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Kedarnath

Kedarnath

pilgrimage site · Uttarakhand

State
Uttarakhand
Type
Pilgrimage Site
Best season
Winter
Things to do
1+

Kedarnath, set at 3,583 metres against a backdrop of snow peaks and the Mandakini valley, is among the holiest of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a cornerstone of the Char Dham Yatra. The ancient stone temple, reached by a demanding Himalayan trek, is one of India's most revered shrines.

A short history

Tradition attributes the temple's founding to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata, seeking to atone for the deaths of their kin at Kurukshetra; the present stone structure is credited to Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The 2013 Uttarakhand floods devastated the town around the temple while the shrine itself remained largely undamaged, an event that became a defining moment in the region's modern history and pilgrimage infrastructure.

Why Kedarnath matters

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham, reachable only by a 16-18km trek — India's most physically demanding major pilgrimage.

How many people come

18 lakh

shrine in 2024 · Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Board (reported estimate)

When to go

Best visited October to March; check seasonal opening and festival dates.

Why visit

A high-Himalayan Jyotirlinga and Char Dham shrine, reached by a dramatic mountain trek — among India's most sacred journeys.

Cultural notes

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a Char Dham pilgrimage site, Kedarnath's remote, ancient temple has drawn Shaivite pilgrims across the Himalayas for over a thousand years.

How to reach

Nearest railhead Rishikesh; helicopter services run from Phata/Guptkashi; the final ~16 km from Gaurikund is a trek, pony or palanquin. Open roughly May-Oct.

3 days in Kedarnath

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Drive to Sonprayag & Gaurikund

Drive to Sonprayag & Gaurikund

Day 1

Acclimatise and rest

Acclimatise and rest

Day 1

Prepare for the trek

Prepare for the trek

Day 2

Day 2

Trek Gaurikund to Kedarnath (or pony/heli)

Trek Gaurikund to Kedarnath (or pony/heli)

Kedarnath Temple

Day 2

Kedarnath Temple

The ancient stone Jyotirlinga temple of Lord Shiva amid snow peaks.

Day 2

Evening aarti

Evening aarti

Day 3

Day 3

Bhairavnath Temple

Bhairavnath Temple

Day 3

Vasuki Tal or Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi

Vasuki Tal or Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi

Day 3

Descend to Gaurikund

Descend to Gaurikund

Kedarnath guide & itineraries

Kedarnath is perfect for

spiritualadventurenature

What & where to eat

chai

Gaurikund-Kedarnath trail

chai

Trailside snacks on the trek

Gaurikund-Kedarnath trail

Hot Maggi

Trailside snacks on the trek

Gaurikund-Kedarnath trail

aloo

Trailside snacks on the trek

Jalebi

Fried snacks at rest stops

pakora

Fried snacks at rest stops

Sattvic pilgrim thali

Simple pure-veg meals along the route

Rajma-chawal

Hearty beans and rice

Garhwali dal

Local lentils and flatbread

roti

Local lentils and flatbread

Nearby getaways

Gaurikund

trek base

Guptkashi

~1.5 hrs

Triyuginarayan

~side trip

Frequently asked questions

When is Kedarnath open?
Roughly late April/May to October/November (Diwali); it closes for winter when the deity moves to Ukhimath.
How hard is the Kedarnath trek?
A strenuous 16-18 km climb from Gaurikund; ponies, palkis and helicopter services are available.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Kedarnath.

Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek

The 16-18 km pilgrim trek (or pony, palki, helicopter)

Vasuki Tal trek

High-altitude glacial-lake day hike

Hidden gems

Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi

Memorial behind the temple

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Kedarnath

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