Pilgrimage - The India Explorer

Kedarnath Temple is opening on 10th May 2024, giving way to the spiritually important Kedarnath Yatra. This beautiful pilgrimage takes over thousands of pilgrims every year for the salvation and blessings of Lord Shiva. Do you also wish to take it and are wondering how to reach Kedarnath from Delhi? You have come to the right place! In this blog, we will provide the best Kedarnath itinerary from Delhi and also explain all the ways to reach it! How to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi Kedarnath is easily and affordably reached from Delhi by bus, train, flight, or car! The distance from Delhi to Kedarnath is 452 kilometres by road and 296 kilometres by flight. By Bus: To reach Kedarnath by bus, you must take a bus to Haridwar. Reach Haridwar on an overnight bus from Delhi. The ticket will cost you around Rs. 200 to Rs. 500. You can choose from the many options of buses available – Volvos and locals. Tip: You can book cheap buses online at redBus, AbhiBus, Flixbus, NeuGo or UTC. It will take you around 5-6 hours to reach Haridwar from Delhi (214 kilometres). If you wish to trek to the temple, take a bus/cab to Sonaprayag from Haridwar. If you have a helicopter booking, take a bus/cab to the take-off location (Guptkashi/Sersi/Phata) The base for Kedarnath Yatra is Gaurikund, which is 10 kilometres from Sonaprayag, but private vehicles are allowed only up to Sonaprayag, so if you have a car/cab, you will have to get off at Sonaprayag. (230 kilometres) From there, you can reach Gaurikund in a shared taxi worth Rs. 50 per person. You can also stay the night in Sonaprayag instead of Gaurikund as the hotels and rooms there are better. In the morning, start the trek early (around 05.30 AM) to reach the temple on time. The trek is 16-22 kilometres long and takes about 7-8 hours each way. You can rent walking sticks for around Rs. 200 from Gaurikund or even choose to travel the route by khachhar (ponies), piththu (basket), or palki (palanquins). If you are travelling with someone who has trouble walking, the other options are great. They are chargeable, and the costs are written on many boards you will find along the way. You can book these from any of the halts along the trek. There are many food stalls and toilets along the way for convenience. If you start early, you will reach the temple by 5 PM and can witness the Aarti at 6 PM. By Train: Regular trains run between Haridwar and Delhi, which you can book. A direct train to Kedarnath is not available. Book a railway ticket from Delhi to Haridwar (214 kilometres). Depending on the type of train and coach you choose, a one-way trip will cost between Rs. 200 and Rs. 1800. Tip: You can book tickets from IRCTC’s official website. From Haridwar, the process is the same as the previous one, as the last railway station near Kedarnath is Haridwar itself. By Flight: Uttarakhand’s airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. From Delhi’s IGI Airport, take a flight to Dehradun. It will cost you around Rs. 3000 each way. From Dehradun, you can take a bus, cab or train to Haridwar. A train/bus ticket will cost you around Rs. 400 to 800. From Haridwar, you can follow the previous steps. Delhi to Kedarnath by Road in a Car or Bike You can also drive your own car or bike to get to Kedarnath. The Delhi to Kedarnath distance by road is about 500 kilometres, and you will have to drive for about 15 hours. There are 2 routes you can take: Route 1: Delhi – Ghaziabad – Khatauli – Muzaffarnagar - Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Guptkashi – Phata – Sonmarg – Gaurikund Route 2: Delhi – Ghaziabad – Khatauli – Najibabad – Kotdwar – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Guptkashi – Sonprayag – Gaurikund The road conditions on both routes are good, and you can smoothly drive along them. Here are a few things to remember: Driving at night is not allowed in the hills of Uttarakhand. Plan your drive accordingly. Make sure you register your vehicle as well when registering yourself for the Kedarnath Yatra. Keep all your necessary documents on you like RC, driving license, etc. Make sure your car or bike is in good condition. Get it checked and serviced before the trip. Carry spare parts and basic tools for fixing the vehicle just in case of any mishaps. Now, once you reach Sonaprayag, you will have to park your car here as no private vehicles are allowed beyond the town for the yatra. In Sonaprayag and Seetapur, there are many designated parking spots for yatris who come for the pilgrimage. You can park your car or bike here. There are charges for parking. Charges depend on the weight of your vehicle, the number of days you park and the type of vehicle. All in all, your parking cost will be around Rs. 100-300 for the whole trip. Kedarnath from Delhi by Helicopter Helicopter services are also available for pilgrims. You can catch a helicopter from Guptkashi, Sersi or Phata. From Delhi, reach Haridwar by bus, train, taxi or car. Before reaching, register for the Heli Yatra online to ensure your seat and the availability of helicopters. After reaching Haridwar, take a bus or cab to the take-off location. Once you reach there, show your documents and booking proof after verifying your registration, and you will be taken directly to the temple! The helicopter takes 15 minutes to reach the temple and flies every half an hour. The rates you pay are for round trips. You can easily complete the Kedarnath Yatra by helicopter in a short time. Registering for Kedarnath from Delhi Registration is necessary for everyone to visit the Kedarnath Temple. To continue your pilgrimage smoothly, you will need to verify your identity at Haridwar, Sonaprayag, or Gaurikund. You can register for the Yatra here - https://www.registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/ While registering, you have to keep in mind that if you have your own vehicle, you must register it online as well. It is necessary. Kedarnath Itinerary from Delhi Travelling via train or bus is the best, most budget-friendly and most hassle-free way to do the Kedarnath Yatra compared to private taxis and vehicles. Day 1: Start late at night for Haridwar. Make sure you book a ride that helps you reach Haridwar by 6.00 AM. Reach Haridwar and catch a bus for Sonaprayag, as it is the last motorable point before Kedarnath. The journey will take about 10 hours. Once you reach Sonprayag, check into your hotel and rest. Day 2: In the morning, start early for Gaurikund. Catch a shared cab to Gaurikund from Sonprayag. If you’re trekking, you need to start the trek early. If you’ll be taking the help of any other means, you can take your time. Before starting the trek, you need to dip in the holy hot water spring at Gaurikund. After that, start the trek by 6.00 AM to reach by 5.00 PM. Reach Kedarnath Temple. Do darshan and participate in the Aarti. Find a stay – there are rooms, dorms and tents available here. Stay the night. Day 3: Witness the morning Aarti. Visit the nearby temples and statues. Start the trek back to Gaurikund. Once you reach Gaurikund, you can stay the night at Sonprayag or directly leave from here for Haridwar and back to Delhi. Conclusion This was our guide to visiting Kedarnath from Delhi, depicting all the ways in which you can visit this spiritual abode of Lord Shiva. With the temple’s opening getting closer, you must register first for the Yatra. You can also do the Char Dham Yatra if you wish to! Comment below if you have any queries!