Kedarnath is a divine Hindu pilgrimage which is situated in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. In the Himalayas, Kedarnath is one of the char dhams. It is situated at an astonishing altitude of 3584 meters above the sea level near the head of Mandakini river. And the trek of Kedarnath is really very adventurous and stunning.
Weather of Kedarnath
In line with the Himalayan weathers, Kedarnath experiences the cool summers while the winters are extremely harsh and unbearable. Summer is best for all sightseeing, temple visits and experiencing other attractions too. The average temperature here would be around 17 degrees in the summer.
Monsoon months are very difficult as compared to summers and the area suffered extreme rainfall many times. The temperature in monsoon would be around 12 degrees. Winters are very cold, harsh and complex in Kedarnath. The palki of the Lord Kedarnath is transferred to the winter abode near Guptkashi Ukhimath from November to April. The temperature in this season would always be negative.
Suitable Time To Visit Kedarnath
The most suitable time to visit Kedarnath is from the beginning of April till the start of monsoons. Kedarnath’s climate is cold for the most part of the year and the best months to travel are May, June, September and October.
How to reach Kedarnath?
Kedarnath is well connected with most of the towns in Uttarakhand. The very nearest road head to Kedarnath is about 18 km later, Gaurikund.
- By Air
The jolly grant airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport having a distance of about 238 km. The airport is also well connected with Delhi with daily flights.Taxis are readily available from the airport to Gaurikund.
- By Rail
The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is Rishikesh which has a distance of about 216 km before Kedarnath on NH58. Further, the Gaurikund is very well connected with the motorable roads with Rishikesh. Taxis and buses are easily available in Rishikesh to reach Gaurikund.
- By Road
Gaurikund is the last motorable location before reaching Kedarnath.From there people have to trek for an odd 16 km. Gaurikund is that place which is well connected with major destinations in North India. Buses, shared cabs etc. are also available from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Rudraprayag to Sonprayag which is the last point until which private vehicles are allowed.
Buses are available for Srinagar and Rishikesh from ISBT, Kashmiri gate. From Sonprayag, the shared cab facility is offered by the government in which the cab will drop you in Gaurikund for a fee.
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Best places to stay near Kedarnath
There is a huge government- run tented cottage or colony as well as rooms run by GMVN. These are sufficient to house more than a thousand pilgrims and visitors. There are also dharamshalas, hotels and guest houses available here.
Many of the people have also started taking journeys by helicopters and thus the stay locations can be Phata, Rampur, Gaurikund,Sitapur, etc.
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Best Places To Eat
Here, the most decent food you will get is the food stalls and roadside dhabas. The food is available mostly in north Indian cuisine. Non vegetarian and alcohol is not served here and is prohibited.
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Things to keep in mind
It has been instructed by the Uttarakhand government that it is necessary for every traveller to do the biometric registration. The facility for registration is available online as well. People can also register themselves in Sonprayag. People will easily find moles and porters available to accompany your journey. Do remember to check the prices officially posted to avoid paying the larger sum. Also if you are hiring porters or mule owners then check their I’d first.
Do remember that photography is not allowed in the temple premises. Be mindful of the fact and follow the rules and regulations here of the temple authorities.
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Tips When Traveling To Kedarnath
The Kedarnath trek is 16 km long and will take around 6 hours depending on the health. Must try to start your trek early in the morning to avoid harsh sun rays of the afternoon sun.
Remember to eat a light weight breakfast and not too heavy breakfast as you are going for trekking. Drink water as much as you can to stay hydrated and not dehydrated. And also you should carry your own water bottles rather than depending on others.
Conclusion
So here is the complete travel guide of Kedarnath yatra 2022. Everyone should visit this place for worshiping Lord shiva and for seeing its scenic and marvelous beauty.
