How to Travel to KedarnathTemple from Delhi: By Road, Train, and Air

Aug 08, 2025

The Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. It is part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple is known for its ancient architecture, which is built from massive stone slabs. It is also cited for its high-altitude location, requiring a trek from Gaurikund. The temple is wholly dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered one of the holiest Hindu Shrines. The temple is not accessible by road and requires a further trek. To reach the temple, you need to trek from Gaurikund. While you are willing to travel to Kedarnath and are looking forward to grabbing the information about the modes through which you can visit the temple. There are different modes of transportation through which you can easily reach the temple. You can choose any of the following modes accordingly. Grab the information about the respective modes and routes to get ahead. You can review the information below and proceed with your preferred transportation and the route.

Modes of travel to Kedarnath Temple from Delhi

To reach the Kedarnath Temple from Delhi, you can travel by road, train, or air, with the final leg involving a trek from Gaurikund. Thus, to briefly learn about the respective modes and routes, you can notice the details cited below and get updated accordingly.

Travel to Kedarnath Temple by Road from Delhi

One of the most common routes to the Kedarnath Temple is by road from Delhi. You need to drive to the Sonprayag, as cars are not allowed beyond this point. After heading to Sonprayad, you can either trek or you get the option to take a pony/mule ride to reach the Gaurikund, the base for the final trek to Kedarnath. The real is approximately 16 kilometres, roughly 6 to 8 hours. Therefore. To gather the information to travel to Kedarnath by road further, look at the route mentioned and follow up with the authorities accordingly.

Delhi to Sonprayag: Drive from Delhi to Haridwar and continue to Rishikesh, Evprayag, Srinagar, and Rudraprayag before reaching Sonprayag.
Sonprayag to Gaurikund: To reach Sonprayag, you need to park your vehicle and then take local transportation, which is jeeps, to Gaurikund.
Gaurikund to Kedarnath: At Gaurikund, you can begin the final trek to Kedarnath. You can trek 16 km there, about 6 to 8 hours, and then take a pony or hire a helicopter to reach the Kedarnath Temple.

Travel to Kedarnath Temple by train from Delhi

There is no direct train to Kedarnath from Delhi. Thus, the nearest railway station to Ledarnath is Rishikesh railway station, about 210 km from Gaurikund, the base for the trek to the temple. You can take a train from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh and then continue the journey to Kedarnath Temple by road. To learn about the route and transportation, look at the details cited and plan your itinerary to travel to the Kedarnath Temple by train from Delhi.

Train from Delhi to Haridwar/Rishikesh

Option: You can take a train from New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) to Haridwar Railway Station (HW) or Rishikesh Railway Station.
Duration: Train journey can vary, but it tend to expect a travel time of around 4 to 6 hours.

Road transfer from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Gaurikund

Options: There is no direct train to Gaurikund from Delhi so that you can reach it by train. Alternatively, you can hire a taxi or take a bus from Haridwar or Rishikesh to Rudraprayag. From Rudraprayag, you must take another bus or taxi to Gaurikund.
Distance: The distance from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Gaurikund is roughly 200 to 230 km, and the journey can take just 6 to 8 hours, depending on the road conditions.

Trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple

Distance: The trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple is a 16 km uphill climb.
Duration: The tree can take around 8 hours for a moderately fit person.

Travel to Kedarnath temple by Air from Delhi

To reach the Kedarnath Temple by air from Delhi, you first need to fly to Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport (DED), as there are no direct flights to Kedarnath. You can utilise the helicopter service from Dehradun to reach Kedarnath, which can be booked at a time through the IRCTC website. To learn how to get to the Kedarath temple from Delhi by air, you can go through the details mentioned below and proceed accordingly.

Fly to Dehradun: You can fly from Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL) to Jolly Grant Airport (DED) in Dehradun. You can board the flight there, which typically takes about an hour.

Helicopter Booking: Once in Dharan, you can use the helicopter service to go to Kedarnath. The IRCTC, an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, is the official platform for reserving a helicopter ticket to Kedarnath. You can book your ticket online through the IRCTC Heliyatra portal.

