Altitude
3,583 m (11,755 ft)
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय केदारनाथाय ॥
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
हिमालय का शिव-धाम। चार धाम का शिखर।
The Himalayan abode of Shiva - fifth of the twelve Jyotirlingas, at 11,755 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas by the head of the Mandakini. The highest and most remote of the twelve, part of the Char Dham and Panch Kedar, open only May to November. Plan your darshan, the Gaurikund trek or helicopter, Char Dham registration and stays - timings, travel and verified guides arranged for you.
Highest Jyotirlinga Char Dham Trek or helicopter Senior & NRI friendly
5
Of 12 Jyotirlingas
11,755
Feet altitude
16
Km trek from Gaurikund
केदारनाथ · Shiva in the Himalayas
The fifth and highest Jyotirlinga
Presiding deities: Lord Shiva as Kedarnath - the self-manifested, hump-shaped Sadashiva linga, with Goddess Parvati.
ॐ नमः शिवाय केदारनाथाय
Kedarnath is revered as the fifth Jyotirlinga and holds paramount importance in the Shaiva tradition. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva here to atone for the sin of killing their kin in the Kurukshetra war. Wishing to avoid them, Shiva took the form of a bull; when Bhima recognised him, the Lord dove into the ground and reappeared in five parts across the region - the Panch Kedar. Kedarnath is where the hump (back) appeared, worshipped as a triangular self-manifested linga. The temple, built of massive grey stone slabs without mortar, famously withstood the catastrophic 2013 Uttarakhand floods.
River
Near the head of the Mandakini
Circuits
Char Dham · Panch Kedar
Open season
Late April to November
History & heritage
Ancient stone, unbroken by the mountains
By tradition the original shrine at Kedarnath was raised by the Pandavas, and the temple as it stands was revived in the 8th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya, whose samadhi lies just behind the main shrine. Built of massive interlocking grey stone slabs set without mortar, the temple has endured a thousand years of Himalayan winters, when it lies buried under deep snow and worship moves to Ukhimath. Historical patrons included the Katyuri and later the Garhwal kings.
In June 2013, a cloudburst and glacial-lake flood devastated the Kedarnath valley and the town around the shrine, a tragedy that touched countless families. Through it the temple itself stood firm - a large boulder, since revered as the Bhim Shila, came to rest behind it and is believed to have divided the flood waters around the sanctum. The valley has since been rebuilt with new pathways, safer infrastructure and expanded helicopter services. The shrine is managed by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee under the Uttarakhand Government; its doors open on Akshaya Tritiya and close on Bhai Dooj each year, with the exact opening date announced at Ukhimath on Maha Shivratri.
Revived by Adi Shankaracharya · 8th c. CEMortar-less grey stone templeStood firm in the 2013 floodsOpen Akshaya Tritiya to Bhai Dooj
Darshan & rituals
Aarti at the roof of the Jyotirlingas
A Kedarnath day begins with the Mangala Aarti at 4:00 AM and closes with the Shayan Aarti at 7:30 PM. Darshan runs through the day, with the temple open only during the May - November season; in winter the deity is worshipped at Ukhimath.
Darshan
| Mangala Aarti | 4:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Morning darshan | 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM (last verified 3 Sep 2026) |
| Evening darshan | 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM (last verified 3 Sep 2026) |
| Shayan Aarti | 7:30 PM |
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee does not publish a fixed daily darshan timetable - the hours shown here were last verified on 3 September 2026 and are the pattern the temple keeps in season, not an official schedule. Timings, opening dates and access change with weather, snow and the Mela/yatra advisories; Char Dham registration is mandatory. Always confirm before travel - message us and we will share the latest opening dates, weather, trek/helicopter status and the best darshan arrangements for your dates.
Dress code & what to carry
Modest attire is expected, but at 11,755 ft warm clothing - woollens, a windproof jacket and thermals - is essential year-round, with rain gear during the July - September monsoon. Footwear is removed before entering the temple. Traditional attire is preferred, yet weather-appropriate clothing is fully acceptable here.
Yatra calendar
The sacred season of Kedarnath
Kedarnath’s entire year is one six-month season, framed by the opening and closing of the kapaat. These are the key days - the opening date is announced at Ukhimath on Maha Shivratri, so plan and register early.
Kedarnath yatra
- Akshaya Tritiya · April / MayKapaat Opening The temple doors open and the deity returns from Ukhimath in procession.
- May / June · September / OctoberChar Dham peak season The peak months for the Char Dham circuit - clearest weather, busiest queues.
- Mid-July - mid-August 2027 (Mondays of Shravan month)Shravan month Kanwar Yatra pilgrims and special abhishek, amid the monsoon - carry rain gear.
- During the seasonAdi Shankaracharya Samadhi Special pujas at the samadhi behind the main shrine.
- Bhai Dooj · November (expected ~11-17 Nov 2026; the exact date is announced on Vijayadashami, not confirmed as of 3 Sep 2026)Kapaat Closing The doors close for winter and the deity is carried in procession to Ukhimath.
- 6 March 2027Mahashivratri (at Ukhimath) Celebrated at the winter seat of Ukhimath while Kedarnath is under snow.
Dates may shift slightly closer to the day. Message us for the latest schedule.
Getting there
Reaching Kedarnath by road, trek and helicopter
Kedarnath is the one Char Dham shrine no road reaches. The last stretch from Gaurikund is on foot, by pony or palanquin, or by helicopter.
