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Kedarnath Yatra Overview
Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most spiritual pilgrims in Bharat. Kedarnath is a town and Nagar Panchayat in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Bharat (India). It is approximately 295 km from Delhi and 216 Km from Rishikesh. It is in the Himalayas, about 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level near the Chakrabarti Glacier, which is the source of Mandakini River. The temple is said to be more than 1,200 years old and one among the 12 jyotirlingas in Bharat. The Kedarnath temple closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (April-May) every year. The temple is built on the bank of Mandakini and Saraswati rivers.
History of Kedarnath
The heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas, are mentioned in a folktale called Panch Kedar. In the famous Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas vanquished and killed their relatives, the Kauravas. They wanted to atone for the fratricide (gotra hatya) and brrahmahatya (killing of priest class Brahmins) they had committed during the conflict. So they gave their relatives control of their country and set out to find Lord Shiva to ask for his blessings. They first travelled to Varanasi (Kashi), a sacred city thought to be Shiva’s favourite and home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Shiva, however, intended to stay away from them because of his intense resentment over the deaths and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and his insensitivity to the Pandavas’ prayers. So he changed into a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal region.
The Pandavas travelled to the Garhwal Himalayas after failing to find Shiva in Varanasi. The second of the five Pandavas brothers, Bhima, then began to search for Shiva while perched atop two mountains. He noticed a bull grazing close to Guptakashi (also known as “hidden Kashi” due to Shiva’s act of hiding). The bull was immediately recognized by Bhima as Shiva. The bull was grabbed by the tail and rear legs by Bhima. However, the bull-shaped Shiva vanished into the earth before making partial reappearances at Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhya Maheshwar and Kalpeshwar. The Nabhi (navel) and stomach surfaced at Rudranath, while the face and hair resurfaced at Rudranath. The Pandavas constructed temples in Uttarakhand at each of the five locations to honor and adore Shiva since they were thrilled with his reappearance in five different guises.
How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi
Delhi to Sonprayag
There is no such direct bus or train available from Delhi. But people can choose the options below to reach Kedarnath.
Delhi> By Pass Haridwar & Rishikesh> Devprayag (Stay there for some time to see the sangam of two rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanada meet). > Srinagar (visit Dhari Devi temple dedicated to Goddess Kali)> Rudrprayag> Ukhimath > Phata> Sitapur> Sonprayag>
Self-drive or Book Personal Cab
The best way to reach Kedarnath is either drive car by yourselves or book personal cab from Delhi (fair would be around 15k to 20k, depending on the number of days) The roads are much wider till Tilwara; after that, some portions are a bit off-roading until Phata, and you can easily reach Sitapur or Sonprayag. I would suggest planning your yatra during the working day, as you would find less crowds and start your journey from Delhi around 9–10 p.m.
By Bus: there is no direct bus available from Delhi to Kedarnath. However, there are buses available from Delhi to Rishikesh or Haridwar from where you would get taxi, shared cabs or private buses till Sitapur. The average price range of bus ticket from Delhi to Rishikesh is around 300-900 and it takes 6-7 hrs.
By Train: Regular trains from Delhi to Hardwar or Rishikesh are always available. After that, book shared cab, taxi or private buses from the station.
By Air: the nearest Airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. After that you can hire taxi or cab for rest of the distance.
Sitapur to Kedarnath
You can book your hotel either at Sitapur or Sonprayag. I would recommend book your stay at Sitapur because you can save yourself from huge traffic jam. Sitapur and Sonprayag have a huge parking space where you can keep your car for the night. The Registration center for the Yatra is just a few meters ahead of the parking space.
The distance between Sonprayag and Gaurikund is about 5 km. You can start the trek from Sonprayag or else take the shared jeeps to Gaurikund. The jeep fare is INR 50 per head. The stretch of road from Sonprayag to Gaurikund is quite bumpy and rough. Gaurikund consider as the base camp for the Kedarnath trek. From Gaurikund, you can either trek or ride horses/mules to Kedarnath.
Kedarnath Yatra
Total distance from GauriKund to Kedarnath Temple as mentioned in most of the sites are around 16-17km but actual distance is around 20-22km.
Kedarnath Yatra route
GauriKund – Jungle Chatti
Jungle Chatti – Bheembali
Bheembali – Lincholi
Lincholi – Kedarnath Base camp
Kedarnath Base camp – Kedarnath Temple
The entire trail can be covered in a single day on foot.
Kedarnath Yatra by Horse\Mules and Pitthus
Horse/Mules and Pitthus are available from Gaurikund. You can bargain with them, but Pitthus rate depends on the weight of the person.
Tip for riding Horse/Mules: Bend forward while climbing upward and bend backward while climbing down and hold the saddle tightly.
Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter
The services are available from different helipads like Guptkashi, Sersi, Phata etc. Check rates and aviation companies to
Book Kedarnath helicopter services
Things to remember for the helicopter ride to Kedarnath.
- The Helipads are at Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi/Sitapur
- Only 2 kg of luggage is allowed per person.
- Additional charges are levied if you weight more than 80Kgs and 2 seats need to be booked if you weight equal or more than 120kgs.
- The price of the tickets depends on the helipad you are flying from. Round trip cost around INR 5000-7000.
- Helicopter service might stop at any time due to bad weather.
Where to stay at Kedarnath?
There are plenty of Guest houses and tents available near Kedarnath Temple. We stayed at the GMVM camp which is available near the temple. It cost us around 700 per person, including dinner. One can make bookings online in advance. During peak season, it is advisable to book your stay in advance, one month prior to your planned dates, because sometimes it’s difficult to get accommodation near the temple.
Medical facilities on Kedarnath Yatra
Medical centers and facilities are available throughout the way. You can find them in between Jungle Chatti, Bheemabali, and Lincholi.
Food, Drinks, Shops on Kedarnath Yatra
Most of the hotels, guest houses, and GMVN guest houses provide food at reasonable prices. The food available is vegetarian and quite tasty. There are many shops available all through the trek route selling Maggi, parathas, snacks, and hot beverages. You will not go hungry on your trek to Kedarnath.
Toilet Facilities in Kedarnath Yatra
Neat and clean public toilets are available on the entire route. The public toilets are in yellow color.
Mobile and internet access in Kedarnath Yatra?
Airtel and Jio services are available with 4G and 5G networks. It is bit rough in some the areas otherwise it is working fine.
Some interesting Facts about the Kedarnath Temple
- It is believed that the Kedarnath Temple is eternally protected and cannot be harmed.
- Bhaironath Ji is the protector of the Kedarnath Temple and is known as the Kshetrapal. He is the fiery avatar of Lord Shiva and is known for devastation and destruction.
- Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is in fact, the highest of all the Jyotirlinga in Bharat.
- Kedarnath is one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, which also includes Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath. The annual Char Dham Yatra is a very important pilgrimage for the Hindus.
- After Bhai Dooj, when the temple is closed, the main deity is brought down to Ukhimath.
- The head priest of the Kedarnath Temple belongs to the Veerashaiva community of Karnataka and is known as Rawal. However, the head priest or Rawal does not conduct the ritual inside the temple. He only gives instructions to his assistants. The deity is transferred to Ukhimath during the winter. The puja is performed in Kannada language.
- The temple is said to have been buried under ice for almost 400 years.
20 essential items must carry for Kedarnath Yatra
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