Helicopter services: Several helicopter operators tend to provide services from the various locations near Kedarnath, which are Phata, Guptkashi, and Sersi. The helicopter ride significantly reduces the travel time. It provides a convenient way to reach the temple, especially considering the last leg of the journey to the temple is a trek. Therefore, you will get the helipad near Kedarnath, and from there, you will still need to walk a short distance to the temple itself.

An itinerary for travelling to the Kedarnath Temple from Delhi

When planning to head to the Kedarnath Temple, you can follow the itinerary below and plan to travel to the Kedarnath Temple from Delhi. Before heading with an itinerary, you need to know that you can further choose any of your preferred seat types and ensure that you are comfortable.

DAY 1

Haridwar/Rishikesh to Guptkashi/Sonprayag

Morning: Begin your journey from Haridwar/Rishikesh and drive to Guptkashi or Sonprayag. At Tilwara, admire the scenic Mandakini River.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, visit the Ardh Narshwar Temple in Guptkashi and proceed to your hotel room.
Evening: Check in to your hotel in Guptkashi or Sonprayag for the night and have dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.

DAY 2

Guptkashi/Sonpraag to Kedarnath

Morning: Start your journey early in the morning and drive to Sonprayag. From Sonryagh, you can continue your 16 km trek to Kedarnath.
Afternoon: If you prefer not to trek, you can hire a pony or a Doli. You can also consider booking a helicopter ride from Guptkashi, Phata, or Sersi for the fastest and most comfortable journey.
Evening: Reach Kedarnath by evening. You can attend the evening aarti at the Kedarnath Temple and spend the night there.

DAY 3

Kedarnath Darshan and Trek back to Guptkashi/Sonprayag

Morning: Wake up early for darshan at the Kedarnath Temple. You can also explore the temple surroundings, including the Kaal Bhairan temple, Mandakni Ghat, and the Bhim Shilla.
Afternoon: Trek back down to Gaurikund. You can also take a local jeep to Sonprayag, which is already available.
Evening: Drive back to the hotel in Guptkashi or Sonprayag, where you will spend the night.

DAY 4

Return to Haridwar/Rishikesh

Morning: Wake up early, have breakfast, and then drive back to Haridwar/Rishikesh.
Afternoon: You can stop in Rishikesh to visit temples like Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.
Evening: You can head back to Delhi, where you journey to visit the Kedarnath Temple, which you complete.

Information about the rituals in the Kedarnath Temple

The daily rituals at the Kedarnath Temple include Rudra Abhishek, Maha Abhishek, and evening aarti. These rituals are generally performed twice daily, in the morning and evening. To know and participate in the daily rituals, look at the information as mentioned and get updates.

Morning Rituals:

Maha Abhishek and Abhishek Puja.
Rudra Abhishek.
Laghu Redrabhiskek.
Shodashopachar Pooja.

Midday and the evening rituals

Bhog Pujja
Evening Aarti
Shyam Aarti

FAQ's

How many days are required to reach the Kedarnath temple from Delhi?

A trip to Kedarnath temple from Delhi typically requires 4 to 5 days for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. This allows for travel time, time for darshan at the temple, and some sightseeing in the surrounding areas.

Is registration mandatory to travel to the Kedarnath temple?

Before commencing the journey, pilgrims must register online at the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board's official website. Registration is crucial for safety, crowd management, and access to necessary permits that further require medical and travel facilities.

What is the dress code for entering the Kedarnath Temple?

There isn't a strict dress code for the Kedarnath Temple; it is just recommended that you dress modestly and respectfully. Avoid wearing revealing clothing, such as shorts, miniskirts, or sleeveless tops. Also, remove your shoes and socks before further entering the temple.

What are the Kedarnath opening and closing times?

The Kedarnath temple tends to open in May and close in the winter. Its opening time is 4:00 AM, and its closing time is 9:00 PM. Therefore, as mentioned, the temple opens at 4:00 AM and closes at 9:00 PM daily. During the open season, darshan hours are from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM, followed by a brunch and then evening darshan from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

What are the must-visit attractions near the Kedarnath temple?

Several attractions surround the Kedarath temple, offering a mix of spiritual and natural experiences. When travelling to Kedarath from Delhi, you can visit Shankaracharya Samati, Bhairavbath Tenoke, Bhairavnath Teple, Triyuginarayan temple, Agastyamuni temple, Kalimath, and Gupkashi.