Kedarnath Introduction

Kedarnath temple is situated in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India. Kedarnath is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Temple has a significant value in the hearts of Hindus because it is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India, part of the Do Dham Yatra circuit, and part of the Char Dham Yatra circuit. 

When will Kedarnath open in 2024

When winters come Kedarnath temple gets closed. The deity of the temple transferred to the Omkareshwar temple in the Ukhimath during winter. The Temple closed in the winter due to the harsh weather of the region. Kedarnath temple gets closed on the occasion of Bhai Dhooj of 2023. 

Kedarnath Temple usually reopens three days after Akshay Tritiya because it is believed that any fast, donation to the poor, and prayers performed on this day bring wonders and prosperity to the believers. As a result, Akshay Tritiya is a popular Hindu festival celebrated as an auspicious day for beginning new projects and ventures. According to sources, the Kedarnath Temple is expected to open on May 13, 2024. 

After the inauguration of the temple after a long break. The temple is filled with devotees and believers. The ambiance and the surroundings of the temple are filled with positive energy. Many pilgrims go to Kedarnath Yatra to refresh their mind and soul. They opt for the Kedarnath Yatra package to complete their Kedarnath Yatra.

After the extreme gathering in Kedarnath during these months the temple again gets closed on the occasion of Bhai Dhooj for the next six months. In the year 2024, it is assumed that the temple will close on 2 November 2024.

How to reach Kedarnath

There are three important routes through which you can reach the Kedarnath Temple. Kedarnath temple is located in the Garhwal range of the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. 

By Air: Kedarnath does not have an airport. The nearest airport to the Kedarnath is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Jolly Grant is 224 km far from the Kedarnath. To reach Kedarnath from the Jolly Grant you have to take a bus or book a cab to the Kedarnath. The bus or cab will drop you at the Sonprayag. You can take a shared taxi at Sonprayag which will drop you at the Gaurikund.

By Train: Kedarnath does not have a Railway Station. The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is Rishikesh Railway Station. To reach Kedarnath from Rishikesh railway station you have to take a bus or cab which will drop you to the Sonprayag. You can take a shared taxi at the Sonprayag which will drop you to the Gaurikund. 

By Road: The last motorable destination for the Kedarnath Yatra is Gaurikund. Gaurikund is well connected to all the major road routes of India. You can also take a bus to Rishikesh from Delhi. ISBT Kashmiri gate and Anand Vihar bus terminal are the two points from where you can take a bus to Rishikesh. From Rishikesh, you can take a bus to the Sonprayag. After reaching Sonprayag you can take a shared taxi which will drop you at the Gaurkund. A shared taxi will cost you around INR 50 per head. 

The journey to Kedarnath does not end at Gaurikund From Gaurikund the real Kedarnath Yatra starts. You have to trek for 16 km from the Gaurikund. The trek goes through the lush green forests and alpine meadows. The trek is moderately difficult. The trek route is as follows: Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti via Rambara bridge then Jungle Chatti to Bheembali then Bheembali to Linchauli then Linchauli to Kedarnath base camp then Kedarnath base camp to Kedarnath temple. For the convenience of pilgrims, the trek route has toiletries, food stalls, soda stalls, water stalls, and many more. The worst part of the route is that the roads are not well constructed and they become muddy during rain. Mules also poop on the road and make it even more dirty. 

But believe me after all these hardships and hustles the views, surroundings, and ambiance of the Kedarnath temple are unbelievable. Everything will be worthwhile. The temple is surrounded by snow-capped mountains making it a more beautiful view. All these scenarios and experiences will leave a lasting imprint on your heart. 

Places to Visit after Kedarnath

Bhaironath Temple

Bhaironath temple is situated just 500 meters away from the Kedarnath Temple. Bhaironath temple gives a bird’s eye view of the whole Kedarnath valley. It is believed that the Lord Bhairo nath was created by Lord Shiva to protect the Kedarnath Temple from evil spirits and negative energy. Kedarnath yatra is incomplete without Lord Bhairo's darshan (worship). Lord Bhairo temple is open for rituals from 4 A.M.

Gaurikund Temple

I think you are aware of this name because we have stated earlier that the Gaurikund is the starting point of the Kedarnath trek. You can visit Gaurikund at the start of your journey or last.