Char Dham · Third Dham
Kedarnath Dham — the complete guide
The northernmost Jyotirlinga of Shiva, set below the Kedarnath peak on the Mandakini. History, 2026 dates, the 16–18 km trek from Gaurikund, the helicopter option, the abhishek and darshan process, and how to plan it from Rishikesh.
- Elevation
- 3,583 m
- Deity
- Shiva (Jyotirlinga)
- Trek
- 16–18 km from Gaurikund
- From Rishikesh
- ≈220 km to Gaurikund
Opening & closing dates
The Kedarnath portal date is fixed and announced on Maha Shivratri. The estimate here follows recent years — we confirm before you book.
2 May 2026
Saturday · Announced on Maha Shivratri
The doli of Lord Kedar travels from Ukhimath via Guptkashi and Gaurikund; the portal opens at an auspicious lagna with rudrabhishek.
10 November 2026
Tuesday · Bhai Dooj
The idol returns to the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath for winter, and darshan continues there.
Kedarnath facts
- Elevation
- 3,583 m (11,755 ft)
- Presiding deity
- Shiva — Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
- Location
- Rudraprayag district, on the Mandakini
- Temple
- Ancient stone shrine; revived by Adi Shankaracharya
- Trek
- 16–18 km from Gaurikund (or helicopter)
- Panch Kedar
- First and highest of the five Kedar shrines
- Winter seat
- Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath
- Open season
- Late April/May to Bhai Dooj (Nov)
An ancient shrine that survived the flood
Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the first of the Panch Kedar. Tradition credits its origin to the Pandavas and its revival to Adi Shankaracharya, who is believed to have re-established worship here in the 8th century and to have attained samadhi behind the temple.
The temple is built of huge interlocked grey stone slabs without mortar, which is part of why it has stood for so many centuries at 3,583 m in a harsh, glacier-fed valley. It is thought to have survived a long period buried under snow during a mini ice age.
In June 2013 a glacial flood devastated Kedarnath town, but the temple itself was largely spared — a large boulder, now revered as Bhim Shila, lodged behind the shrine and split the debris flow around it.
The sanctum enshrines a conical rock — the Swayambhu (self-manifested) lingam — worshipped as the hump of Shiva in his bull form. The town and trek route have been substantially rebuilt since 2013.
Shiva as the bull — the Panch Kedar
The Pandavas seek Shiva
After the Kurukshetra war the Pandavas came to the Himalayas seeking Shiva to absolve the sin of killing their kin. Shiva, unwilling to face them, hid.
The bull that dived into the earth
Shiva took the form of a bull among a herd. Bhima recognised him and seized the bull, which dived into the ground. Its hump remained at Kedarnath — the rock lingam worshipped today.
The five Kedars
The other parts of the bull appeared elsewhere: the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar and the hair at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath they form the Panch Kedar.
Adi Shankaracharya's samadhi
Having revived the shrine, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have left his body here at the age of 32. A samadhi memorial stands just behind the temple.
At and around the temple
Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi
The memorial and meditation hall just behind the main temple, rebuilt after the 2013 flood.
Bhim Shila
The huge boulder that lodged behind the temple in the 2013 flood and diverted the debris, now venerated by pilgrims.
Bhairavnath temple
The shrine of the guardian deity of Kedarnath, on a ridge above the town — a short steep walk with valley views.
The Nandi statue
The large stone bull facing the sanctum, before which pilgrims pause before entering for darshan.
Retas Kund & Amrit Kund
Small sacred water bodies near the temple associated with rituals and offerings.
Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar)
A glacial lake about 3 km beyond the temple; part of the glacier here breached in 2013.
The darshan process, step by step
- 1
Reach Sonprayag
Private vehicles stop here; shared jeeps run the 5 km to Gaurikund.
- 2
Start at Gaurikund
The trek — or the pony/palki/pithu stand — begins here.
- 3
Trek 16–18 km
6–9 hours on foot, less by pony; or fly in by helicopter from Phata/Sirsi/Guptkashi.
- 4
Reach Kedarnath
Check into your stay; acclimatise before the temple queue.
- 5
Darshan & abhishek
Touch-darshan and ghee abhishek of the Swayambhu lingam at the morning puja.
- 6
Evening aarti
Shringar darshan and aarti, then the temple closes for the night.
