Kedarnath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, at the head of the Mandakini valley — the highest of the Char Dham shrines.
Rudraprayag District
Kedarnath
A trek-gated Char Dham shrine at 3,583 m — the road ends at Gaurikund, and the final distance is on foot or by seasonal helicopter.
PilgrimageAdventure
The story
Discover Kedarnath
Kedarnath sits at 3,583 metres at the head of the Mandakini valley, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the most physically demanding of the Uttarakhand Char Dham. No road reaches the shrine: the drive ends at Gaurikund, reached via a short regulated local transfer from Sonprayag, and from there the temple is a further trek of around 16 km on foot — or, seasonally, a helicopter transfer from one of three helipads in Rudraprayag district. Most travelers treat the journey itself, not just the darshan, as the point of the trip, staying a night at Guptkashi or Sonprayag before the final push.
Best time
May – October
Ideal duration
2–3 Days
Altitude
3,583 m
Travel style
Pilgrimage • Adventure
Access
Trek / Seasonal Helicopter Access
Why visit
Why You’ll Love Kedarnath
The Gaurikund trek
An approximately 16 km trek from the road head, the defining final stretch of the journey.
A seasonal helicopter option
IRCTC's official HeliYatra service connects district helipads to Kedarnath in season, as an alternative to trekking.
Plan the approach
How To Reach Kedarnath
- Stage 1 of 5GatewayMost journeys begin from Rishikesh or Haridwar, the last major cities before the mountain roads.
- Stage 2 of 5Regional base — Rudraprayag / GuptkashiThe road continues through Rudraprayag district toward Guptkashi, a common overnight base before the final approach.
- Stage 3 of 5SonprayagThe last point most private vehicles can drive to.A short, regulated local shuttle covers the remaining distance to Gaurikund.
- Stage 4 of 5Gaurikund — road headWhere the motorable road actually ends and the trek to the shrine begins.
- Stage 5 of 5Kedarnath TempleReached by an approximately 16 km trek from Gaurikund — or, seasonally, by helicopter from a district helipad.No vehicle reaches the shrine directly; the final distance is on foot, by pony/palki, or by seasonal helicopter, subject to official availability and conditions.
Go deeper
Places Worth Discovering
Sonprayag
The last point most private vehicles can drive to; a short, regulated local shuttle continues to Gaurikund.
Gaurikund
The actual road head, where the motorable road ends and the trek to the shrine begins.
Kedarnath Temple
Reached only by the ~16 km trek from Gaurikund, or a seasonal helicopter transfer — no vehicle reaches it directly.
Make it yours
Experiences
Kedarnath Temple darshanGaurikund–Kedarnath trek
Ready to book
Featured Tours in Kedarnath
Fixed-departure tours with a set itinerary and date — pick one and book it as-is.
No fixed-departure tours in Kedarnath yet — a curated journey below can be tailored instead.
Curated journeys
Journeys Through Kedarnath
Starting itineraries our team tailors to your dates, group and pace.
New journeys through Kedarnath are being curated. Explore the destination story now and check back soon.
Plan the route
Getting Around Kedarnath
No fixed routes to Sonprayag — the road head where normal road transport for Kedarnath ends — are listed yet. Our team can still arrange private transport there.
Plan Transport to KedarnathBefore you travel
Current Official Information
Registration, road and weather conditions can change from what's shown here — confirm directly with the official sources below before you travel.
Official source
Official registration (required)
Official Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra registration portal — registration is required and free; it is never collected by The Apex Voyager or any third party.
Local knowledge
Know Kedarnath Through Locals
No dedicated Kedarnath specialist yet — our broader team can still help you plan.
Explore all Travel ExpertsWhere to stay
Stay bases for Kedarnath
Showing stays in Guptkashi — the usual overnight base, since Kedarnath itself has limited or seasonal accommodation.
Time it right
When Does It Feel Right?
Late April/May sees the temple reopen for the season, on a date fixed annually — check the official portal rather than assuming a fixed calendar day.
How Kedarnath compares
Adventure
55
Nature
50
Luxury
15
Crowds
70
Slow Travel
20
Keep exploring
