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Kedarnath

Kedarnath

2 daysBest: May–Jun, Sep–OctPilgrimage#char dham#trek#temple
2 days May–Jun, Sep–Oct

High-altitude Shiva shrine reached by trek or heli

Why this weekend?

Kedarnath templeGaurikund trekVasuki Tal lake
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The day-by-day plan

Day 1Day 1 · The ascent
  1. Gaurikund start
  2. Rambara stop
  3. Temple darshan
  4. Bhairav visit

Geography & terrain

Kedarnath lies in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at about 3,583 m, 220 km from Rishikesh and 90 km from Gaurikund — the high shrine of the Char Dham, its stone temple, the snow peaks and the Kedarnath valley set above the Mandakini's source.

History & culture

The temple's story runs with the Pandavas' legend and the Adi Shankaracharya's restoration — the shrine of the Jyotirlinga of the high Garhwal, with the temple's 8th-century stone and the 2013 floods' story of the shrine's survival; the temple's role in the Char Dham's pilgrimage, with the 16-km trek from Gaurikund and the helicopter services, gives Kedarnath its high-shrine character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹800–2,000/night

Mid-range

₹2,000–4,000/night

Comfort

₹4,000+/night

Things to do

Great shrine
🍽️

Great shrine

High trek
⛰️

High trek

Snow peaks
🌟

Snow peaks

Bhairav seat
🍽️

Bhairav seat

Mandakini valley
🌟

Mandakini valley

Eat & drink

  • Kafuli (spinach curry)
  • Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
  • Aloo ke gutke
  • Bal mithai (Almora sweet)

Getting there

Fly
Dehradun (DED)
Train
Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
Road from Delhi
250–450 km depending on valley
Getting around
Shared taxis and buses on hill roads

Budget snapshot

Total
₹4,000–9,500 (2 days)
Per day · Stay
₹800–4,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹500–900
Per day · Activities
₹400–800

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
  • Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • The season (May–Jun, Sep–Oct) holds the temple's opening
  • The altitude asks the steady pace and the warm layers
  • The trek asks the steady shoes and the light packs

Frequently asked questions

The high Jyotirlinga of the Char Dham.

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The trek and the darshan of the shrine.

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Two days for the trek.

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High-altitude Shiva shrine reached by trek or heli

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