Index
Kedarnath Pilgrims
Kedarnath is known as one of the holiest pilgrims of Lord Shiva in North India. It is located at the head of river Mandakini in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is famous for its Char Dham Yatra which includes Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is also one among the Panchkedar which includes Kedarnath, Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, madhyeshwar, and Tungnath.
The Kedarnath temple is surrounded by mountains from three sides. On one side it has 22000ft high Kedarnath, on the other side it has 21600 ft high Kharchkund and on the third side it has 22700ft high Bharatkund.
How to Reach Kedarnath
In order to reach the Kedarnath base camp, you have to take a Trek of 16km from Gauri Kund, or you can take a Horse mule ride from Gauri Kund. Kedarnath Temple is 1km from the Kedarnath Base camp.
While tracking to the Kedarnath Base camp you will cross Jungle chati, Bheembali, Linchauli, and then the Kedarnath Temple. Let’s see a brief description of how to reach Kedarnath by different modes of transportation. We are considering New Delhi as a starting point for all the routes.
By Bus: You have to take a Bus from New Delhi to Haridwar (Near Rishikesh). Every morning from Haridwar there is a Bus for Gauri Kund which takes a whole day to reach Gauri Kund from Haridwar. Advance bookings can be made at the Garhwal Mandal owners association (GMOA) office situated in front of Haridwar Railway station. From Gauri Kund, there is a trek of 17km to the Kedarnath temple
By Car: If you are coming by your own convenience, you have to park your car at Son Prayag. And from Son Prayag, you can take a shared taxi to reach Gauri Kund which is 5Kms from SonPrayag. You can also trek this 5Km route to reach Gauri Kund. From Gauri Kund, there is a trek of 16km to the Kedarnath base camp.
By Air: The nearest Airport from Kedarnath is Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun which is about 239kms from Kedarnath. Some of the prominent places from where you can take a helicopter are Dehradun, Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata. Again after reaching Guptkashi or Phata, you have to take a shared taxi to Gauri Kund and from there you have to trek or can take a Horse mule ride to the Kedarnath Base Camp.
Apply For E-Pass to Visit Kedarnath During Lockdown:
If you are a Travel Enthusiast and want to do Char Dham yatra during Lockdown then here is a solution for you, Yes you can go to Kedarnath if you have an E-pass. Chardham Yatra for Uttrakhand residents has begun from July onwards. But if you are going for Darshan, then you will get disappointed. The devotees have not been allowed to visit the temples yet because of the coronavirus pandemic. You can definitely visit Kedarnath for traveling purposes.
So if you are from Uttarakhand then you can apply for your E-pass at https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/
If you are facing any troubles while applying for E-pass you can watch this video.
However, according to the latest issued guidelines, pilgrims from other states are not allowed to visit the temples, observing the Covid-19 guidelines for travel in the state.
Route from Gauri Kund to Kedarnath During Lockdown
During the lockdown, there are many challenges and difficulties you may face while covering a trek of 16Kms from Gauri Kund. During these times you will not get any Horse mule ride, you have to cover the whole trek on your feet. No tea stalls or food points are open except 1-2 in this 16km trek.
Shelters are there to protect you if there is rainfall. You will also find a Glacier during your trek where you can do a photo shoot and can capture beautiful views.
Best Time to Visit Kedarnath
Tourists and Devotees can visit this beautiful place during the summer from May to June. Kedarnath remains closed for 6 months from November to March every year due to heavy snowfall in the region. During winters the routes for the temple got blocked with snow.
Where to Stay in Kedarnath
At Gauri Kund, you will easily find Good, and Affordable stay. You will get a Room starting from 200-500 to 1500-2000 depending upon your requirements and Location. You can stay at night in GauriKund and can start your trek to Kedarnath the next day. Many guesthouses and cottages are available at affordable prices.You can also stay at the top where the temple is situated
The temperature in Kedarnath throughout the Year
The average temperature at Kedarnath is quite pleasing. It ranges from -5 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius. You can also see the rainfall during Monsoon.
