The Kedarnath trek is a 16 to 17 km walk from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The temple sits at about 3,583 m. Most pilgrims walk it in 6 to 8 hours.
The kapat opened on 22 April 2026. Closing is expected around Bhai Dooj, on 11 November 2026, but the temple committee announces the final date, so check the Kedarnath opening and closing dates for 2026 before planning a late-season trip.
Facts in this guide were checked on 24 September 2026 against the Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal, the Rudraprayag district administration and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). Fares and rules change every season.
| Detail | Information |
| Trek start | Gaurikund, about 1,982 m. Vehicles stop at Sonprayag, 5 km before. |
| Trek end | Kedarnath Temple, about 3,583 m (official pages list 3,580 to 3,586 m) |
| Distance | 16-17 km one way. The Tourist Care portal says 16 km; the Rudraprayag district site says 17 km. |
| Walking time | 6-8 hours uphill (Tourist Care portal); longer in rain or heavy crowds |
| Height gain | About 1,600 m in one day |
| 2026 season | Opened 22 April 2026. Closing expected 11 November 2026, to be confirmed by BKTC. |
| Registration | Compulsory and free, at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in |
| Other ways up | Pony, kandi (pitthu), palki, or helicopter booked on IRCTC HeliYatra |
| Best months | May to June, and mid-September to October |
| Emergency numbers | 112 (emergency), 108 (medical), 1364 (tourist helpline) |
Book two things first: your yatra registration and a bed for the night before the trek. Rooms at Sonprayag, Gaurikund and Kedarnath run out in May, June and October. Early planning also gives you time to build walking fitness, and it lets you keep one spare day. You will want that day if rain, a landslide or a cancelled helicopter slot upsets your plan.
Reach Haridwar or Rishikesh first. From there it is a full day on the mountain highway through Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi to Sonprayag. A shared jeep covers the last 5 km to Gaurikund, where the walk starts.
| From | Road distance to Kedarnath side | Road time |
| Haridwar | About 240 km + 16 km trek | About 9-10 hours |
| Rishikesh | About 220 km + 16 km trek | About 9-10 hours |
Source: Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal.
Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. The Rudraprayag district administration puts it about 250 km from Kedarnath.
Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, about 210 km from Gaurikund. Haridwar has far more trains, and many travelers start there. If you are coming from Delhi, see our Kedarnath tour from Delhi for the full plan.
During the yatra, private cars and taxis park at Sonprayag. Shared jeeps run the 5 km stretch up to Gaurikund. Registration details are checked at verification points on the way, so keep your QR letter handy. In peak weeks, reach Sonprayag early.
The present path was rebuilt after the June 2013 flood damaged the old route. It is a paved trail with food stalls, rest points and medical posts along the way. These are the main stops:
| Stop | Approx. km from Gaurikund | What to expect |
| Gaurikund | 0 | Trek start and the prepaid pony, kandi and palki counter |
| Jungle Chatti | 4 | Tea and snack stalls; steady climb through forest |
| Bheembali | 7 | Food stalls and a rest point; the climb gets steeper after this |
| Linchauli | 11 | Food, stay options and a medical point |
| Kedarnath Base Camp | About 15 | Tents and camps; the gradient eases |
| Kedarnath Temple | 16-17 | Temple, town and places to stay |
Stop distances are approximate and differ by up to a kilometre between route signs and published guides.
Rate it moderate to difficult. The path itself is well made. The hard part is the climb: about 1,600 m of height gain in one day, with thinner air near the top. The gradient gets noticeably steeper after Bheembali.
Plan on 6 to 8 hours going up. Coming down is faster, though tough on the knees; a trekking pole helps a lot.
Many first-time trekkers finish it. Those who do well usually trained for a few weeks and kept a slow, even pace from Gaurikund. If you are elderly, or have heart disease, diabetes or a breathing problem, see your doctor before you book, and think seriously about a pony, palki or helicopter.
| Period | What to expect |
| May to June | Pleasant days and the biggest crowds. Expect long lines for jeeps, ponies and darshan. Early May can still have snow near the top. |
| July to mid-September | Monsoon. Landslides can block the highway and the trail, and helicopter flights are often cancelled. Avoid if you can. |
| Mid-September to October | Clearer skies and fewer people. Nights get very cold. Our pick for a calmer darshan. |
| November (closing) to April | Temple closed after Bhai Dooj. Lord Kedarnath is worshipped at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, through winter. |
Kedarnath is cold at night in every month of the season, and temperatures can drop below zero, especially late in October. Fog and rain can roll in within an hour. Check the IMD forecast the evening before, and pack warm layers and rain gear even if the morning looks clear.
Registration is compulsory and free. The official portal also says that if you forget, you can still register during the journey online or at a registration centre, but doing it before you leave saves a long wait.
One detail most guides skip: the portal FAQ says people aged 10 to 65 can register. If anyone in your group is younger or older, call the tourist helpline (1364, or 0135-3520100) before you travel and ask how they should be registered.
A medical certificate is not in the portal’s list of registration documents. But the Uttarakhand government’s 2026 guidance asks every pilgrim to get a health check-up before the yatra, and it asks elderly people and anyone with heart disease, diabetes or respiratory problems to consult a doctor first. Do it. Screening centres and medical relief posts are also set up along the route.
