Treks in India · Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Trek: Distance, Time, Route and Starting Point
By Beauty of Bharat — India travel guide, every place, every flavour.
Guides covering all 36 States and UTs, researched from official sources and checked at publish time. Corrections welcome — see About Beauty of Bharat.
Every year, lakhs of pilgrims walk the same mountain path to one of Hinduism's holiest shrines. The Kedarnath trek is not a wilderness trail — it is a yatra route, busy, steep, and at altitude. The questions people search are practical ones: how far, how long, where it starts, and which way the path goes.
In short: The Kedarnath trek runs 16 km one way from Gaurikund to the temple at 3,583 m, taking most walkers 6–9 hours uphill. The season is May to June and September to October, set by the temple's opening and closing dates. Registration through the Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal is required for the yatra.
At a glance
- Distance: 16 km one way (Gaurikund to Kedarnath)
- Time: 6–9 hours uphill for most walkers; 3–5 hours down
- Altitude: 3,583 m at the temple
- Difficulty: moderate to difficult — a long, steep, high-altitude walk
- Best months: May, June, September, October
- Base: Gaurikund, reached by road via Sonprayag
- Season: set by the temple calendar — in 2026 the temple opened on 22 April and closes around 11 November (Bhai Dooj), per the temple committee
The route
The paved and stepped path climbs from Gaurikund through Jungle Chatti, Bheembali and Linchauli to Kedarnath, following the Mandakini valley. Ponies, palkis and helicopter services run the same corridor for those who cannot walk it, and the path is lined with rest stops, food stalls and medical posts during the season. Start early: afternoon weather in the valley turns fast, and the last stretch is the steepest.
Registration
Yatra registration is mandatory and runs through the Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal. Register before you reach Sonprayag — biometric checks happen on the route — and carry the registration and ID with you. Daily pilgrim numbers can be capped during peak days, so registration is not a formality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kedarnath trek distance?
16 km one way from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple. The return is the same 16 km, usually walked faster downhill in 3–5 hours.
How long does the Kedarnath trek take?
Most walkers take 6–9 hours uphill, depending on fitness, crowds and weather. Fit walkers do it faster; pilgrims walking with family or in peak-season crowds should allow the full day.
What is the Kedarnath trek route?
Gaurikund → Jungle Chatti → Bheembali → Linchauli → Kedarnath, climbing the Mandakini valley the whole way. The path is paved and stepped, with rest stops, stalls and medical posts along it in season.
Where does the Kedarnath trek start?
At Gaurikund, the roadhead above Sonprayag. Private vehicles stop at Sonprayag; shared jeeps run the last stretch to Gaurikund, where the walking path begins.
Trek operators for this route
Operator listings for the Kedarnath trek open soon — local companies running this route will be listed here with their own prices and dates. If you run treks on this route, write to hello@beautyofbharat.com to be listed. Listing starts free.
Want the best current offer for this trek?
Tell us your dates and group size and we will connect you with operators running the Kedarnath trek. Prices come from the operators themselves — we never invent them.
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