Kedarnath Yatra Road Route Map with Distance & Directions

Dedicated to Lord Shiva and located among the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, Kedarnath Dham Mandir is one of the most highly revered temples in India. Situated by the holy River Mandakini this temple is deemed for being one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the subcontinent. Kedarnath is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and an extremely important part of the Chota Chardham Yatra which takes place in Devbhoomi (land of gods and goddesses) Uttarakhand annually. Being situated at an elevation of 3,583 metres above sea level Kedarnath is prone to extremely cold and freezing weather conditions.

Kedarnath Yatra Route Map

The journey to Kedarnath Dham starts from the holy town of Haridwar or Rishikesh. From here, the next destination will be Devprayag, where Rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi converge and take up the name of River Ganga. Your next destination from Devprayag will be Srinagar which is home to the Kamleshwar Mahadev Mandir. You will then proceed towards Rudraprayag which is a holy town situated strategically on the confluence point of the Rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. From Rudraprayag your next stop will be at Gaurikund via Agastyamuni, Guptkashi, Phata, Sitapur, and Sonprayag. Gaurikund will mark the starting point for the commencement of your trekking journey towards Kedarnath.

You can reach Kedarnath from Delhi via the following route:

Delhi à Haridwar à Devprayag à Rudraprayag à Guptkashi à Sonprayag à Gaurikund à Kedarnath Temple

Putting it under the magnifying glass, the trekking route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple looks something like this:

Trek Map & Distance

Gaurikund ➔ Jungle Chatti ➔ Bheembali ➔ Rambara ➔ Lincholi ➔ Kedarnath Base ➔ Kedarnath Temple

Here are the distances broken into segments:

How to Reach Kedarnath

• By Air – Fly to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, which is the nearest airport. However, it’s still a whopping 239 km away from Kedarnath Temple. You can take a taxi/cab from here to reach the shrine.
• By Rail – The nearest railway station is Haridwar Railway Station and is situated at a distance of 241 km from the shrine. Pilgrims can take a bus or hire a private taxi to reach the holy destination.
• By Road – You can take a bus from the ISBT Kashmere Gate and reach Haridwar. From here, you can hire a taxi to reach the Dham.

Options to Cover Kedarnath Trek

If you’re dreading the 16 km trek that is an inherent part of the Kedarnath Yatra, then there are ways to get around it! Here are two sure-shot ways pilgrims take to circumvent the arduous journey:

• By Helicopter – There are three helipads near the Dham, namely, Phata, Sersi, and Guptkashi. You can fly from here to the Kedarnath helipad, from where the temple is just 500 metres away. The flight from all these helipads takes under ten minutes to drop you at the destination.
• By Pony/Palanquin – The trek from Gaurikund to the shrines is about 16 km, which takes about 6-8 hours. Tiring and exhausting, it’s a major challenge in the Kedarnath Yatra. You can skip it altogether by using a pony or a Palki service.

Reaching Kedarnath from Major Cities

Here’s a quick travel summary to visit the sacred Dham from major cities:

Delhi to Kedarnath

• Distance: 447 kilometres
• Reach Haridwar by NH 334.
• Then take NH7 to reach Rishikesh.
• From there on take NH 58 for the Kedarnath route.

Haridwar to Kedarnath

• Distance: Approx. 239 kilometres
• Fro here, take NH34 to reach Rishikesh.
• Follow NH7 via Devprayag and Rudraprayag to reach Guptkashi.
• From Guptkashi, reach Sonprayag and then Gaurikund, which is the base of the trek.
• Complete the 16 km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.

Dehradun to Kedarnath

• Distance: About 254 kilometres
• Go to Rishikesh via NH7, then follow the same route via Devprayag to Guptkashi.
• Visit Sonprayag and then Gaurikund.
• Trek 16 km from Gaurikund to reach Kedarnath.

Mumbai to Kedarnath

• Distance: Approximately 1,875 kilometres
• Take NH48 and proceed as follows: Vadodara → Udaipur → Chittorgarh.
• Join NH27 to reach Kota and from there on take NH52 to Jaipur.
• Now, take NH334 to Haridwar and then NH7 to Rishikesh.
• Continue on NH7 through Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi.
• Drive to Sonprayag and then reach Gaurikund by shared vehicles. Cover a 16–17 km trek to Kedarnath.

