How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi?

There are so many people who want to visit Kedarnath from Delhi, they wants to know how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi? Kedarnath, nestled in the Garhwal Himalayan range in Uttarakhand. It is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is part of the revered Char Dham Yatra, which also includes Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands at an elevation of 3,583 meters above sea level.

It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush valleys. The temple’s history dates back to the Mahabharata era, and it is believed that the Pandavas built the original temple to atone for their sins after the Kurukshetra war.

Every year, thousands of devotees and adventure seekers embark on the challenging journey to Kedarnath to seek blessings and experience its serene beauty. The temple remains open from April to November, and the journey to Kedarnath is both a spiritual and physical endeavour, requiring careful planning and preparation.

How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Train

Getting to Kedarnath from Delhi by rail means that a rail trip has to be followed by a road trip. Here’s the step-by-step process how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Train.

1. Train from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh: Ideologically, one’s excursion commences with the boarding of a train to Haridwar or Rishikesh from Delhi. Both cities are fairly accessible as there are many trains from Delhi to both the places. This trip usually lasts for about 4-6 hours.
2. Road Trip from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Gaurikund: As soon as you reach Haridwar or Rishikesh it is possible to rent a taxi or take a bus to Gaurikund – the starting point for the trek to Kedarnath. The travelling distance from Haridwar to Gaurikund is about 230 kms and would take anything between 8 to 9 hrs by road.
3. Trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath: Kedarnath is 16 Kilometres trek from Gaurikund. The trek is rigorous but is among the most desirable as it gives a view of the Himalayas. Palanquin and ponies are provided for such guests who might need some helping hands.

How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Bus

1. Bus from Delhi to Haridwar/Rishikesh: There are quite a number of state owned and private buses plying the Delhi – Haridwar/Rishikesh route. It is approximately a 6-8 hours’ drive depending on the traffic and road situation.
2. Bus from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Gaurikund: The nearest place where one can get direct transport to Gaurikund is from Haridwar or Rishikesh. In this case, you can board a bus to Sonprayag and then contract a local jeep to Gaurikund. Starting from Haridwar to Gaurikund is a process that takes about 9-10 hours of travelling.
3. Trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath: Like the rail route, the last part of the distance one has to cover on foot from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is 16 kilometres.

Also, Read-  How to Reach Bhutan from India

How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi by Flight

If the intention is to get there faster or avoid discomfort, then taking a flight would be best. Here’s how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi by flight:

1. Flight from Delhi to Dehradun: The first thing to do is to take a flight from Delhi and reach Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun. Again the flight time takes nearly an hour. Many airlines have daily flights on this route.
2. Road Trip from Dehradun to Gaurikund: From Dehradun one has to either take a taxi or board a bus to Gaurikund. From Dehradun, it is up to Gaurikund approximately 250 KMs and it would take anything between 10-11 hours by road Only.
3. Helicopter Service from Phata/Sersi to Kedarnath: For those who have no energy to walk there are helicopter services from Phata, Sersi, Guptkashi to Kedarnath. The distance is fairly small – about 10 minutes’ flight – yet it can get incredibly busy during the pilgrimage time of the year – so booking in advance is recommended.

Where is Kedarnath Temple?

Kedarnath temple sits in the Garhwal Himalayan range of the Great Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The temple stands at a height of 3,583 meters (11,755 feet) above the sea level and therefore one of the worlds most elevated Hindu temple.

Kedarnath temple is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and located in the Garhwal Himalayas region far in the lap of nature. It is within Kedar Valley that is bordered by some of the most magnificent mountains in the area.

It is to be noted that the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva, who forms the trinity in Hinduism. The movie is based on the religious ground of one of the important Hindu pilgrimage sites known as Kedarnath which is considered as the lord Shiva’s residence.

The temple is regarded as one of the Char Dham pilgrimage destinations in the region that comprises the most sacred temples of Hindus located in the Himalayan times that is Badrinath temple, Gangotri temple, Yamnotri temple as well as Kedarnath temple.

Kedarnath Distance from Delhi

The Kedarnath temple is set in the Garhwal Himalayas of the Uttarakhand state in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent. The actual distance through road from the national capital Delhi is approximately 300 Kilometre (186 Miles) to reach Kedarnath temple.

