Guide
Kedarnath Yatra Guide
Kedarnath is the hardest leg of Char Dham for most Indian families. It is one of the 12 sacred Shiva temples (Jyotirlinga) at 3,583 m, reached only after a 16-18 km trek from Gaurikund (or by helicopter). If you are short on time or fitness, decide trek vs helicopter before you leave home.
Season status (late October 2026): the temple is open and closes for winter on 11 November 2026 at 8:30 AM (Bhai Dooj), as announced on Vijayadashami. The last IRCTC helicopter journeys of the season are on 9 November. Nights are now close to freezing at the temple, so pack proper winter layers.
Part of the full Char Dham trip? Read the Char Dham Yatra Guide first, then use this page for Kedarnath-only planning.
Kedarnath dates 2026
| Opens | 22 April 2026, 8:00 AM (temple committee announcement on Maha Shivaratri) |
| Closes | 11 November 2026, 8:30 AM (Bhai Dooj; announced on Vijayadashami) |
| Altitude | 3,583 m |
| Last road point | Gaurikund (private vehicles usually stop at Sonprayag; shuttle to Gaurikund) |
| Trek | 16-18 km uphill, typically 6-8 hours |
| Winter seat | Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath |
How to register
Free and mandatory for trek, pony, palki, and helicopter. No QR e-pass means you are stopped at Sonprayag / Phata / related checkpoints.
- registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, or WhatsApp
Yatrato +91-8394833833 - OTP on mobile, upload Aadhaar / passport / voter ID + photo
- Select Kedarnath and your date
- Download QR e-pass; carry print + phone
- Offline counters: Haridwar, Rishikesh, Guptkashi, Sonprayag (long queues in peak weeks)
Seniors and anyone with heart, asthma, diabetes, or BP issues should take medical fitness seriously. Kedarnath is where people underestimate altitude and distance.
Helicopter to Kedarnath
Best option for elders and anyone who cannot do the trek.
- Book only on official IRCTC HeliYatra: heliyatra.irctc.co.in
- Yatra registration number is required before helicopter booking
- Authorised pads: Guptkashi, Phata, Sersi
- 2026 return fares listed for IRCTC bookings (GST included, per person): Sersi ₹6,390, Phata ₹10,164, Guptkashi ₹12,762. IRCTC adds a convenience fee, and a fuel surcharge may be added at checkout; confirm the live price on IRCTC
- Up to 6 tickets per login, each linked to a yatra registration
- The final booking window of 2026 covers journeys from 16 October to 9 November
- Early-season blocks sell out in minutes; later in the year, keep checking the calendar for open dates
- Do not buy from WhatsApp / hotel “agents”. Fraud is common
Weather cancels flights often. Keep a trek or wait-day backup plan.
Trek from Gaurikund
Start early. The path is busy, with tea stalls and rest points, but rain turns rocks slick.
Carry
- Warm layers and rain jacket (temperature swings hard)
- Grip shoes; avoid new stiff footwear on day one
- Printed e-pass + original ID
- Personal medicines, ORS, cash (ATMs thin after Guptkashi)
- Offline maps; signal is unreliable
Pony, palki, and porter are available from government prepaid counters near Sonprayag / Gaurikund. Rates change; ignore trail touts who quote “online booking”.
Stay off riverbanks when Mandakini levels rise. In monsoon, follow local administration instructions even if that means delaying the trek by a day.
How to reach
From Delhi / most cities: train or flight to Dehradun / Haridwar / Rishikesh, then road via Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund.
New on the route (October 2026): trial traffic started on 26 October 2026 on the Rudraprayag bypass, a 900 m tunnel and a bridge over the Alaknanda that link the Kedarnath highway (NH 107) with the Badrinath highway (NH 7). Through traffic between the two routes can now skip Rudraprayag market. The formal opening is still pending, so follow police diversions on the day.
| Mode | Notes |
|---|---|
| Train | Haridwar / Rishikesh railheads; then taxi or shared jeep |
| Flight | Dehradun (Jolly Grant), then 8-10+ hours road depending on stops |
| Road | Night driving on hills is often restricted (about 10 pm-4 am). Plan daylight legs |
Best time to visit
- May-June: peak, full services, crowds
- July-August: open but high disruption risk; keep spare days
- September-October: usually the best remaining window before closing
- 1 to 11 November: open until the closing morning; cold, short days and big crowds around the final days
Rules that matter at Kedarnath
- Phones and cameras banned inside the temple complex; use cloakrooms
- E-pass date must match your travel day
- No alcohol / non-veg in and around the sacred zone (enforced locally)
- Remove footwear where required
Cost notes (Kedarnath leg only)
Depends on how you travel from Haridwar:
- Shared jeep + basic stay + trek: often the cheapest, most tiring
- Private cab share + lodge: typical family choice
- Helicopter seat: large jump in cost, saves the trek day
Pony / palki are extra on top of either plan. For full-trip budgets, see the Char Dham cost section.
Checklist
- E-pass printed for Kedarnath date
- Trek fitness decided (or IRCTC helicopter booked)
- Stay near Sonprayag / Gaurikund for early start
- Rain gear + cash + medicines
- Spare day if travelling in monsoon
Closing dates and winter darshan
- Closing: the temple doors close on 11 November 2026 at 8:30 AM (Bhai Dooj). Try to reach Kedarnath a day or two earlier if you want regular darshan before the closing rituals.
- Doli journey: after closing, the Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of Baba Kedar is carried down the trek route. It halts at Rampur on the first night and at the Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi on 12 November, and reaches Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath on 13 November.
- Winter darshan: Baba Kedar is worshipped at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, through the winter. Ukhimath is reachable by road all year.
- Reopening: the 2027 opening date is announced at Omkareshwar Temple on Maha Shivaratri. Doors usually open around late April or early May.
FAQ
Is registration free for Kedarnath?
Yes. Only use the official portal / app / WhatsApp flow. Anyone charging for “registration” is a scam.
How long is the Kedarnath trek?
About 16-18 km from Gaurikund, usually 6-8 hours up depending on pace and weather.
Can elderly people go?
Many do, via helicopter or pony/palki, with medical clearance. The full trek is demanding at altitude.
When does Kedarnath close in 2026?
On 11 November 2026 at 8:30 AM (Bhai Dooj). Winter worship then moves to Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath.
Related guides
City pages: Kedarnath · Kedarnath Temple · Ukhimath · Guptkashi · Rudraprayag · Rishikesh · Haridwar
