Plan Kedarnath Yatra: Step By Step Guide

Plan your Kedarnath Yatra with this detailed, in-depth guide.

If you have a deep desire to visit the divine pilgrimage Kedarnath Dham, but are stuck in planning the tour to such a high altitude challenging region, then you are reading the right article.

In this article, we are going to share the way to Plan the Kedarnath Yatra. We will offer you a complete Kedarnath itinerary for 2026 journey and the way to find the perfect tour package to travel to Kedarnath Temple.

Kedarnath Yatra Essential Travel Information

Pilgrims who are planning Kedarnath Yatra in 2026 need to plan it logistically and practically. To help them we have provided relevant information in the table-

Kedarnath Temple	Details
Starting Point of Kedarnath Yatra	Haridwar or Rishikesh
Trekking Route of Kedarnath Temple	Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple (16 km trek)
Trek Sections	Gaurikund- Jungle Chatti-Bheembali-Linchauli-Kedarnath Base Camp-Kedarnath Temple
Duration for the Trek	6 to 9 hours (depends on pace and fitness)
Alternate Transport	Helicopters are available from Phata, Guptkashi, Sersi for Kedarnath Dham
How to book Helicopter for Kedarnath Dham	IRCTC Heliyatra – https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/
Best Time to Visit	May- June and September to October
How to Book Hotels for Kedarnath Dham	Hotels of Kedarnath – https://www.chardhamhotel.in/kedarnath-hotels.html
How to Register for Kedarnath Dham	Tourist Care Uttarakhand – https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/signin.php
Kedarnath Darshan Timings	Morning 6 AM to 3 PM, evening 3 PM to 8 PM; special Darshan from 3 AM to 6 AM
Nearest Airport to reach Kedarnath Dham	Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun)
Nearest Railway Station to Reach Kedarnath Dham	Rishikesh Railway Station

Location of Kedarnath Dham

The very popular Kedarnath Temple is located at the 3583 m. altitude in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. To reach the doorstep of the temple, devotees need to trek on a 16 km long trail beside the Mandakini River, and it is not a motorable road at all.

Trekking Route of Kedarnath Dham

Here is a detailed trekking route to reach Kedarnath Dham-

• The trek to Kedarnath Dham starts from Gaurikund. You can reach Gaurikund by a shared taxi from Sonprayag which is located 6 km away.
• From Gaurikund, reach Jungle Chatti which is 4 km away via Rambada Bridge. You have to ascend through forested paths and mountainous terrains.
• From Jungle Chatti, embark on a scenic journey of Bheembali. From Bheembali, reach Linchauli which is a beautiful 3 km stretch with awe-inspiring views of Himalayas.
• From Linchauli, reach Kedarnath Basecamp. From the basecamp you will reach the Kedarnath temple very quickly as it is only a 1 km uphill trek to the temple.

Kedarnath Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi to Haridwar

With the help of a flight, train or private bus, you can reach Haridwar from Delhi or another city in India. Haridwar is a well-developed city of Uttarakhand, where you can get every level of stay options, food options and attractions to explore.

Day 2: Haridwar to Guptkashi

• Drive Distance: 203 Km
• Time Taken: 6 to 7 Hours

To travel to Guptkashi, you can hire a rental car for a round trip from Haridwar. Guptkashi is a decent town with a variety of accommodation facilities at affordable prices.

Day 3: Guptkashi to Kedarnath Temple and Return to Guptkashi

• Drive Distance: 32 Km (Guptkashi to Gaurikund)
• Time Taken: 5 hour
• Trek Distance: 15 Km (Gaurikund to Kedarnath)
• Time taken: 5 hours

 You can travel to Gaurikund from Guptkashi with the same rental car that you hired for the Kedarnath Tour. From Gaurikund, it’s a trek of 15 km to Kedarnath Temple, so you can cover it by hiking with the trek pole in hand. After the Kedarnath Temple visit and the auspicious Darshan of Jyotirlinga, return to Gaurikund by trekking and then to Guptkashi by rental taxi.

Day 4: Guptkashi to Haridwar

• Drive Distance: 203 Km
• Time Taken: 6 to 7 Hours

 On this day, you can return to Haridwar from Guptkashi by driving amid heart-enriching views of mountains.

