Make your journey to Kedarnath hassel- free, as we have answers to the Kedaranth frequently asked questions. These will clear your doubts about travelling in and around Kedarnath.
Due to geographical location Kedarnath Dham is prone to uncertain weather conditions. Every year Kedaranth Yatra begins from the month of April or May onwards (depends on Akshay Tritya) and continues until Bhai Dhooj. Kedarnath Temple closes on Bhai Dooj. It remain closed for next five or six months due to cold winters and heavy snowfall.
After 2013 floods, very few hotels and restaurants can be found in Kedarnath. However, GVMN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) provide suitable accommodation in tents and pre fabricated huts. Pilgrims can book in advance through GMVN official website.
Gaurikund is the nearest road head to Kedarnath. From Gaurikund it is an 18 km trek to reach Kedarnath. Delhi is well connected through road and railway with major cities of India. One can board a flight from Delhi to Dehradun (Jolly grant Airport). There is no direct train from Delhi to Haridwar. You can travel by the train Janshtbdi from New Delhi to Haridwar. After reaching Haridwar you can take a bus or book a cab for Gaurikund.
One can board an early morning bus to Guptkashi / Sonprayag or hire a cab for Kedarnath Yatra from Haridwar. The travel time to Sonprayag is 8-9 hrs. Shared taxi service to Gaurikund is also available. Advance booking can also be done from GMOA (Garhwal Mandal Owners Association) office.
Gaurikund is the nearest road head to Kedarnath. So, many car rental services are available in Gaurikund. You can also book a cab from Gaurikund to visit the nearby places in Kedarnath like Chopta, Guptkashi and many more.
During winters, weather in Kedaranth gets very cold and routes get blocked due to heavy snowfall. The pleasant and cool climate during the month of May, June, September and October makes it the best time to visit Kedarnath Dham. One must avoid travelling to Kedarnath during monsoons due to landslides.
The darshan timings at Kedarnath Dham are:
Morning: 5 AM-1:30 PM
Evening: 5:30 PM-10 PM
The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is at Haridwar junction (238 kms). The railway station is much developed and well connected with major cities of India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
Situated 238 kms away from the Kedarnath, Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airhead to Kedarnath. The airport is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
Kedarnath trek starts from Gaurikund. Pilgrims have to take the 18 km trail to reach the temple. The trek route is medium steep and full of rocky terrains. Proper health is important for the trek route. Senior citizens and children can travel through Kandi, Palki and Ponies. Even one can also enjoy the Kedarnath Helicopter services from Sersi, Phata and Guptkashi.
