Kedarnath on foot — Gaurikund up, a night at the top, and down
The walk is the pilgrimage. From the road-end at Gauri Kund it is 17 km uphill to the Kedarnath Temple, which Wikipedia says takes 6 to 8 hours. This plan puts a night at the top, so you can see the temple in the morning and come down the next day. Pilgrims register for the yatra on the Uttarakhand portal first, and the temple is open only from April to November. For the road side of the valley, see the one-day plan, and read how to reach Kedarnath and when to visit.
Photos: Shivam Kumar 766 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photos Worldwide (CC0) · Asdelhi95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Walkers and pilgrims who are used to the height and a long day on a rough path, between April and November, with a booked bed at the top.
Day by day
Day 1Up from Gaurikund to the temple
1 stop
Up from Gaurikund to the temple
The road-end at first light, then the whole day on the path: 17 km uphill, 6 to 8 hours by Wikipedia's account, to sleep at the top.
- 14:30Kedarnath TempleStart from Gaurikund at first light, with your yatra registration and an identity card. Wikipedia gives the walk as 6 to 8 hours depending on pace and weather, so plan to arrive between about 13:00 and 15:00. Ponies, palanquins and helicopters are the other ways up; we have no verified fares or timings.
Day 2Dawn at the temple, and down
1 stop
Dawn at the temple, and down
The temple early, then the same 17 km down, which we budget at the same 6 to 8 hours.
- 16:30Gauri KundLeave the top after the morning visit. No source gives the descent, so allow the same again as the climb; the knees and the light, not the schedule, decide the pace.
Getting there
The road ends at Gaurikund, about 203 km and 357 minutes from Rishikesh on our routing. See the hub guide for the full arrival table.
Where to stay
One night at Kedarnath, and the second night back at Gaurikund or down the valley. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.
Know before you go
- Register for the yatra on the Uttarakhand portal before you travel, as the temple committee asks, and carry an identity card.
- The June 2013 floods nearly destroyed the town; check the day's weather and advice at Gaurikund before you start, and turn back if it is bad.
- At about 3,583 m, climb slowly and drink water; helicopters are an alternative for the way up, flying in 8 to 10 minutes from Phata and Sersi.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Kedarnath itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Kedarnath →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How long does the Kedarnath walk take?
Wikipedia says the 17 km uphill walk from Gaurikund takes 6 to 8 hours depending on pace and weather. No source gives the way down, so this plan budgets the same again. Many people prefer a night at the top, which is why this plan has two days, and some ride ponies or palanquins or fly.
Do you need to register to go to Kedarnath?
The temple committee asks pilgrims to register for the yatra on the Uttarakhand government's portal before they set out. Do it before you leave home and carry your registration and an identity card; check the portal for any rules for the year, since we cannot verify them here.
When can you do this walk?
While the temple is open: from April, around Akshaya Tritiya, to November, around Kartika Purnima. In the closed months heavy snow covers the path and the deity is worshipped at Ukhimath. The monsoon months bring the worst of the weather, so keep spare days if you travel then.