Kedarnath Trek
Kedarnath is one of the most sacred pilgrimages of Lord Shiva situated in Rudraprayag district of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is one of the four dham in Uttarakhand and the most important dham among panch kedar. Kedarnath is situated at a magnificent height of 3586mts above sea-level.
The Kedarnath temple is situated in the beautiful green valley of majestic snow capped peaks of Himalayan range like Kedarnath parbat, Kirti stambh, mahalaya parbat and mandani parbat. Gaurikund(1986mts) is the point from where the trek to Kedarnath commences. In order to reach Kedarnath one has to trek 14kms of easy trek with good food and water facilities en route.
There are two adventurous excursions from Kedarnath, one is Vasuki tal which is quite well known because of its panoramic beauty and it is a moderate trek. The other is Chorabari tal which is touched with Chorabari glacier in the foots of Kedarnath Parbat. It’s very sad to say that global warming is affecting all the enchanting glaciers of Uttarakhand very rapidly and Chorabari glacier is one of them. Panch kedar are heavenly and most sacred temples of Lord Shiva and all of them are situated in Rudraprayag district.
About Kedarnath Trek
Most travelers in India visit the Kedarnath Temple Trek nestled in the beautiful Uttarakhand Himalayas. The Kedarnath temple is famous for its religious importance. Kedarnath stands 3583 meters above sea level, right next to Chorabari Glacier where the Mandakini River begins. On every side, snow-white hills surround the area. Tens of thousands of Hindu people travel from across India every year to complete their sacred religious journey to this holy destination.
Gauri Kund – Kedarnath Trek
Start your 16-kilometre journey to Kedarnath Dham here in Gauri Kund. Before the flood ruined everything, Rambara’s trail was safe and easy due to its strong fence and helpful route design. The New walking trail work by the authorities finished the old trekking route straight to Kedarnath Dham, and now all of the old trails have been eradicated.
The New Trekking Route for the Kedarnath Dham is Detailed Below
Reach Gaurikund
Start your holy trekking adventure from the village of Gaurikund to reach Kedarnath. You may choose to go by taxi or take a shared taxi car. Starting at Rambara Bridge, you can walk to Jungle Chatti, the first stop on our trekking path.
Travelers must hike along the Rambara Bridge path to reach Jungle Chatti from Gaurikund. You have to walk four kilometers when going from Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti. You’ll see fantastic scenery from this spot.
After Jungle Chatti, Bheembali is where you stop next
Three-kilometer trek separates Jungle Chatti from Bheembali, which hikers can reach by walking. As you hike, the view stays amazing with snowy mountains and temple walls drawing you in on every side. You can stay overnight here because there are places to rent.
After resting at your last place, walk another 4 kilometers to get to your next section of the path.
Linchauli, which is your third destination
Accommodations are available in Linchauli. The lodging here lets you stay overnight so you can start walking again in the fresh morning light. Break briefly, then go ahead when ready. The view of rising mountains from Linchauli is so stunning you won’t feel tired at all.
Our fourth break will be at the Kedarnath Base Camp
When hiking from Linchauli to Kedarnath base camp, look for several campsites on either side of the mountain trail along the way. Break your journey at the perfect viewing spot among the mountains to let your eyes enjoy the view. The path from Linchauli to base camp stretches out over a total of four km, heading north.
The last stop on the journey – The Temple at Kedarnath
The last kilometer is an exciting part of the hike to experience. Be careful when you walk over the snowy paths in this region. At the Kedarnath Mandir, an amazing view leaves you speechless. The trip near Kedarnath finishes like every other remarkable experience does.
Important things to bring for your hike and trek to the Kedarnath temple
For reaching Kedarnath from Gaurikund you can take a palanquin or pony on hire from Gaurikund itself. Contact porters at Gaurikund directly with your payment to shorten your walking distance with this option. If a transport company you use in Kedarnath isn’t government-licensed, ask them to show their government registration number.
The government rules say travelers can ride ponies with no more than 10 kilograms of luggage and only 5 kilograms can be carried by helicopter to Kedarnath. In this part, it is recommended to distribute loads to the vehicle evenly when transporting goods and passengers so that travelers are comfortable during the chardham trip.
Facilities at the Kedarnath Walk : The Kedarnath trek offers different ways to reach Kedarnath Dham – traditional Palki or Doli, Kandi chairs, and animal rides on mules or ponies. Book these services at a desk in Gaurikund or Sonprayag to make your trip easier. While hiking Kedarnath, we get access to many helpful services available for the entire journey. Travelers can find tents for sleeping, spots to buy things, many small eateries, Dhabas, and pure water when they visit these locations. Kedarnath Helicopter to Phata helipad or nearby places can be availed from the helipad of Kedarnath.