The trek
From Gaurikund - commonly given as 16 km (sources range 14-17 km)
Sonprayag is the road-head where buses and taxis terminate; Gaurikund, a short local hop further, is where the trek begins. Pony, palki (palanquin) and porter services operate from Gaurikund at posted rates, and the air thins noticeably past Rambara for some pilgrims. Carry waterproof shoes and warm layers even in the season.
By helicopter
From Phata and Sersi
Shuttle helicopters cut the trek to an 8-10 minute flight and are heavily booked in season; we handle the booking window for you. Guptkashi is sometimes named as a helicopter point too, but we could not confirm this against a primary source in this pass.
By rail and air
Rishikesh station (~216-221 km) and Jolly Grant, Dehradun (~239 km) to Gaurikund/Sonprayag
Rishikesh is the nearest broad-gauge railhead and Jolly Grant the nearest airport; both feed the same NH109 road to Sonprayag. Regular buses run the Haridwar - Sonprayag route through the day in season.
The temple closes daily between 3 PM and 5 PM, and pilgrims often begin queuing from 2 AM for morning darshan - plan your trek timing with us so you are not caught on the trail after dark.
Divine Yatra, arranged
How DharmikVibes arranges your Kedarnath yatra
No online checkout, no chaos. Tell us your dates and a real coordinator arranges every part of your yatra - Char Dham registration, the Gaurikund trek or helicopter, stays and a guide. There are no prices on this page; everything is quoted transparently on WhatsApp before you commit.
Darshan & Aarti access
Guided Jyotirlinga darshan and assisted Mangala/Sugam Aarti access during the May - November season.
Trek, pony or helicopter
The 16 km Gaurikund trek with pony/palki support, or helicopter from Phata, Guptkashi and Sirsi - arranged to your fitness.
Stays & GMVN lodges
BKTC guest houses and GMVN rest houses at Kedarnath, Gaurikund and Guptkashi, plus verified partner stays.
Travel & Char Dham registration
Flights to Dehradun, road to Sonprayag and mandatory Char Dham registration handled, paced for altitude.
Verified guides & pandits
Local guides and pandits for sankalp, puja and the Panch Kedar story - and the Adi Shankaracharya samadhi.
Senior, NRI & solo-women care
Helicopter-first itineraries, slower pacing for altitude, a coordinator throughout and timezone-friendly planning for NRIs.
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संपर्क करें · Get in touch
Plan your Kedarnath yatra
Tell us your dates and how many devotees - our coordinators arrange Char Dham registration, the trek or helicopter, stays and the rest. We are humans, not a booking bot. There is no online checkout and no prices on this site.
+91 92203 52244 - Fastest reply - a real coordinator
Yatra & darshan
dharmikyatra@dharmikvibes.com
Travel & logistics
travel@dharmikvibes.com
Emergency
+91-112 · Police 100 · Tourist Helpline 1364 (Uttarakhand) / 1363 (national) · Pilgrim Medical 108
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kedarnath darshan timings and opening dates?
As last verified on 3 September 2026 the Mangala Aarti is at 4:00 AM, morning darshan runs 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM, evening darshan from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and the Shayan Aarti is at 7:30 PM - the temple committee publishes no fixed daily timetable, so treat these as the in-season pattern rather than an official schedule. The temple is open only from around late April (Akshaya Tritiya) to November (Bhai Dooj); the exact opening date is announced at Ukhimath on Maha Shivratri. Message us for the confirmed dates for your year.
How do I reach Kedarnath - trek or helicopter?
From the roadhead at Sonprayag/Gaurikund, the trek to Kedarnath is about 16 km one way, with ponies and palanquins (palki/doli) available. Helicopter services operate from Phata, Guptkashi and Sirsi helipads. We arrange whichever suits your group’s fitness, including a helicopter-first plan for seniors and NRIs.
When is the best time to visit Kedarnath?
May - June and September - October offer the clearest weather and are the peak Char Dham months. July - September is monsoon - carry rain gear and watch for landslide advisories. At 11,755 ft it is cold year-round, so warm clothing is essential. We help you pick the safest window for your group.
Is Char Dham registration required for Kedarnath?
Yes. Registration for the Char Dham Yatra is mandatory for all pilgrims and is checked en route. We handle the registration for your group as part of arranging your yatra, along with health-aware pacing for the high altitude.
Did the Kedarnath temple survive the 2013 floods?
Yes. The June 2013 cloudburst and glacial-lake flood devastated the valley and the town in a deeply tragic event, yet the stone temple itself stood firm. A large boulder - now revered as the Bhim Shila - came to rest behind the shrine and is believed to have parted the flood waters around the sanctum. The valley has since been rebuilt with safer infrastructure.
What should I expect on arrival at Kedarnath, and is there a queue system?
The temple closes daily between 3 PM and 5 PM, and many pilgrims begin queuing from around 2 AM for morning darshan, so plan your trek or helicopter timing with us so you are not caught on the trail after dark. Footwear is removed before entering the sanctum. At 3,583 metres the cold is serious even in the May - November season, so warm, windproof layers are essential, with rain gear added for the July - September monsoon. The temple town is small and everything - food, blankets, basic supplies - sits above the roadhead, so pack what you need for the trek itself.
Is Kedarnath manageable for elderly or disabled visitors?
Kedarnath is the one Char Dham with no road at all, so anyone who cannot manage a 16 km Himalayan trek needs pony, palki (palanquin) or helicopter support - all three operate from the Gaurikund/Sonprayag roadhead and the Phata/Sersi helipads, and we run helicopter-first itineraries for seniors and NRIs as standard. Even with these, the altitude and cold are real; we could not find an official BKTC accessibility statement covering wheelchair access at the shrine itself, so tell us about specific mobility needs and we will plan pacing, oxygen support and rest stops accordingly.