Bangalore to Kedarnath

• Distance: About 2,400 kilometres
• Take NH44 from Bangalore to Nagpur.
• Continue on NH44 and cover: Jhansi → Kanpur → Lucknow.
• From Lucknow, take NH730B to Bareilly and then NH334 to Haridwar.
• Take the road route via NH7 passing through Rudraprayag to reach Guptkashi. Finally, take a cab/taxi to visit Sonprayag, followed by Gaurikund.
• Begin the 16 km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.

Kolkata to Kedarnath

• Distance: Approximately 1,600 kilometres
• Take NH19 from Kolkata and go towards Varanasi.
• Continue on either NH19 or NH31 to reach Prayagraj. Then follow NH30 to Lucknow.
• From Lucknow, take NH730/NH730B to go to Bareilly.
• Take NH734 or NH334 to Haridwar, followed by NH7 to Rishikesh.
• From Rishikesh, follow NH7 via Devprayag to Guptkashi.
• Drive to Sonprayag, then take shared jeeps to proceed to Gaurikund.
• Begin the 16 km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.

Ahmedabad to Kedarnath

• Distance: About 1,550 kilometres
• Take NH48 from Ahmedabad and follow this route: Udaipur → Chittorgarh → Kota → Jaipur.
• From Jaipur, head towards Delhi via NH48.
• Continue from Delhi on NH334 to Haridwar.
• Then take NH7 to Rishikesh.
• Proceed via Devprayag to Guptkashi.
• Reach Sonprayag and then Gaurikund.
• Begin the 16 km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple.

History of Kedarnath Temple

It is still not known who had first established the temple but there is a very famous mythological account surrounding it. It is believed that due to the constant requests made by Nar – Narayana, Lord Shiva had agreed to dwell at Kedarnath and make it his home.

During 4th century, after the completion of the epic Mahabharata battle, Pandavas are said to have visited Kedarnath in order to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva for killing their kin, the Kauravas. However, the Lord hid himself among the cattle from them by turning into a bull since he did not want to forgive them. But, Bhim recognized him and the bull immediately buried himself head first into the ground and Bhim held the bull by its tail and forcefully pulled him out which made the Lord forgive them. After which the Pandavas are said to have built the Kedarnath Temple.

Travel Tip to Kedarnath

• Being situated at a high elevation the temple can be reached after a perilous trek. It is important for you to get yourself checked up 3 months prior to the commencement of the Yatra.
• There are alternative transportation methods available like palanquins, helicopters and mules which are made available for the convenience of Yatris who are senior citizens or physically disabled.
• Use Haridwar / Rishikesh as your base camp where you can store your bigger luggage and carry all your important small items with you in order to reduce strains since the routes are narrow which makes it incapable for the Yatris to carry large pieces of bulky baggage.
• Along with heavy jackets and thick woolen sweaters make sure to also wear mufflers, gloves, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes.

We hope that this wholesome and extremely informative Kedarnath Yatra route map will help you in your journey towards attaining your enlightenment.

FAQs

Q-1: What is the best time to visit Kedarnath?
Ans: The best time to visit Kedarnath is from May to June and September to October. During this period, the weather is favourable and pleasant – ideal for temple tours and outdoor activities.

Q-2: What documents are required for the Kedarnath Yatra?
Ans: Carry a valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card/Passport/Voter ID/Driving License), Yatra permit, and a medical certificate (required for senior citizens).

Q-3: Can senior citizens visit Kedarnath?
Ans: Yes, senior citizens can visit Kedarnath. However, they must be physically fit. They also need to produce a medical certificate that deems them fit for the Yatra.

Q-4: How difficult is the Kedarnath trek?
Ans: Kedarnath trek is moderately difficult. Firstly, it is 16 km long. Secondly, the unpredictable weather and harsh cold make the trip a little more difficult.

Q5. Is registration required for the Yatra?
Ans. Yes, the registration is required, as mandated by the Uttarakhand government. You can do so by visiting the state government’s official portal.