Start 30 to 45 days before the trip. Walk or jog most days, climb stairs, and do some of that with a light backpack on. That covers most of what the Kedarnath trek asks of your legs.
Watch for headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness while resting. If they appear, stop and rest, and drink water. If they get worse, turn back down and get checked at the nearest medical post. Going higher with these symptoms is the one mistake you should not make.
Carry the medicines your doctor has prescribed, enough for the whole trip, plus a basic first-aid kit. If you usually take something for headaches, acidity or motion sickness on mountain roads, pack that too after checking with your doctor.
Walking is free and suits anyone comfortable with a long uphill day. For everyone else, here are the options with their 2026 rates.
| Option | Fare | Good for |
| On foot | Free | Travelers who can manage 6-8 hours of uphill walking |
| Pony or mule | ₹3,200 one way (Rudraprayag district rate card; check the board at the counter) | People who can sit on a horse for 4-5 hours |
| Kandi (pitthu) | From ₹6,000 one way, by weight | Children and light adults |
| Palki (dandi) | From ₹9,200 one way, by weight | People who cannot walk or ride |
| Helicopter | ₹6,390 to ₹12,762 round trip, by helipad (see below) | Short trips and health limits |
Book pony, kandi and palki only at the prepaid counters and ask for the printed receipt. Rates are revised by season and by the passenger’s weight.
Helicopters fly from three helipads: Sersi (also spelled Sirsi), Phata and Guptkashi. Book only on IRCTC HeliYatra (heliyatra.irctc.co.in). You need your yatra registration number before you can pay.
| Helipad | 2026 base round-trip fare per person |
| Sersi (Sirsi) | ₹6,390 |
| Phata | ₹10,164 |
| Guptkashi | ₹12,762 |
These base fares are before the IRCTC convenience fee and GST, so the amount you pay is higher. One IRCTC user ID can book at most 2 tickets of up to 6 passengers each. Treat any agent selling “confirmed” shuttle seats outside IRCTC as a scam. Flights stop in fog, rain or wind, so keep a spare day.
Before the trek, Sonprayag, Sitapur and Guptkashi have the most hotels and homestays, and Gaurikund has the GMVN guesthouse and budget lodges right at the start. At Kedarnath you can choose from GMVN rooms and tents, private camps and ashram stays.
Stay one night at Kedarnath if you can. You get the evening aarti, an early darshan before the lines build, and a rest before the walk down.
| Day | Plan |
| Day 1 | Haridwar or Rishikesh to Guptkashi, Sitapur or Sonprayag by road; overnight stay |
| Day 2 | Early jeep to Gaurikund; trek to Kedarnath; evening aarti; night at Kedarnath |
| Day 3 | Early darshan; trek down to Gaurikund; drive to Guptkashi or Rudraprayag |
| Day 4 | Drive back to Haridwar or Rishikesh |
Add a day at each end from Delhi, and one spare day in the monsoon or if you are flying. If you would rather have the transport and stays arranged, see our Kedarnath Yatra package from Haridwar.
Mobile signal comes and goes on the trail. Save your registration letter, tickets and emergency numbers offline before leaving Sonprayag.
| Service | Number |
| Emergency | 112 |
| Medical emergency | 108 |
| Uttarakhand tourist helpline | 1364 (from other states +91 135 1364), 0135-3520100 |
| Kedarnath Yatra control room, Rudraprayag | 01364-297878, 01364-297879 |
| Kedarnath heli helpline | +91 98709 63731 |
For more on the town, the temple and nearby places, read our Kedarnath travel guide.
About 16 to 17 km one way from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple, so 32 to 34 km for the round trip. Official sources list 16 km and 17 km.
Usually 6 to 8 hours up, according to the Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal. Rain, crowds and long breaks can add more. The walk down is shorter.
Many do. With about 1,600 m of height gain in 16 to 17 km, you need a few weeks of walking practice and a slow, steady pace.
Four days from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Five to six from Delhi.
It is not on the registration document list. The state still asks every pilgrim to get a health check-up, and elderly pilgrims and those with heart, diabetes or breathing problems to consult a doctor.
Yes. It is compulsory and free on the Uttarakhand registration portal or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
The official portal FAQ says people aged 10 to 65 can register. Call 1364 before travel if someone in your group falls outside that range.
Not reliably. Keep your documents, tickets and emergency numbers saved offline.
Only on IRCTC HeliYatra, after completing yatra registration. Base round-trip fares for 2026 are ₹6,390 (Sersi), ₹10,164 (Phata) and ₹12,762 (Guptkashi), before fees and GST.
Haridwar or Rishikesh to Rudraprayag, Guptkashi and Sonprayag by road, then a 5 km shared jeep to Gaurikund.
It is expected to close around Bhai Dooj, 11 November 2026. BKTC announces the final date.
Register first. Then pick your window: May to June if you can handle crowds, mid-September to October if you want a quieter darshan. Keep a spare day whatever you choose. If 16 to 17 km uphill is too much, a pony or palki from the Gaurikund counter or an IRCTC helicopter seat still gets you to the temple.
Check out: Kedarnath Tour Packages
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