Table of Contents
Kedarnath doesn’t need any introduction for devotees as well as normal tourists. It is one of the most revered sites of pilgrimage in India that records a huge footfall on a daily basis. According to beliefs Kedarnath is the holy land of Lord Shiva and it takes the calling of the god to actually reach there. So whoever gets to visit there is believed to reach there because they had a calling from God himself. The journey to Kedarnath however is not the easiest. The Temple remains closed for straight 6 months during the winter because of extreme weather conditions. And during the next 6 months the devotees visit here to pay their respect to Lord Shiva. One of the most convenient ways to reach Kedarnath is from Delhi. So now you must be wondering how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi.
If you are looking for ways regarding how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi then you are at the correct place. In this article I will share with you all multiple ways on how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi. So even if you are travelling from anywhere else you can first reach Delhi and then go forward with Delhi to Kedarnath journey. If you are planning a journey to Kedarnath then read this article to know how to reach Kedarnath. Here I will share all the possible information that you might need for this journey. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to Kedarnath.
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi
Best time to visit Kedarnath
Winter season should be completely avoided for a journey to Kedarnath as the weather during this time is extreme and not suitable for a visit. The ideal time to visit here is during the summer months from April to June. Also this is the time when the temple celebrates the festival of Akshay Tritiya in April. This festival attracts a huge chunk of devotees as well. Monsoon is also not a perfect time to visit here. The road conditions also deteriorate to a lot of extent along with more chances of landslides as well. So plan your visit accordingly.
How to Reach Kedarnath Temple from Delhi
The Delhi to Kedarnath distance is around 450 km and without any stop it would take around 11 hours to reach Kedarnath from Delhi.
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Bus
Delhi to Kedarnath distance by road is 450 km and it is divided into different modes of travelling. One of the most preferred routes is from Delhi via Haridwar, Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, Phata, Sonmarg and finally Gaurikund. However the motorable roads end at Gaurikund and only an 18 km trek will take you to Kedarnath.
While travelling from Delhi both private as well as public buses are available. You can take a bus from Delhi to Haridwar and Rishikesh. The whole journey will take around 7 hours to complete. It is advisable that you take halts in between otherwise the journey can be very tedious. So take a stop at Haridwar or Rishikesh, after all, these two are sacred towns too and you can explore around a bit. Either take a dip into the Ganges or enjoy the Ganga Aartis. It can be a good way to explore the cities if you want.
Ticket prices of buses from
Delhi to Rishikesh Rs. 550 to Rs. 800
Delhi to Sonprayag Rs. 750 to Rs. 900
Rishikesh to Sonprayag Rs. 350 to Rs. 500
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Train
Delhi to Kedarnath distance by train can be done via Haridwar. You can take a train from Delhi to Haridwar for a convenient travel. Approximately the train fare ranges from Rs. 440 to Rs. 2500 depending on the type of train or seats. You can get regular sleeper berths as well as AC two tier seating as well. It would be great if you opt for night train and that way you will be able to rest throughout the journey.
Read More: PANCH KAILASH NAME, YATRA, LOCATION, IMAGES, 5 KAILASH
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Road ( Car / Bike )
You can even drive through your own vehicle like your car or bike and the distance is the same. There is no alternate way for two wheelers so the route will be the same as buses. From Delhi first you will have to reach either Rishikesh or Haridwar and then from there you will have to reach Sonprayag. This is the last stop to park your vehicles through. Moreover from there Gaurikund is another 8 km but you will have to continue that journey via a bus or a jeep or shared rides. And then you will have to continue for an 18 km trek to finally reach Kedarnath.
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Flight
There is obviously no direct flight to reach Kedarnath. You will have to take a flight from Delhi International Airport to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. It is a small one hour flight. From Dehradun you can take a bus or a cab to reach Rishikesh. And from there the route is the same.
However there is an alternative flying option as well. The Uttarakhand government offers Heli Charter service from Guptkashi or Phata that can take you to Kedarnath directly. From Guptkashi the charge is Rs. 3100 per person and from Phata it is Rs. 2350.
Journey from Haridwar/ Rishikesh to Kedarnath
Now that we have discussed ways of how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi, we know that the major base locations are either Haridwar or Rishikesh. These are the most preferred as well as most convenient stops for the journey to Kedarnath. The distance between Rishikesh and Kedarnath is about 227 km. you will get buses from both Haridwar and Rishikesh. However it will be more convenient if you can opt for cab services or even shared rides for this journey.
You can even take a small halt within your journey to Kedarnath in Rishikesh or Haridwar. You will get many decent stay options at both the locations for a comfortable stay. There are decent stay options in Sonprayag as well so you can even stay there. Sonprayag has more options for staying than in Gaurikund. You can stay at Sonprayag and then start your journey to Gaurikund early in the morning. And from there you will be able to start the final 18 km trek to Kedarnath.
Kedarnath Trek
The trek to Kedarnath is the final step to reach the Kedarnath Temple. It is one of the most blissful experiences. However this trek is quite steep and you need to proceed with a lot of caution though. Few things are necessary for you to remember. For any person with heart issues, respiratory troubles or high blood pressure, the trek can be a little troublesome. What you need to do is take proper advice from your physician and get your full body check up done before going on this journey.
On your way you will find many shops, resting points and tea stalls for some much needed refreshments. You can stop and rest at any given point and then continue with your journey. However an option for tented accommodation is also available here. For a person who wants to halt or rest for the remaining time of the day they can even do that. Later they can start their journey again the next morning.
Additionally there are alternative options for those who don’t want to trek. In Gaurikund or Sonprayag you will find booking counters for Ponies, Palki and Heli Charter. Even though Heli Charters needs to be booked much in advance, you can opt for booking ponies or palki for people with walking or trekking difficulties.
Things to remember before trek to Kedarnath
There is a specific time for this trek which is from 4 am to 1:30 pm so make sure you plan your journey in such a way that you reach the base point of this trek within this given time period.
You need to register yourself for your trek to Kedarnath. At Sonprayag this registration is mandatory and you will also receive your E pass for Yatra. Also you might have to produce that E copy at certain checkpoints so keep this in handy.
Carry warm clothes as per the weather. Take a note on the current weather and temperature scenario and dress accordingly. Mostly the early mornings and evenings are much cooler so make sure you wear enough warm clothes. However, the noon can be sunny and in that case you must carry a hat and sunglasses for your convenience. It would be wise to carry a raincoat as well because the weather here changes too frequently. So pack according to the weather when you are visiting.
Try to trek as light as possible. Keep your hands free and carry backpacks for more convenience. Eatables and water are available on the route itself so you can carry your bag as light as possible.
Wrapping Up!
Kedarnath is a beautiful location that is nestled at an impressive height of 3583 meters that is 11, 755 feet and therefore everything about the ambience makes it gorgeous. The main attraction of Kedarnath Mandir is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is an ancient temple which is almost 1000 years old. A visit to this serene spot can be one of a lifetime kind of an experience for sure. And what makes it more special is the unmissable journey to the location as well. So if you are travelling from Delhi now you know how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi.
In this article I have mentioned in detail how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi via different modes of transport. Along with all the possible options I have mentioned the distance, time taken as well as the level of hardships of this life changing journey. As I have mentioned earlier in this article, visiting Kedarnath is like calling from God himself. So if you think it is your calling to visit Kedarnath then don’t wait any further and quickly start on this journey. Let me know when you are planning a trip to Kedarnath. And don’t forget to tell me if this particular article on how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi is helpful for you in planning your trip.
