Kedarnath Yatra: What to Do to Reach Kedarnath

Introduction

Kedarnath temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India, which is known to be the abode of lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple, located in Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand, India, is situated at an altitude of 3583 meters. Every year, thousands of people plan a Kedarnath trip to visit Kedarnath Temple. So, planning a Kedarnath Trip and experiencing the pilgrimage of Kedarnath once in life will be life-changing, but lots of people don’t know how they can go or how they should plan and what to do before going to Kedarnath Temple. Everything like the best time to go, what to pack & carry, and about packages, everything will be covered in this blog.

About Temple

Kedarnath temple pilgrimage is one of the sacred Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand and Panch Kedar, dedicated to lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is located in Rudraprayag district. To reach Kedarnath Temple, you have to Trek 16 km from Gaurikud. Kedarnath temple is mentioned in Hindu scripture, which is Skanda Purana, one of the eighteen mahapuranas. That’s why Kedarnath is deeply rooted in Hinduism. According to legend, Kedarnath temple was established by Pandavas after Kurukshetra (Mahabharat). Pandavas came here to get atone from lord shiva for their sins which killing their relatives, but lord shiva didn’t want to forgive them, and then they took the form of Nandi (Bull), but Bhima, one of the Pandavas recognized lord Shiva, then lord Shiva disguised in the ground by leaving his Hump which is Jyotirlinga and that Hump worshiped in Kedarnath Temple. In the 8th Century, the Kedarnath temple was re-established by an ancient philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya.

How to Go?

There are many ways to go to Kedarnath. It depends on your travel taste and budget:

Economical Option Bus: Haridwar/Rishikesh is the base location to reach Kedarnath Temple; if you have a low budget or want to reach Kedarnath, then you can take a bus from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Kedarnath
Shared Taxi: You can take a shared taxi from Haridwar/Rishikesh, and the driver of the taxi will bring up people who also want to go by shared taxi. Which is the low-budget option.
Private Vehicle: If you want to go to Kedarnath or love to car or bike trip then you can go with Car, Bike. For families you can come in your Car, it will cost you more.
Road Trip: If you love road trips then you can come with your bike or scooty, if you can’t then you can get a scooty or bike on rent for a day or more. It will cost you more than a shared taxi but less than a private vehicle like a Car.
Helicopter option: If you want to reach Kedarnath by air, then you can book a helicopter on government heli yatra website which is www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in and also can get booking from offline options from Guptkashi, Phata, and Sirsi.

When To Go?

You should have perfect knowledge about when to go to Kedarnath because Kedarnath is open for 6 months only, from May to October. If you love traveling in pleasant weather, then you can go to Kedarnath during May and June. For those people who love to enjoy snowfall, then September to October are ideal months for them and also best for adventure seekers. Avoid visiting during the monsoon season (July-August); visiting during these months can be risky because of heavy rainfall, landslides, and road blockage; it is advisable not to visit in July and August. So, the overall best months to visit are May-June and September-October for those people who love visiting in pleasant weather and snowfall, as well as adventure seekers.

What to Do Before Going on Kedarnath Yatra

Registration and Permits: To get an entry for the way for Kedarnath you have to register yourself or your member who is going with you, on government website which is registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in to get a permit for Kedarnath Yatra or Char Dham Yatra.
Registering yourself on the gov website is compulsory for the Kedarnath Yatra; otherwise, you will be unable to participate in the Kedarnath Yatra.
What to pack and carry: Smart packing is crucial work to do boarding for a trek for which you should have knowledge about what to pack and carry; at this moment I will guide you. You have to pack Sturdy shoes, raincoats, layered and warm clothes, reusable water bottles and a first aid kit. Carry your hard copy of your identity proof and also can carry original documents if possible with government permits which is mandatory.
Physical Preparation: If you are going for the Kedarnath Trip, Do Dham Yatra, and Char Dham Yatra, for each combination of sacred pilgrimage, you have to prepare yourself physically because you are willing to Himalayan trails, where each pilgrimage leads you to the high altitude of the Himalayas. That’s why before going on any trek, you have to prepare by running, sprinting, brisk walking, push-ups, sit-ups, breathing exercises, and yoga.

Kedarnath Yatra Package

Now, at this [pera], we will talk about packages that are good or not while you are willing to make a pilgrimage. So, each pilgrimage or combination has its specific package, like Kedarnath Yatra Package, Do Dham Yatra Package, and Chardham Yatra Package. There are two types of Packages. The first is the group tour package, which is best for those people who want to go on a pilgrimage; the group tour package is the best option, which costs you something around 9000 rs to 14000 rs and includes transportation, accommodation, meals, and an experienced guide. Second is a private tour, which will be customizable with the inclusion of transportation, luxury accommodation, meals, and a guide, which will cost you between 25000 and 60000. Also, the price can be expanded if you book a helicopter for Yatra. Now let’s talk about the pros and cons,

Pros: Safe and guided tour with pre-planned itinerary, able to meet new people, and struggle free from registration to Yatra.
Cons: Limited flexibility, you are unable to go anywhere by yourself and spend time, or you always have to be with a group for Yatra.

Conclusion

The Kedarnath yatra is the pilgrimage to the Abode of lord Shiva, which is situated at an altitude of 3583 meters, which makes it a mix of spirituality and adventure. Opens for only six months, which is May to October, and the best time to visit is May to June and September to October. Avoid July and August for safe travel. To reach Kedarnath temple, you have to trek from Gaurikund, the last motorable place. You can also book a helicopter for the Yatra. Also, we talked about physical preparation, what to pack, and packages, as well as their pros and cons. Taking this all in your mind will help you make your journey free of struggle.