Day 5: Haridwar to Delhi

This day would be all about returning from Haridwar to Delhi by train or Bus. If you want to travel by flight, then travel to Dehradun and then take the flight to Delhi.

How to Reach Kedarnath Dham

By Flight

The closest airport to Kedarnath Temple is Jolly Grant Airport, situated on the outskirts of Dehradun City. Therefore, you can plan your Kedarnath Yatra by booking the Delhi to Dehradun flight ticket. When you land in Dehradun by flight, then the rental cars and taxis run from Dehradun to Guptkashi or Sonprayag under the Kedarnath Rental Car Packages.

By Train

The closest railway stations to Kedarnath Temple are Haridwar and Rishikesh Railway Stations. So you can come to Haridwar by train and then proceed to Temple with the assistance of Haridwar to Kedarnath Yatra Packages.

By Road

You can plan your road journey to Kedarnath Dham by road via Haridwar and Rishikesh. In that region, rental cars are the most popular mode to reach Kedarnath, so you can avail of that by booking the tour packages.

Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter

Here is the Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter Tour, which avoids the challenging trek route and makes you reach Kedarnath temple within 1 hour from Dehradun. Due to limited availability and high crowd, you need to book the Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter Package in advance.

Helicopter Timings for Kedarnath Yatra

• Departure Helipad- Harsil / Guptkashi → Kedarnath
• Reporting and Departure Time – Flights operate 06:00 AM–01:00 PM, weather permitting
• Note –The travel duration will be 8-15 minutes depending on the helipad and weather.

Best Time to Visit Kedarnath Dham

The best time to visit Kedarnath Dham are May and June in summer and October in autumn. The reason behind this is the sensitive weather of Kedarnath Dham. Compared to other months, the weather stays less cold, low precipitation, and it is favorable to visit. There are almost negligible chances of rainfall and snowfall in May and June, so you should plan your Kedarnath Yatra accordingly.

Opening and Closing Date of Kedarnath Dham

Due to the unbearable cold climate of Kedarnath Dham, the Kedarnath Yatra opens for 6 months from May to October.

• The Akshaya Tritiya Tithi of the Hindu Month Vaishakh is the day when Kedarnath Temple opens every year.
• Similarly, the Kedarnath temple doors close during the Deepawali in Kartik month of the Hindu Calendar. In 2026, The Kedarnath temple will close on 11th November 2026
• In 2026, the Kedarnath Temple will open on 22nd April 2026.

How to Register for Kedarnath Dham 2026

• To register for Kedarnath Dham or Chardham registration, you have to visit the official government portal – Tourist Care Uttarakhand.
• Register or login on the portal to register for the sacred Chardham Yatra.
• You have to fill all the personal details in the form. You will need your Valid ID proof ( Aadhaar, Voter ID, Pan card etc.). Fill the date of travel and number of pilgrims. Upload scanned copy of your photo ID in png or jpeg format.
• After completing the form, you will get your Yatra registration slip via e-mail or SMS which you have to carry this slip in digital format or print during the Kedarnath or Chardham journey all the time for verification at various checkpoints.

Other Modes of Kedarnath/ Chardham Registration 2026

• Contact me on WhatsApp by sending “Yatra” to +91 8394833833. You will get all the relevant details about Chardham Yatra through reputed travel agencies.
• You can download the mobile application- Tourist Care Uttarakhand app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• Call on Toll-Free Number – Call 0135-1364 for help in Chardham registration.

Offline Locations for Kedarnath/Chardham Registration 2026

If you want to register for Chardham Yatra or Kedarnath yatra offline then visit any of these centers to complete your registration process-

• Haridwar
• Rishikesh
• Barkot (Yamunotri route)
• Sonprayag (near the Kedarnath route)
• Janki Chatti
• Uttarkashi (Hina, Dobata)
• Joshimath
• Gangotri
• Guptkashi
• Phata
• Pandukeshwar
• Govindghat

Those who live in major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc., can register for Chardham at

Location	Type	Time
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun	Airport	4:00am to 9:00pm
Haridwar Railway Station	Railway Station	4:00am to 9:00pm
Rishikesh ISBT Bus Stand	Bus Stand	4:00am to 9:00pm

Emergency Helpline for Kedarnath/ Chardham Yatra 2026

• Tourist Helpline Number- 1364
• For registration and general queries, call on – 0135-2559898, 0135-2552627, and 0135-3520100.
• Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee – 01389-222124
• Yatra office Rishikesh- 0135-2431783 / 93 / 2432648

How to Find the Kedarnath Tour Package

Before booking the Kedarnath tour package, you need to understand which tour package suits your travel expectations. Here is a concise guide to choosing the right package.

1. Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter Tour Package: If you have a hectic schedule, then you should choose the Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter Tour Package. It is the fastest way to complete the Kedarnath Yatra in 2 Days from Delhi.
2. Budget Kedarnath Yatra Package: If you believe in budget-friendly travelling, then you should choose the Budget Kedarnath Yatra Package. It is the cheapest way to visit Kedarnath Dham from Delhi.
3. Premium Kedarnath Yatra Package: If you want to experience top-quality facilities in your Kedarnath tour, then you should book the Premium Kedarnath Yatra Packages from Delhi. It is the most luxurious way to visit Kedarnath Dham.
4. Kedarnath Yatra by Rental Car Package: Last but not least, if you want to enjoy the road journey and gaze at the unreal scenic views of valleys, rivers and mountains, then you should book the Kedarnath Yatra by Rental Car Packages. On the basis of your group size, you can choose the vehicle type.

Procedure to Book the Kedarnath Tour Package

• Firstly, you should visit our website consisting of a variety of Kedarnath tour packages from Delhi, Haridwar, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
• After selecting the tour package, you can simply proceed by tapping on Book Now. Besides this, you can directly contact us by email, social media, or WhatsApp for one-on-one support to book the Kedarnath Yatra Package.
• Our team expert will establish contact with you and help you out in the whole procedure of booking the tour package, including form filling, registration and making advance payment.
• As soon as we receive the advance payment, you are booked with us for the divine Kedarnath Yatra.

Travel Tips in Kedarnath Tour

• In the high-altitude tour of Kedarnath Dham, you should pack wisely. You must keep the first aid kit, medicines for altitude sickness and motion sickness in your Bag.
• Besides this, pack warm clothes, important ID proofs, Yatra Pass, snacks, and Pooja essentials.
• To trek efficiently in the 15 km long trail of Kedarnath Dham, you must practice running and other workouts before 7 to 10 days of the Kedarnath tour.
• Kedarnath Yatra seems a challenging tour due to rough and remote terrain, Himalayan foothills, and cold climate. So, you need to be extra careful while travelling to Kedarnath.
• For instance, always follow the instructions of your tour guide, do not stand close to the road ends, be alert for any emergency situation, and memorise emergency contacts.
• Kedarnath Dham is a religious site so you should not bring any intoxicants, arms or other not permitted items on this pilgrimage.

Kedarnath Yatra- Essential Packing Checklist 2026

While planning for Kedarnath Yatra, you must check the weather conditions and then pack your clothes wisely. Here is a detailed list of essential items to pack for your sacred journey 2026-

Clothes to pack for Kedarnath Yatra

• Thermal wear to endure cold weather
• Light waterproof jackets
• Woolen Sweaters
• Full sleeve t-shirts
• Trekking pants with zip-off legs
• Woolen socks and insulated gloves
• Extra Dry shirts
• Waterproof pants
• Waterproof cover for your backpack
• Woolen cap
• Heavy down jacket
• Scarf

No matter the season in Kedarnath Dham, the temperature will always be cold as it is a mountainous region. The temperature might drop down to zero degree Celsius. So, always keep warm clothes to endure the cold weather.

Nearby Places to Explore in Kedarnath

Here are a few places near Kedarnath Dham, that hold serenity and uniqueness to surprise you. Hence you can explore these nearby places to visit.

• Gandhi Sarovar- 4 km – Small lake at the mouth of Chorabari Bamak Glacier
• Gaurikund Temple- 16 km- Starting point of Kedarnath Trek. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati
• Shankaracharya Samadhi- 600 meters- Dedicated to renowned philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya. He attained Moksha in Kedarnath Dham.
• Triyuginarayan Temple- 15km- It is a sacred shrine where the wedding of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati took place in front of Lord Vishnu.
• Bhairav Temple- 8 km- Located at the south of Kedarnath Dham, the temple is dedicated to Baba Bhairav Nath who is a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. He is considered as the protector of Kedarnath Temple.