the parking area is the Yatra registration center.
Gaurikund and Sonprayag are approximately 5 km apart. Sonprayag is the starting point for the trek; alternatively, you can take shared jeeps to Gaurikund. The cost of a jeep is INR 30 per person. The road from Sonprayag to Gaurikund is a rough and uneven stretch.
Gaurikund is where the Kedarnath trek begins.
You can trek or take horses or mules from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.
Walking Kedarnath (Kedarnath Trek)
There are roughly 16–17 km of hiking between Gaurikund and Kedarnath Temple.
Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti is the trek route for Kedarnath (4 km)
Bheem Bali - Jungle Chatti (3 km)
Lincholi - Bheem Bali (4 km)
Base camp at Kedarnath, Lincholi (4 km)
Kedarnath temple - Kedarnath base camp (1 km)
Walking the entire trail in a single day is possible. In the middle are a couple of lodging options.
Kedarnath by Pitthus and Horses/Mules:-
From Gaurikund to Kedarnath, one can hire horses, palkis, kandis, and pithus. You can obtain them from the booking office that is located right before the trek's starting point. For horses and mules, there is a set fee. Pitthus and Kandis rates are weight-dependent. They are easily obtained in Gaurikund, but they are also obtained en route.
A helpful tip for riding horses or mules is to bend forward when going uphill and backward when going downhill and to hold the saddle firmly.
Helicopter to Kedarnath
These days, a lot of people also take the helicopter to reach Kedarnath. The helipad is at Phata, which is halfway between Sonprayag and Guptkashi. We discovered that Kedarnath is served by a few different operators offering helicopter services. Although Phata is the primary location for helicopter rides, Sersi and Sitapur also have helipads. About one kilometer separates Kedarnath Base Camp and the Kedarnath Temple, where you would arrive by helicopter. It is necessary to walk this distance. Beyond a certain point, not even horses are permitted.
Reminders for the Kedarnath helicopter ride:-
Three locations—Phata, Sersi, and Sitapur—have helipads.
Per person, only 2 kg of luggage is permitted.
If you weigh more than 80 kg or more than 120 kg, you will be charged extra and will need to reserve two seats.
The helipad from which you are taking off determines the cost of the tickets. Typically, a round-trip ticket costs INR 5000–7000.
They typically allot two hours for you to visit the temple and return to the helipad if you purchase a round-trip ticket for the same day.
The flight to Kedarnath Base Helipad takes approximately ten minutes, after which it's a short 15–20-minute walk to the Kedarnath Temple.
Bad weather can cause helicopter services to stop at any time.
Where in Kedarnath can I stay?
Both Sonprayag and Gaurikund have an abundance of hotels and guest houses. You can also make reservations for GMVN Guest Houses online.
At Kedarnath Base Camp, there are also cottages and the GMVN Guest House. In addition, there are plenty of guest homes and dorms close to the temple. Beside the temple, at Bikaner Bhawan, was where we stayed.
There are additional lodging options on the route to Kedarnath. There are GMVN Guest Houses at Bheemabali, Lincholi, and Jungle Chatti. If you decide to stay in between, these guest houses allow online reservations, and I would suggest making a reservation in advance.
We paid INR 2000 for a double-bed room at Bikaner Bhawan. There is also hot water available, and a bucket will set you back about INR 60 to 70.
The prices of the hotels and guesthouses around the Kedarnath temple are subject to arbitrary fluctuations. If you are traveling with family, we advise you to reserve your accommodations in advance.
Healthcare amenities on the Kedarnath Trek:-
There are medical facilities and centers along the route. They are located between Bheemabali, Lincholi, and Jungle Chatti.
Kedarnath Trek: Eats, Drinks, Shops, and Restaurants:-
Food is reasonably priced in most hotels, guest houses, and GMVN Guest Houses. There's tasty vegetarian food available. Along the entire trek route, numerous stores are offering hot beverages, parathas, snacks, and Maggi. You won't go hungry while hiking to Kedarnath, I promise.
Restrooms on the Kedarnath Trek.
Along the trekking route, there are several locations where you can find makeshift restroom tents.
Does Kedarnath offer Internet and mobile service?
Up to Lincholi, mobile services are accessible from Gaurikund. But Kedarnath is a bit of a rough place. In Kedarnath, we were able to access Jio and Airtel services, but Vodafone was not available for mobile service.
Major locations like Jungle Chatti, Bheemabali, Lincholi, and Kedarnath offer free wifi. Don't, however, depend too much on the free wifi options. Not once during our visit to Kedarnath did we receive any.
Healthcare amenities on the Kedarnath Trek
There are medical facilities and centers along the route. They are located between Bheemabali, Lincholi, and Jungle Chatti.
Restrooms on the Kedarnath Trek:-
Along the trekking route, there are several locations where you can find makeshift restroom tents.
Areas surrounding the Temple of Kedarnath
Temple of Bhairavnath:-
The Kedarnath Temple is only a short distance away from this temple. It is thought that Bhaironath keeps evil at bay to protect the Kedarnath Temple.
Samadhi Shankaracharya:-
Adi Shankaracharya is buried here, and it's close to the Kedarnath Temple.
Sarovar Gandhi:-
The Gandhi Sarovar, which receives water from the Chorabari Glacier, is located about 3 km from Kedarnath Temple. If you want to hike there, get going early in the day. The weather is subject to sudden changes.
Tal Vasuki:-
Kedarnath Temple is roughly 8 km away from Vasuki Tal. Due to its steepness, the trekking trail should only be completed with the assistance of guides. The Chaukhamba ranges are beautifully visible from the Vasuki Taal.
Meditation Cave Rudra:-
This location is intriguing. It's approximately 1.5 km from the temple to an underground cave where you can meditate and find solitude. A window in the caves offers a clear view of the Kedarnath Temple. For a maximum of three days, you can reserve the cave exclusively for meditation. Of course, only one person is allowed to remain in the cave. Every living convenience, including water, electricity, a heater, an attached toilet, and a phone to contact the police in an emergency, can be found in the cave.
Conclusion:-
Have you visited Kedarnath? Kindly share your opinions with us regarding this well-known pilgrimage. If you liked this post and found it helpful, please share it with your family, friends, and neighbors!
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