Kedarnath Temple Darshan
A soul-stirring experience seeking blessings at one of Hinduism's most sacred temples. Kedarnath is one of the main Dhams of Char Dham Yatra located in Rudraprayag district. It is known that Lord Shiva disguised to escape from Pandavas. It is believed that the birth of the holy river Ganga originated from Shiva’s matted hair. Visit this beautiful temple of Lord Shiva that is known to have been built between the 7th and 8th century. The temple is the highest of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.Sonprayag
Sonprayag, located in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, has deep religious significance because it represents a mystic confluence of two great rivers, the Basuki and Mandakini. Nestled in the gorgeous Himalayan backdrop, this calm town serves as an essential stop for pilgrims beginning on the holy Char Dham Yatra, which includes the famous shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath. Sonprayag, which translates to 'Golden Confluence,' is properly called given its spiritual significance. Pilgrims believe that taking a dip in the confluence of the Basuki and Mandakini rivers at Sonprayag cleanses the soul of sins, preparing the devotee for the journey to the holy sites. The pure surroundings and the constant motion of the rivers provide a peaceful setting ideal for meditation and prayer.Gaurikund Guptkashi
Gaurikund in Guptakashi is well-known for being both the starting and finishing point of the Kedarnath Yatra route. Gaurikund is situated on the banks of the Mandakini River and is appropriately regarded as the gateway to spirituality and salvation. The Gaurikund Temple and Gauri Lake, located at a height of around 2,000 meters above sea level, are famous attractions in the area. Gaurikund is named after the goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva's wife. According to popular myths and traditions, Gaurikund is the location where Goddess Parvati performed penance, which included spirituality and the practice of yoga, to win over Lord Shiva. It is popularly believed that Lord Shiva agreed to marry Parvati at this spot, and the wedding took place in Triyugi Narayan.Chorabari Lake
Chorabari Lake, also known as Gandhi Tal, is an attractive lake located approximately 3 kilometers from the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. Aside from regular devotees, the crystal clear and beautiful lake attracts a large number of tourists from all over. The lake, nestled against the background of the massive Himalayas, stands 3900 meters above sea level. Chorabari Tal was formed by the Chorabari Bamak Glacier and is accessible by a short journey from the Kedarnath Temple. Chorabari Tal is one of the most popular picnic locations in the region, and it also offers magnificent panoramic views of nature.Want Free Quotation?
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Kedarnath is Rudraprayag district's most well-known Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage site. Kedarnath is situated at 12,500 feet/ 3600 meters near the Chorabari Glacier, the source of the Mandakini River. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. The Kedarnath Mountain is located near Kedarnath. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from around India come to visit Lord Shiva temple in Kedarnath. With our Kedarnath Yatra package, you will have a seamless travel experience.
The closest route to reach Kedarnath is, through Gaurikund, which is located 16 kilometers away. The pilgrimage to Kedarnath has held significance for generations. Legend has it that the Pandava brothers constructed the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Kedarnath during the time of Mahabharata although there is no mention of the Kedarnath Temple. The Skanda Purana first references Kedarnath in the 7th and 8th centuries as Kedara, where it is said that Lord Shiva released the holy waters from his hair leading to the formation of the Ganges River.
The name 'Kedarnath' means 'lord of fields', and according to local legend, Lord Shiva disguised himself as a bull to avoid the Pandavas. Bhima, one of the Pandavas' brothers, recognized Lord Shiva and tried to catch the bull with its tail and back legs. Just before Bhima could fully grip the bull, it vanished into the ground, only to return with multiple shapes over the region. The hump of this bull appeared in Kedarnath, where the Pandavas are reported to have built the temple.
If you are planning to visit Kedarnath temple then you should know that the doors of Kedarnath open in mid-April and close during Diwali that’s in November. Kedarnath trek best time is from April to June or September to November. Also, you can make a budget-friendly trip with Kedarnath tour packages.
April brings pleasant weather, with chilly nights perfect for admiring the snow-capped mountains. May and June usher in summer, yet temperatures hover around 20°C, allowing for the gradual melting of snow atop the peaks. But during this month you will find a heavy rush as people from all around India come to visit Lord Shiva.
During this month the trek becomes risky as it mostly rains and trekkers are recommended to not travel during this month. As the road becomes slippery the risk of landslides increases. Although the temple remains open it is not safe to travel during the rainy season.
After the rain, the temperature in Kedarnath starts to drop to 0c or even below. You can enjoy the mountain-covered snow and the beautiful view of the Kedarnath Temple. Moreover, this month is Kedarnath Trek best time to travel as not many people visit in winter because of the cold weather.
