Overview
Kedarnath sits at 3,583 m, and no road reaches it. Every journey follows the same shape: get to Sonprayag by road, take the shuttle to Gaurikund, then cover the last 16–17 km on foot, on a pony, in a palki — or fly in by helicopter from the valley below.
Getting to Sonprayag
Private vehicles stop at Sonprayag. Every route below ends there.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| By air — Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, then road | About 230 km | 7–8 hours by road |
| By rail — Rishikesh or Haridwar station, then road | About 210 km from Rishikesh | 7–9 hours by road |
| By road — from Delhi via Haridwar and Rudraprayag | About 460 km | 11–13 hours |
Mountain roads are slow, and landslides can close them for hours. Most pilgrims break the drive with a night in Guptkashi, Phata or Sitapur near Sonprayag, and start the trek the next morning.
Sonprayag to Kedarnath
A shared shuttle jeep covers the 5 km to Gaurikund, the start of the trek. Your yatra registration is checked here.
The trek is about 16–17 km and climbs from around 1,980 m to 3,583 m, via Jungle Chatti, Bhimbali and Linchauli. Most walkers take 6–8 hours to go up.
Leave Gaurikund in the early morning so you reach Kedarnath in daylight. The administration can pause the trek in heavy rain, so check conditions the evening before.
Alternative transport
| Option | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pony (ghoda) | Gaurikund | Book at the government prepaid counter only |
| Palki or dandi | Gaurikund | Carried by four bearers, priced by the rider's weight |
| Pitthu (kandi) | Gaurikund | A basket carried by one porter, for children or luggage |
| Helicopter | Sersi, Phata or Guptkashi | Booked online only, through IRCTC HeliYatra |
Pony, palki and pitthu rates are fixed each season by the district administration and displayed at the prepaid counters at Gaurikund, Bhimbali and Linchauli. Pay at the counter, not to a handler on the path.
Helicopter seats are sold only on IRCTC HeliYatra, and you need your Char Dham registration number (URN) to book. Flights take 5–15 minutes depending on the helipad. Fares are set by the state aviation authority and change between booking windows, so check the live fare on the portal.
Agents and lookalike websites selling "confirmed" Kedarnath helicopter seats are a common scam. No one outside the official portal can guarantee a seat.
The Rudraprayag district publishes route updates and closures on its Kedarnath Yatra page. The yatra control room is on 01364-297878.
FAQ
Many do, usually by pony, palki or helicopter rather than on foot. Anyone with a heart or breathing condition should read the health advice in our Survival Guide and talk to their doctor before booking.
Sonprayag for private vehicles. Shared shuttles run the last 5 km to Gaurikund, where the trek begins.
State and private buses run from Haridwar and Rishikesh towards Sonprayag and Gaurikund, mostly early in the morning. Shared taxis also run from Rudraprayag and Guptkashi.
Very fast. Seats open in booking windows announced on IRCTC HeliYatra, and peak-season dates in May and June often go within minutes. Have your URN ready before a window opens.