But the road distance measured in actual kilometres is quite higher, which is from about 400 to 450 kilometres (250 to 280 miles) depending upon the course. This is because while the geometrical distance from one place to another in the plains is the straight line distance, in the hills where the roads of Uttarakhand are. It hardly holds any value due to the serpentine roads, hairpin bends and passes.

The distance from Delhi to Kedarnath through the motorway usually takes approximately 8 to 10 hours’ drive subject to the type of vehicle, road and network conditions, and traffic hold up. The customary way is to travel by NH 58 from Delhi through Rishikesh the sacred city and then the toys road towards Kedarnath.

Kedarnath Package from Delhi

For the travellers, if one plans to visit the Kedarnath temple from Delhi, then there are available packages which are tour packages for different ability to pay and tour packages for different interest. These Kedarnath packages generally consist of services and facilities that aims to provide the consumers optimum comfort during the trip.

The most common components of a Kedarnath package from Delhi include:

 Transportation: The packages generally include all the transfers from Delhi to Kedarnath and back in a vehicle such as a bus, A/C private car, or a train and bus.

 Accommodation: The packages also offer, quite basic lodges and small hotels for accommodation during the travel and in Kedarnath.

 Meals: Many packages offer meals which are breakfast, lunch as well as dinner thus the travellers are not left hungry the whole day.

Temple visit: The focal point of the package is the trip to Kedarnath Temple and normally, the entire arrangement of the trip is done by the tour planners themselves.

These Kedarnath packages from Delhi cause prices to fluctuate largely; ranging between ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per individual, based on the degree of luxury and services provided by the package.

By booking the lower end packages may come with more standard services while the higher end contains better transport, accommodation, and extra services such as porters when transporting baggage throughout the trek.

Thus the traveller is advised to study the packages of the Kedarnath tour by road from Delhi that are available for travel and choose the package most suitable for the budget required and the traveller’s choice.

Furthermore, it is recommended that you make an early booking for the package because there could also be a lot of people who avail of such tours especially during the tourist season.

Best Time to Go to Kedarnath

The Kedarnath temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand India. The accessibility is only in the summer season so the timing remains a conventional factor to consider.

Peak Travel Season

The travelled season to Kedarnath is normally from the month of May to October although one may feel free to travel throughout the year. It is at this time the climate is somewhat best suited for the undertaking since the conditions are supportable.

The tourism in Kedarnath can be considered as being highest during the months measuring from May to June and from September to October.

All these months have the best climate characterized by relatively warm temperatures, fine and clear weather and little precipitation. The crowds are also comparatively abundant but more easily controlled during such high activities of the temple and the areas.

Preferred Months for Hiking

The tourism is throughout the year, but the most preferred months for hiking are in the months of May and June. It is due to the warm and dry season and enhanced by the framing snow-covered mountains. However, this is also the busiest time because larger crowds of pilgrims and tourists throng the area.

Even in the late summers, that is in the months of September and October also Kedarnath is regarded as favourable for travelling. The temperature is still pleasant, but tourists have begun to go back home, so parks and monuments’ atmosphere is different – less touristy, I would say.

Winter Season and Temple Closure

However, it is worth to mention that the Kedarnath temple is closed during snow-bound months of November to April since it is located in a snowy zone.

During this particular period, the temple and the surrounding territory will be closed to people and the trip will turn into a very difficult and rather dangerous one.

Thus, it is advised to visit Kedarnath in the summer season, especially from May end to June and September end to October when the climate is pleasant, number of tourists is comparatively less and the temple is fully operational for the devotees and tourists.

When is Kedarnath Not Crowded?

Kedarnath is a very famous temple where thousands of tourists and devotees visit every year to pay their tribute to the Lord. However, the best time to visit this place is during the time of monsoon that starts from July to August where the less crowd of a tourist is witnessed.

As stated in the earlier sections, the flow of tourists to Kedarnath is much lesser in the monsoon season compared to other seasons of the year. This is specifically because the weather condition is extremely wet and prospects of landslides and other related calamities are high in those areas.

