Kedarnath Trek Ultimate Guide | Sacred Char Dham Yatra

The air is chilled, and the peaks of the Himalayas are veiled in mist as the first rays of dawn kiss their snow-capped tops. You’re standing at the base of a sacred mountain, the sound of gushing river water echoing through the valley, and a sense of awe sweeps over you. The path ahead is steep and adventurous, cutting through dense forests and rocky trails, but beyond it lies a destination that has been called pilgrims and travelers for centuries: Kedarnath Trek.

Here, the ancient stone temple stands resilient against time and the elements, surrounded by rugged beauty that both humbles and uplifts the soul. It’s not just a journey of miles, but a spiritual quest that tests your endurance, fills you with wonder, and brings you closer to something eternal. As the mountain air fills your lungs, you feel a quiet anticipation. Every step you take will carry you deeper into the heart of nature, and perhaps, into a part of yourself that you’ve longed to discover.

This is no ordinary trip. This is an adventure—one that will challenge your body and feed your soul. Are you ready to take the first step toward Kedarnath Trek?

So you would be asking now when Kedarnath opens and closes in 2024. Kedarnath’s opening date was 10 May 2024 and the closing date is 3 Nov 2024.

1. Trekking Essentials Packing List
2. Clothing and Gear:
   • Trekking shoes (get one size larger than your feet)
   • Full-size raincoat
   • Small umbrella
   • Cap
   • Separate set of clothes for trekking up and down
   • Small towel
   • Thick sweaters (if staying overnight)
   • Gloves (if staying overnight)
   • Monkey cap (if staying overnight)
3. Health and Medication:
   • Mild antibiotic (consult with a physician)
4. Medicines for:
   • Acidity
   • Fever
   • Cough and cold
   • Muscle pain
5. Food and Water:
   • Bottle of drinking water
   • Avoid carrying too many snacks (plenty of stalls available on the trek)
6. Money and Connectivity:
   • Cash (do not rely on cards or digital payments)
7. Storage and Miscellaneous:
   • Plastic covers (for wet clothes, socks, raincoats, etc.)
8. This checklist covers all the essentials you’ll need to ensure a safe and comfortable trekking experience.

My initial thoughts and experiences upon arriving.

To reach this wonderful mesmerizing place you can travel by flight / Train to New Delhi or Dehradun then take a Cab or Bus to reach Sonprayag.

how I reached there by taking a flight from Hyderabad to New Delhi and then taking a bus from Kashmere Gate to Rishikesh( Place of Sagas) so when you reach Rishikesh you can visit Ram Jhula( Bridge ) or Lakshman Jhula (Bridge) then going to Triveni Ghat for evening Aarti.

Then starting early morning from Rishikesh Bus Stand to Sonprayag but for me what happened the bus was not able to take us to Sonprayag as there was a landslide in the way then we had to drop in Rudraprayag ( from there we took a shared jeep which took Rs.100 for taking us to Sonprayag)

When we reached Sonprayag it was so soothing and it felt like we were in heaven later on we took some rest and then the next day early morning we went to the checking booth where government officials and police were checking details like ChardhamYatra registration and Aadhaar Card once that was done we were all set for the trek to Kedarnath Village so slowly we started the trek towards Gaurikund ( which is 5 Km that day there was no shared taxi available so had to trek till there).

so after walking and climbing some bad roads which were just rocks and mud, we reached Gaurikund from there you can start seeing horses which means the route from there will have horse dung and mud but the good part is you will see so many beautiful views with waterfalls and helicopters going up, one point to keep in your mind is the more you climb up the more expensive everything will get so bottle of water might go from 20 Rupees to 100 Rupees same for everything. ( So, always try to keep at least one water bottle with you. Also, unpredictable weather can start raining at any time, so make sure to carry a raincoat.).

so I completed the trek in 8 hours which was like this Sonprayag -> Jungle Chatti -> Bhimbali -> Small Lincholi -> Big Lincholi -> Kedarnath.

if you cannot Trek to Kedarnath, you can book a Helicopter from Guptkashi / Phata / Sirsi Helipad to Kedarnath Helipad using the official IRCTC Website.

after reaching Kedarnath we booked a room by directly going to the hotel as we were traveling during a time when there was minimal crowd. Hence, we got a room easily ( but for booking Government rooms officially use this website – https://gmvnonline.com) and took some rest in the evening we went for evening Aarti which starts around 6:30 PM IST and for the morning which starts around 4 AM IST.

So, inside Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Darshan is only allowed during the morning, so get ready in the morning. After Aarti, you can go inside and take Darshan. After that, go to Shri Bhairavnath Mandir, as it is said that only after visiting Bhairo Mandir is your Darshan completed.

Sharing Some Pictures of Shri Kedarnath and nearby areas :

“Planning a trip? Feel free to ask me for recommendations! in the comment section”