Kedarkantha, the abode of Lord Shiva is one of the most spiritual pilgrimages in India and attracts a large number of devotees within 6 months of the shrine being open for the travelers to visit. Covering 5 shrines of Lord Shiva in the fascinating Kedar valley, Panch Kedar trek offers an enduring experience of Kedarkantha being one of the shrines.
India has a lot of religious tourists and trekking enthusiasts, a blend of both which is kedarkantha makes it an absolute favorite destination amongst every individual.
Also it caters to the needs of all age groups- 3 generations are interested in visiting Kedarkantha and that is our grandparents, obviously because of Kedarkantha being a pilgrimage, our parents for probably the same reason as the grandparents or for traveling etc and our generation goes to experience the millennial blend of beauty, deviness and spirituality along with some trekking experiences.
A wonderful blend of spirituality with a beautiful scenic charm.
Listed down is a complete guide for the beginners as well as intermediate trekkers to experience the abode of lord Shiva.
Kedar, literally meaning powerful, is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and destroyer. It is located in the Rudraprayag district of Garhwal region which is in Uttarakhand about 3586 meters above the sea level or at an altitude of approximately 3500 m. Even though the main attraction is the Lord Shiva temple, breathtaking aura, snow clad mountains and spectacular landscape makes Kedarkantha trek an interesting one even for offbeat travelers as well.
How to reach Kedarkantha – two ways, either by Road or by Air.
Kedarnath by road
Vehicle of your choice to reach Gaurikund but if you are trying to be budget friendly then a direct bus from ISBT kashmiri gate from Delhi is considered a hard pass, preferably the bus by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation and then start your trek from Gaurikund. There are other options available as well of shared taxis, your own vehicle etc. The choice is the travelers, they can either trek, hire a pony or a palki. All the options are available with varying rates.
Kedarkantha by air
Development has made travel really easy and in case of Kedarkantha, if one wants to skip the trek they can opt for helicopter services either from Haridwar or Dehradun by booking it online on the official portal.
In case of dehradun helicopter services will be available at Sahastradhara Helipad and you will reach the destination in just 40 minutes.
From Haridwar, you need to travel till Phata via road to board the helicopter to kedarnath.
Kedarkantha trek route map
A detailed itinerary for the 16 km trek to Kedarkantha, starting with Gaurikund. An interesting or devastating fact whatever you may take it as about Kedarkantha is that after the 2014 floods its distance was increased to 16 km from 14 km
- Travel to Gaurikund from Sonprayag or any destination via road
- Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti is about a 4 kilometers trek via Rambara Bridge
- Jungle Chatti to Bheembali is a 3 kilometers trek
- Bheembali to Linchauli will be a 4 kilometers trek
- Linchauli to Kedarkantha Base Camp is another 4 kilometers trek
- Kedarkantha Base Camp to Kedarkantha Temple 1 kilometers trek
Before actually planning for the trek there are certain body check ups that have been made compulsory to be done by the Uttarakhand government, also timings of Kedarkantha Trek from Gaurikund is from 4AM to 1.30PM. No pilgrim or a traveler is allowed to leave the premises after a fixed time period because of the restrictions and location- wildlife sanctuary.
Things to do in Kedarkantha
The main attraction is obviously going to be the temple
Kedarnath temple : Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. For many many years, this place has been worshiped and the aura not only radiates positivity but hope and belief for a better future.
Gandhi Sarovar: also known as chorabari tal, it’s a small crystal lake situated on the mouth of Chorabari Bamak glacier. It’s a 4 km trek from Kedarnath temple as it is located at its foothill.
Kalimath : located on Saraswati river and is another place of worship to visit.
Bhairav temple, Gaimukh temple and Shamkaracharya samadhi are other destinations to visit along with your Kedarnath yatra also not forgetting the Char dham yatra.
The best month to travel May, June, September, October so plan your trip soon
