Kedarnath Trek Maximum Altitude: 3583 m
Grade: Moderate
Kedarnath Trek Duration: From Gaurikund to Kedarnath: 7 to 8 hours
Trekking distance: From Gaurikund to Kedarnath: 16 km
Trail type: Medium to steep
Railhead: Nearest Railway station is Rishikesh Railway station, 221 km from Kedarnath
Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, near Dehradun, about 239 km from Kedarnath.
Snow Season: November to April
Service from: Delhi
Base camp: Gaurikund
Best season: Summer (April to June)
Region: Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
Who can participate: Anyone who is physically fit can participate as there is no prior experience that is required for this trek.
Arrival in Delhi
Your Kedarnath trek will start as soon as you arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
You will be transferred to your hotel in a spacious and comfortable vehicle.
Check in for the night and take a rest in the hotel after enjoying a delicious dinner.
Mandatory Documents:
Clothes:
Footwear:
Get yourself sturdy well-fitted trekking footwear so that your feet do not hurt during the trek.
Other Essentials:
Get your medical checkup done to ensure fitness before you go on a trek.
People with heart, respiratory and blood pressure problems should not go trekking without a doctor’s advice. The trek is also not recommended for pregnant ladies.
You will need to abide by government rules and complete the trek within the stipulated time frame of 4 am to 1.30 pm.
Pay attention to your trek instructor and follow the traditional Kedarnath trek route.
If you are unable to complete the trek in a day, there are several places in between where accommodations are available.
Carry some light snacks such as dry fruits to keep you energized. You can also stop at the several food stalls and eateries on the way to get some food.
Wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable for trekking.
Carry a medical kit which may come in handy for sprains, cuts etc.
Be careful as you walk. Do not get distracted while walking, which might result in losing your foothold and spraining your legs.
Kedarnath in local dialect means ‘lord of fields’, named after Kedar, the deity who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva who is considered to be the embodiment of all passions - love, fear, hatred, death and mysticism, expressed through his various forms.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva hid in a form of bull to avoid the Pandavas. One of the Pandavas, Bhima recognised him and tried to capture the bull from behind. But before Bhima could catch the bull, it disappeared, and later the hump of the bull appeared in Kedarnath and is worshiped since then.