If you are planning to travel in Kedarnath then you need to know the entire route and how you can smoothly plan your travel. All the major cities in India are connected through road, train, and air. You can take our Kedarnath Yatra package for a seamless travel experience.
These are the best 3 ways to visit Kedarnath:Many prefer to come to Dehradun via flight as it saves a lot of time but is costly too. You can book a direct flight to Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport. From the airport, you need to travel around 30 km to reach Dehradun. You can either book a cab or use local transportation like a bus. If you are planning your trip from Haridwar then the nearest airport is Jolly Grant.
If you want a more convenient means of travel then the best option for you is the train. Nanda Devi, Kota Express, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and Vande Bharat are some of the best express trains to reach Haridwar.
Find a direct Volvo bus that will drop you at the Haridwar bus Station. However, it will take longer as compared to flight but will save a lot of money. You can also book a direct cab and come to Kedarnath.
With our Kedarnath Tour Packages, you will get all the accommodation from traveling, food, and staying.
To start the Kedarnath Yatra first you need to reach Gaurikund and from there the trek begins.
There are 2 ways to reach Gaurikund from Haridwar:This is the cheapest traveling method. You can take a direct bus from Haridwar to Sonprayag. However, from Sonprayag you need to take local transportation to reach Gaurikund. Make sure you board a morning bus on time because the travel time will be around 8 hours.
Book a direct cab from Haridwar to Kedarnath. But this will cost you a lot more than the local bus. Travel time will be around 7-8 hours via cab.
Distance: 200 km
Altitude: 4,300 ft/ 1300 m
Duration: 6-7 hours
We'll start the day early and prepare to go to Guptkashi. The pickup location will be from Haridwar Bus stand and Railway Station. We'll stop for lunch along the road before continuing to Guptkashi. Upon arrival, check into the pre-booked accommodation.
The evening is free for a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. You can go for a leisurely walk while admiring the stunning scenery. Enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel in Guptkashi. The journey will be full of breathtaking views so keep your cameras ready to capture every moment.
Altitude: 12,500 ft/ 3600 m
Distance: 30 km drive to Sonpraayag, 16 km trek to Kedarnath
Duration: 1-hour drive, 8-9 hour trek
The next day is the day you have been waiting for. Our journey will begin early in the morning from Guptkashi to Sonprayag. The distance is around 30 km. It will take 1 hour to reach Sonprayag. You need to reach Gaurikund.
No private vehicle is allowed from Sonprayag so you have to take public transportation i.e. a taxi that will cost you 40-50 rupees per person to reach Gaurikund. The Kedarnath Trek begins from Gaurikund. It's a 16 km long trek that will take you 8-9 hours to complete it.
Once you reach, spend some time and visit the Kedarnath Temple and the beauty surrounding the temple. It is going to be a long and tiring day as we need to come down on the same day to Guptkashi. We will trek down and reach our hotel by evening or night. There you will have your meal and rest for the night
Altitude: 12,500 ft/ 3600 m to 6000 ft/ 1830 m
Distance: 16 km trek from Kedarnath to Gaurikund, 5 km drive to Sonprayag, 200 drive to Haridwar
Duration: 8-9 hour trek, 1 hour drive to Sonprayag, 6-7 hour drive to Haridwar
Today is the end of our beautiful journey. We will trek down to Gaurikund and take public transportation to reach Sonprayag from there we will be coming back to Haridwar. We will be reaching Haridwar by night so if you have to travel further make your necessary arrangements before.
We will be having our morning breakfast before leaving and on the way we will have our lunch. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain and enjoy your journey back home with all the memories you made during the trek. With these memories, our Kedarnath Yatra Package came to an end.
Kedarnath Trek is around 16 km long and takes around 8 to 9 hours to complete. Trek is considered moderately difficult. If you are a beginner or expert you can complete this trek.
Kedarnath Trek best time is from April to June as the temperature remains pleasant. However, you can also travel from September to November but you will experience cold weather.
There are 2 ways to travel to Kedarnath from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. You can take public transportation that is a bus or jeep. The second option is booking a direct cab.
To begin your journey you first need to reach Gaurikund. From Gaurikund the trek to Kedarnath is around 16 km and will take 8-9 hours to complete. You can take the Kedarnath package to have a better travel experience.
Kedarnath Temple is situated at a mind-blowing height of 12,500 feet or 3800 meters. You need to prepare yourself if you are planning for this trek.