All about Kedarnath Yatra
For Hindus in India, the Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most respected and significant pilgrimages. Kedarnath Temple honors Lord Shiva. At a height of 3,584 meters, Kedarnath is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and is hidden in the Himalayas. Along with Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath, it comes under Char Dham yatra circuit. Kedarnath is also one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India.
Why is it important?
Hindus value the Kedarnath Yatra for a number of reasons. First of all, it is a pilgrimage site to one of Hinduism's holiest places. One of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, which are thought to be the greatest Shiva temples in India, is the Kedarnath Temple. Second, the Kedarnath Yatra is a difficult journey that puts pilgrims' devotion and faith to the test. The journey to Kedarnath is challenging and exhausting, and the weather can be cold. But finishing the Kedarnath Yatra has great benefits. It is a common belief among pilgrims that making a trip to the Kedarnath Temple and praying to Lord Shiva will grant them luck and prosperity.
Best time to visit Kedarnath
The best time to do the Kedarnath yatra is May to June and Sep to October, which is the summer months. During these months, the weather is praising for hiking and for all the travelers. And in the months of July and Aug, there is so much rainfall and Landslides occur, that it is not recommended to visit Kedarnath in months of July and Aug. We need to always remember that The Kedarnath temple is closed during the months of winter due to heavy snowfall.
How to go to Kedarnath Temple?
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 250 kilometers away, is the closest airport to Kedarnath. People on Kedarnath yatra can take a bus or a taxi from Dehradun to Kedarnath. The travel time by bus is approximately 8–10 hours, and the travel time by taxi is approximately 6–7 hours
By Road: Buses run to Kedarnath from New Delhi and Dehradun. You can reach Dehradun by bus from two locations Kashmere Gate Bus Terminal and Anand Vihar Bus Terminal. Then you can take a bus from Dehradun to Kedarnath. You can also book a private cab or taxi.
By Train: There is no Railway station at Kedarnath. The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is Rishikesh railway station. The railway station is 210 km away from Gaurikund. After arriving in Rishikesh just take a bus to Gaurikund, Now you can start your trek from Gaurikund.
From Dehradun or Gaurikund, pilgrims can also take a Kedarnath Helicopter Service. It takes about 30 minutes to fly in the helicopter.
Once at Gaurikund, pilgrims have a choice between walking or taking a shared taxi to Kedarnath. 16 kilometers or so make up the Kedarnath trek, which takes 6 to 8 hours to complete.
But If you want a Hassle-free and Pre-planned journey then you can refer to any Kedarnath tour package which will include all services like Tourism of pilgrimage sites, Accommodation, Transportation, Food, etc. Generally, the range of this Kedarnath yatra tour package costs 8000-15000 depending upon the services provided. But there is my humble request to be cautious while choosing the Kedarnath tour package because so many frauds are also going on.
Planning your trip to Kedarnath Yatra
The Kedarnath Yatra is a difficult but worthwhile journey. Before starting the journey, it's essential to be well-prepared.
Some of the travel planning suggestions are provided:
Making Hotels and transportation arrangements
Booking your hotel and bus tickets in advance is recommended, especially if you are traveling during a popular time of year.
Hotels and guesthouses are abundant in Gaurikund and Kedarnath.
A Kedarnath tour package that includes accommodation, transport, and other services is also a good option.
Here is a packing list for the Kedarnath Yatra:
Warm clothes
Comfortable shoes
Umbrella and raincoat
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Water bottle and snacks
First-aid kit
Any necessary medications
Adapting to the high altitude can be done by following these advice:
Drink a lot of water.
Take frequent breaks
Rest when your body needs it.
How do you go from Gaurikund to Kedarnath?
Trekking, Palkies, Pony
The journey starts from Gaurikund it is approximately 16 km long and it takes around 6-8 hours to complete the trek. The trek is really challenging but the rewards are worth it. Hence, You can also take Palkies or Ponies to complete the trek. The trek passes through green forests, Waterfalls, and Snow-capped mountains.
Taking a Kedarnath helicopter service
You can take a Helicopter service from Phata, Sersi, Guptakashi, and Dehradun. Generally, a Helicopter will take you to the destination in approx 30 mins.
Things to do in Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple visit
The main attraction in Kedarnath is the Kedarnath Temple. It is one of India's twelve Jyotirlinga temples, one of the Char Dham, one of the Do Dham, and honors Lord Shiva. Visitors are welcome to the temple from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Exploring the other Sites and Temples near Kedarnath
Vasuki Tal Lake: The amazing lake known as Vasuki Tal is located at a height of 4,135 meters and is only 21 kilometers from Kedarnath Temple. It receives water from snow-covered mountains as well as glaciers like the Vasuki Glacier and Chor Bamak Glacier. The Kedarnath peaks are reflected on the lake's surface. The Vasuki Ganga River also starts from this lake. From here, you can see amazing views of Chaukhamba Peak. You can reach Vasuki Tal through Gaurikundand which is the closest road junction to Vasuki Tal. Rishikesh has the closest train station to Gaurikund. From here, you can take local buses or shared taxis to Guptkashi, the last town before Gaurikund.
Triyuginarayan Temple: Kedarnath Temple and Triyuginarayan Temple are distant by 1,322 km. The distance between temples can be driven in 1 day, 4 hours by road. The Triyuginarayan Temple is a Hindu temple that is situated in India's Uttarakhand state's Rudraprayag district's Triyuginarayan village. The god Vishnu is honored in this historic temple. Adi Shankaracharya is thought to have constructed the temple in the 12th century. Due to the ongoing flame that burns in front of it, it is also known as the Akhand Dhuni temple. The flame is thought to have been burning ever since Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were united in a holy marriage. Hindus frequently make the pilgrimage to the temple. It is also a well-liked vacation spot with breathtaking Himalayan views.
Tungnath Temple: Tungnath is the highest in the Panch Kedar which includes Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath, and Kalpnath. The Tungnath temple is located at a height of 3680 m above sea level in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is believed that the temple was built by the Pandavas during their exile after the Kurukshetra Mahabharata war. You can reach Tungnth temple from Chopta, which is about 4 km away, and a path for hiking leads to Tungnath Temple. The closest large town is Ukhimath, which is about 13 km from Chopta, a small village. Major cities in Uttarakhand are well-connected to Ukhimath by road.
