| Mode | Point | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun | approx 238 km to the road-head | Nearest airport; taxi onward to Guptkashi/Sonprayag, then Gaurikund. Helicopters run from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi helipads to Kedarnath in season. |
| Rail | Rishikesh railway station | approx 216 km from Gaurikund | Nearest convenient railhead. Haridwar (approx 242 km) and Dehradun (approx 270 km) are alternatives with more trains. |
| Road | Gaurikund via Sonprayag | Sonprayag to Gaurikund approx 5 km | Private vehicles must park at Sonprayag; shared jeeps cover the last 5 km to Gaurikund, where the trek begins. |
| Trek | Gaurikund to Kedarnath | approx 16 km on foot | Steady climb via Jungle Chatti, Bhimbali and Linchauli. Ponies, palki and porters available; allow 6-8 hours. |
Reaching Kedarnath is a relay that ends on foot. There is no airport, station or road at the temple. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun, about 238 km away, and the most practical railheads are Rishikesh (approx 216 km from Gaurikund), Haridwar and Dehradun. From any of these you take a taxi or bus up through Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi to Sonprayag.
Private vehicles are stopped at Sonprayag, where you switch to a shared jeep for the last 5 km to Gaurikund. Gaurikund is the true trailhead. From here it is a 16 km climb to the temple, passing Jungle Chatti, Bhimbali and Linchauli, gaining serious altitude the whole way. Fit walkers take 6 to 8 hours; ponies, dandi/palki bearers and porters are available for hire and should be agreed on price up front.
If you want to skip most of the walk, helicopter services operate in season from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi helipads, landing near Kedarnath in a few minutes followed by a short walk to the shrine. Chopper tickets sell out early and are weather-dependent. Whichever way you come, carry the mandatory Uttarakhand Char Dham registration, as it is checked en route.
← Back to the full Kedarnath darshan guideCompiled from public sources including euttaranchal.com - Kedarnath opening/closing dates 2026 · WanderOn - How to Reach Kedarnath · Rudraprayag District (Govt of Uttarakhand) - Kedarnath Yatra · euttaranchal.com - Kedarnath tourism. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.