Aarti & timings
- The temple opens around 4:00–5:00 AM for Maha Abhishek and Rudrabhishek (bookable in advance).
- General darshan runs through the morning; a short midday break for bhog.
- It reopens in the afternoon for Shringar darshan and the evening aarti around 6:00–7:30 PM.
- Shayan aarti closes the temple; timings shift with the season.
Offerings & rituals
- Ghee abhishek of the lingam — pilgrims apply clarified butter to the rock.
- Rudrabhishek and Shiva Mahimna path, booked through the temple committee.
- Bhasma / vibhuti and bel leaves as offerings; no coconut-breaking inside.
- A pause and pradakshina at the Nandi statue before entering the sanctum.
Gaurikund to Kedarnath
The rebuilt trail runs roughly 16–18 km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, climbing about 1,600 m. On foot it takes 6–9 hours; plan to start by first light and, ideally, to sleep at Kedarnath rather than trek both ways in a day.
On foot
A wide paved path with rest points, tea stalls and medical posts.
Pony / mule
Government-fixed rates from the Gaurikund stand; pre-booking online is possible.
Palki / doli & pithu
Four-porter palanquin, or a basket porter for children and elders.
Helicopter
Shuttles from Phata, Sirsi or Guptkashi — book via the official IRCTC heli-yatra portal.
Helicopter tickets sell out fast and fly only in clear weather; keep a trek plan as backup. Pony/palki rates and the online booking window are set by the district administration.
How to reach Kedarnath from Rishikesh
By road — the usual drive
- 1
Rishikesh
Via Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag along the Alaknanda and Mandakini.
- 2
Guptkashi / Sitapur
≈180 km · the usual overnight base, with helipads nearby at Phata.
- 3
Sonprayag → Gaurikund
≈30 km on; private cars stop at Sonprayag, shared jeep to Gaurikund.
- 4
Kedarnath temple
Final 16–18 km on foot, pony, palki or by helicopter.
By air
Dehradun (Jolly Grant) airport is ≈240 km from Gaurikund. Helicopter shuttles to Kedarnath run from Phata, Sirsi and Guptkashi — book on the official IRCTC heli-yatra portal.
By rail
Rishikesh and Haridwar are the nearest railheads; the drive to Sonprayag/Gaurikund starts from there.
By road
≈220 km / 8–9 hrs from Rishikesh to Gaurikund via Rudraprayag and Guptkashi. Beyond Sonprayag only shared local jeeps are allowed. We drive you to your Guptkashi/Sitapur base and arrange the onward transfer.
Char Dham Yatra registration
Uttarakhand requires every pilgrim to register for the Char Dham Yatra before travelling. Registration is free, and the slip is checked at barriers on the Kedarnath route, so keep it and a photo ID on hand.
- Register online at the portal above, or on the “Tourist Care Uttarakhand” mobile app.
- Offline counters operate in Haridwar, Rishikesh and at points along each shrine route.
- Register each traveller with name, ID, dates and the shrines you plan to visit; you receive a QR registration slip.
- A health check / advisory may apply for travel at altitude — carry prescriptions and any medication your doctor recommends.
We complete the registration for every traveller on trips booked with us.
Season, stays & what to pack
When to go
- May – mid June — Peak season
Long daylight for the trek and the biggest crowds. Book stays, ponies and helicopter slots well ahead. - July – August — Monsoon — high risk
Landslides and flash-flood risk on the Mandakini valley road and the trail. Travel only with flexible days. - September – October — Best for a calm trip
Stable weather, clear peak views and thinner queues before the portal closes in early November.
Where to stay
- Guptkashi / Sitapur — the main road base ≈30 km from Gaurikund, with hotels and GMVN lodges.
- Phata / Sirsi — small villages with the Kedarnath helipads — handy if you fly in.
- Gaurikund — basic lodges at the trailhead for an early start on foot.
- Kedarnath — GMVN rooms, tents and dharamshalas near the temple — book far in advance.
What to pack
- Warm layers, gloves and a windproof jacket — it can snow near the temple even in summer
- A poncho or rain jacket and a dry bag for the trek
- Broken-in trekking shoes with good grip and a walking pole
- A small daypack; send heavy luggage to your road base, not up the trail
- Original photo ID for registration, plus any altitude medication your doctor advises
- Cash for pony/palki, tea stalls and offerings — card payments are unreliable above Sonprayag
Kedarnath FAQs
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