The months of July and August are the monsoon months in the Garhwal Himalayas and while Kedarnath is practically washed out.

The passage to the temple becomes extremely difficult due to the heavy downpour. Slowly, the roads and trekking paths transform into terrains consequently causing a slipperiness with a tendency of causing landslides that may be hazardous to travellers.

Less Crowded but Challenging Conditions

There was still moderate flow of people and unlike what was recorded in May- June and September-October, Kedarnath was not heavily crowded with pilgrims and tourists. This can make a comeback to the park to be a much calmer and quiet one for those who prefer going there during that time.

It is however pertinent to mention in large crowd is less present, the weather condition during monsoon is not very friendly. To all those who are planning to venture out to Kedarnath during this part of the year. It is highly advised that they study the current prevailing weather, road status, and safety measures that they should observe if at all they are to undertake the journey.

One also has to be very fluid with their itinerary and be ready for the worst in terms of the harsh conditions persisting in such a climate. It is advisable to ask the local authorities and travel agencies on latest information on the accessibility of the temple and possible inconveniences due to monsoon at the time of visiting Kedarnath.

Best Way to Reach Kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple located at the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand is mainly approachable by road transport. One can either drive up to the road head Gaurikund and then trek up to Kedarnath or hire a chopper services from Deoriatal.

The most traditional approach to the holy shrine of Kedarnath can be from Rishikesh or Haridwar, which are the cities easily accessible by whatever means of transport; road, rail or even by flight. From these cities, it is possible to hire a private car and get to the beginning of the track or join one of the organized groups.

Transportation from Rishikesh or Haridwar to the starting point of the trek will take 6- 8 hours based on the roads taken by the transporter. The routes passing through this part of India are curvy and hilly and they give haunting views of the Garhwal Himalayas.

After getting to this point, the remaining distance for the walk has to be covered on foot since cars cannot go any further due to very sharp and constraining terrains. Typically, the stretch of the trek may range from 14 to 20 kilometres (8. 7 to 12. 4 miles) depending on the point beginning the trek.

However, it needs to be understood that the trail leading to Kedarnath is a relatively strenuous one, more so, given the altitude of the place. Correct pre-trip preparation, proper equipment, and the familiarization with conditions can help to have a good time and do not danger one’s life.

Can You Stay Overnight in Kedarnath?

Yes, it is possible to spend the night in Kedarn Nathan although it will be under extreme and harsh conditions. As for lodges, there are quite a number of them depending on the customer’s requirement and class, with the possibility of ranging from a simple guest house to a better standard hotel.

However, it is advisable to book the place in advance because there are few rooms and they are usually booked end smash from time to time, most profoundly during peak seasons.

Delhi to Kedarnath Trip Cost

The price of course will depend on the type of transport, the type of accommodation that has been booked, and the number of persons in the group. In general, such expenditure may reach from fifteen thousand to thirty thousand rupees per capita accounting for the expenses on transportation, accommodation, as well as meals.

Nearest Railway Station to Kedarnath Temple

The nearest railway stations to Kedarnath Temple are located at Haridwar and Rishikesh respectively, after reaching at either of these stations one has to take a bus ride to reach Kedarnath.

The specific railway station nearest to this temple is Rishikesh which is about 223km or 139miles away from the temple of Kedarnath. To get to Kedarnath from Rishikesh you can take a bus, or taxi, or any other private transport.

Conclusion

I am sure till now you must have an clear idea how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi. Kedarnath is one of the most important places of the Hindu pilgrimage tour in the Garhwal Himalayas, creating the special spiritual mood in the middle of mountains. Regardless of whether you are going on a one-man travel or are organizing a group travel tour.

You will need to understand when is the right time for the tour, the means of transport to use and the places that you can put up in as you travel.

Disclaimer:

This blog post should not be relied on as professional advice. Trips and tourist activities should be well discussed and well understood before one goes on a particular trip. The author will take no responsibility on any mistakes that may have been made in this post.

Health and Safety Warning: Journeys can be uncertain and sometimes it is possible that some mishap occurs. Kindly observe the following precautions to avoid any mishap when using the helicopters.