Who should avoid hiking : Since it sits 11,000-12,000 feet high with thin air, visitors with breathing or heart problems are recommended to not travel there.
Other major trekking trails passing through Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple Trek is one of the apparently beautiful treks which gives spirituality, adventure, and nature in one place. The stunning views of the environment, as you go up the winding trails through the Himalayas are worth the climb. The great nature with emerald tone valleys, snowy mountains along with a glistening river make up for the scenic beauty besides the rigorous climbing. Along the way, there are many sites of interest and beautiful places where a person wants to sit down and meditate on the beautified and powerful energy of the place. However, the route also takes the beauty further from Kedarnath and keeps a variety of tempting sights that are essential for the trek to be a journey of discovering nature, faith, and one’s self. The goal can be a quiet stop or an unconventional path nearby, and the journey is the reward, with visualization and stories you will want to keep forever.
Trekking route : Gaurikund – Rambara – Garud Chatti – Kedarnath – Vasuki Tal
Vasuki Tal is not too long, a kind of trek which in all possibilities can be covered easily by any tourist who plans to visit Kedarnath. It is 8 kilometers ahead of Kedarnath. Situated at an altitude of 4,135 meters, the glacial lake looks as fabulous as the majestic Brahma Kapal a flower of the Himalayas that blooms near the lake. If you start your trek directly at Kedarnath then the total trek is approximately 5 kilometers (km). You can also start the trek from Gaurikund which itself is a 24 km long trek that is again one of the most popular treks.
2. Trek to Gandhi Sarovar
Trekking route : Gaurikund – Kedarnath – Gandhi Sarovar
Gandhi Sarovar is merely a small lake recognized for its bright water and called Chorabari Tal also. It is located at the end of Chorabari Bamak glacier. Located at a height of 3,900m above sea level and perhaps at the foot of the Kedarnath and Kirthi Stambh mountains. The trek to Gandhi Sarovar starts at 4 kilometers from Kedarnath and extends up to 18 kilometers from Gaurikund.
3. Kedar and Badri are the passes that make up the Panpatia Pass
Panpatia Trek is one of the most challenging trails, that a trekker can undertake in the tour trekking zone of Uttarakhand India. There is no other route to Kedarnath from Badrinath; it is a severe climb and you get to cross up to thirty cracks and gigantic ice falls in the Himalayas. The trip during the Panpatia Expedition offers amazing views of other distinguishable mountains such as Neelkanth, Balakun, Sri Parvat, Kunaling, Hathi Parvat, and Dhauliganga Peaks.
4. Madmaheshwar hike
Also known as Madhyamaheshwar Trek or Buda Madmaheshwar Trek. One of the five Kedar temples, it is also a part of the Panch Kedar trek circuit, the complete name of Akhara means ‘Madhyamaheswar’. The name is Madhyamaheshwar was therefore given to it because of its geographical position at the middle of the circuit and since it is usually climbed after Tugnath, Kedarnath, and Rudranath. It also has spiritual connotations, because the word madhya, which means middle and therefore refers to the belly of Lord Shiva, originated it.
5. Chorabari Glacier Trek
The Chorabari Glacier is situated in Garhwal Himalayan of Uttarakhand, India, and is also written as Chorabari Bamak Glacier. It is about 7 km in length but covers an area of close to 15 km in size. The two snouts of Chorabari Glacier are responsible for the Mandakini River and Chorabari Tal respectively.
The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is a marvelous place and is located near the beautiful and alluring greenish watered lake known as Deoria Tal the other name for which is Devariya Tal. This lake is situated in the middle of the jungle and is still and has not been touched by man. This place has stunning views of landscapes that are not only green but also enormously differentiated.
When does the Kedarnath Trek operate?
The most favorable time to undertake this journey that occurs in the Himalayas is between the seasons of April to June and then from September to October. As the weather is comparatively favorable for the hike this is going to be so much fun for hiking. Just in case you were wondering, winter is a disadvantageous season because the weather at this time is frosty and snowy, which is a problem, particularly for travelers on the prowl for beautiful spots in their areas. Though your journey could be quite safe if it is from June to September your journey could be extremely dangerous because of strong rains landslides and floods.
The weather in these months is good for families and friends out of the door for socialization. This kind of walk is feasible only before the monsoons or after the monsoons because the climate is slightly wet in the season. The average temperature during the day ranges between 15 and 20 degrees but at night the climate drops significantly.
