Kedarnath is the permanent abode of lord shiva nestled high up on the hills of Kedar dome in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. Seated on an elevation of 3,553 metres above sea level and by the bank of the holy river of Mandakini this temple’s religious significance attracts tourists and devotees from across the globe when the Kapat opens up on the holy occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and till it shuts down during the auspicious eve of Bhai dooj. Kedarnath being located in a very remote location makes it extremely gruelling for the pilgrims to cover the journey. Although a helicopter trip to Kedarnath skips all the hassle it can prove to be an extremely expensive affair.
On one hand the trek to Kedarnath is kind of challenging but the mystical beauty and the contagious spirit of devotion that engulfs the pilgrims makes it all worth it and may even prove to be a potentially life changing spiritual experience, after all it is not about the destinations it is all about the journey. The trekking journey for Kedarnath starts from Gaurikund and goes on for 16 km on one side and takes you through the gorgeous panoramic beauty of the surrounding valley. The entire route is paved and flanked with lines of make shift eateries, resting spots etc.
If you have decided to go on this legendary yatra (believed to have been established by the Pandavas brothers), then here is a complete trekking guide that will be like a holy grail for plans:
Being located at a very high altitude the Kedar valley experiences a typical high-altitude weather condition. No matter which time of the year you plan on going remember, the night time gets extremely cold.
Summer – This is the most ideal time for you to go to Kedarnath via trekking. The weather remains clear and the weather is comfortable and very pleasant for walking. The temperature ranges between 20 to 10 degree Celsius making it the prime time for trekking up to kedarnath.
Monsoon – This is definitely not an ideal time to go not only to Kedarnath but in fact anywhere on the hills. During the months of June to August the entire region remains covered in heavy rain showers that may even prove to be destructive like land slide occurrences and in worst cases cloud bursts and flooding. Tourism falls during this time but you can find a few days of sunny window by checking the weather and plan your trip during that time so you will also be lucky to avoid the crowd. But you have to plan wisely and be very careful.
Winter – October to April marks winter season in Kedarnath. the region gets completely covered in a thick blanket of snow making trekking impossible. The gates of the temple are also closed and the region becomes entirely inaccessible. There is no point or way you can go to Kedarnath during this time.
The entire trekking route is very well laid out and kind of steep in nature while going uphill. You will be following this route plan:
If you are physically fit and work out on a daily basis then you will be able to cover this trek to and fro in one day where you will be leaving at 2 am in the morning and returning at 5 pm in the evening.
Remember not to tire yourself out. Take breaks in between the trekking journey to catch your breath when you find yourself gasping or breathing heavily. Do not go beyond your physical limits otherwise you will severely end up injuring yourself.
If you happen to spend the night in Kedarnath en route the temple then here are some options from which you can choose:
Remember that Kedarnath is one of the holiest places of worship for Hindus not only in India but from abroad as well. With multiple modes of transportations available a lot of crowd undertakes this holy journey. You should expect a large crowd of devotees and maybe some delays on the trekking routes owing to the massive influx of people. The route gradually descends to a flat plain after crossing Rambara Bridge. The journey itself is not that tough and can be done if you have the dedication and will power.
Medical aid and all types of first aid facilities are available in various places like Linchauli and Kedarnath base camp. A small government hospital is also available at a mere distance of just 200 metres from the Kedarnath temple. Police checkposts are also available in several regular intervals with whom you can clarify your doubts.
If you are unable to complete the trek in 1 day then you can find yourself a suitable accommodation at Gaurikund. Linchauli also has a GMVN lodge whose prices vary from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 2,000/-. There are also several lodges available that can give you shelter for a night. I would like to remind you that do not expect any promises of high-class luxury facilities since these are humble lodges that remain shut down for a majority part of the year.
A normal physically fit person will take almost 7 hours to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund. Post the disastrous flooding event in 2013 a lot of people are having apprehensions regarding this. However, there is nothing to worry about as the government has now provided sustainable solutions to the problems one of them being the construction of a boundary wall around the temple serves as a vital protection.
You must only carry a small backpack and minimum luggage with only the bare essentials. These are some of the must-pack things – torch light with spare batteries, BSNL sim card, umbrellas and raincoats, dry fruits, water bottle that you could refill in rest stops, chocolates to use as energy boosters, medicines and a first aid kit, good quality of winter wear like an extra shawl or a sweater in case of emergencies etc.
The gates of the temple open for darshan to devotees on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. However, some people choose to go there a day or 2 early in order to be the first ones to get the darshan of lord kedar. The routes remain open for a duration of 6 months before shutting down during the holy eve of bhai dooj.
Kedarnath trek shuts down when the temple closes for public visit. People are not permitted and, in any case, the entire region gets covered in snow due to regular snow storms which makes it impossible to walk on.
This trek mostly attracts people from the age of 25 to 50 who go this journey as a part of a spiritual adventure. It is definitely not a difficult trek but it surely is not easy. The landscape changes dramatically throughout the yatra from steep ascends to simple plains and hairpin bends on high altitudes. One needs to be at least physically fit enough to do it otherwise they will be facing some serious health concerns.
ATM facilities have now opened up in Kedarnath by HDFC Bank. The machines are in working conditions now and you can withdraw money from it. This was a recent addition and is guaranteed to benefit the pilgrims.
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Embarking on a spiritual journey to Kedarnath, one of the holiest sites for Hindu pilgrims, is a cherished experience. However, the rugged terrain and challenging trek to reach the temple can be daunting, especially for elderly pilgrims and those with physical limi...
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