Haridwar to Kedarnath

Kedarnath is directly not connected by roads. The nearest motorable town to Kedarnath is Gaurikund. Gaurikund is also the town from where the Kedarnath trek begins. Kedarnath is about 16 km from Gaurikund. 

Apart from Kedarnath’s religious significance, it is an amazing trek route. If you are an adventure lover, then the Kedarnath trek is a must-see for you. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3584m above sea level surrounded by a pristine environment. 

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance

Pilgrims visit Haridwar for the Ganga snan and begin their journey to Kedarnath. Haridwar is also the starting point for Char Dham yatra. The distance between Haridwar to Kedarnath is approximately 125 km. One can easily commute Haridwar to Kedarnath by road. Haridwar to Kedarnath is very well-connected via taxi and bus services. You can easily get direct bus services from Kedarnath to Gaurikund, you can also get shareable jeeps or cabs from Haridwar to Kedarnath.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance by bus

Buses are the most common transit between Haridwar and Kedarnath. Most pilgrims prefer bus to commute to Kedarnath. Direct buses from the Haridwar bus stand to Gaurikund run by GMOU and Himigri are easily available. However, during the Yatra season, there is a rush of tourist crowds. So it is a bit difficult to get bus booking during the Yatra season because there are only two scheduled buses, one at 5:15 am, and another at 7:10 am. Always prepare and book in advance if you are planning to visit Kedarnath.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance by Car

If you are not comfortable with traveling by bus or prefer more privacy, then you can commute to Kedarnath via car. The nearest motorable town to Kedarnath is Gaurikund. The distance between Haridwar to Gaurikund is about 114 km. It would take around 9 hours to reach Gaurikund. 

You have a variety of options to commute to Gaurikund starting from Rs. 3000 (one-way). Every kind of taxi including SUV and sedan are available. There are also shareable jeeps available from Haridwar to Kedarnath.

In fact, we would recommend jeeps and taxis over buses. Because it is more comfortable.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance By Bike

If you are an adventure lover like me, then you should definitely go by bike. You can always rent a bike from Delhi easily. Start your journey early morning from Delhi, and arrive at Haridwar by evening. It is a 220 km bike ride, every bit of the bike ride is thrilling and refreshing.

Next day, start your journey from Haridwar to Guptkashi via Devprayag and Rudraprayag. It will be a 9-hour drive approximately. 

Kedarnath is 20 km from Guptkashi. So arrive at Gaurikund the next morning and start your trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.

How to Reach Kedarnath By Air

The Dehradun Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport to Kedarnath. The airport is about 250 km from the Kedarnath town. The airport is very well-connected to the major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, etc. From Dehradun airport, you will get cabs and buses to reach Kedarnath or Gaurikund directly.

How to Reach Kedarnath By Road

Kedarnath can be reached very easily via New Delhi and Dehradun. Once you reach New Delhi or Dehradun, you can take a bus to Gaurikund.

The route from Delhi to Gaurikund is given below –

New Delhi to Haridwar (218 km) – Haridwar to Rishikesh (31 km)- Rishikesh to Devprayag (72 km) – Devprayag to Srinagar, Uttarakhand (33 km) – Srinagar to Rudraprayag (33 km) – Rudraprayag to Gaurikund (74 km)

Then Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek is about 16 km.

How to Reach Kedarnath By Train

Most people prefer to train for visiting Kedarnath. The nearest railway station to Gaurikund is the Rishikesh railway station located about 212 km from Gaurikund. From the railway station itself, you will get a taxi, or you can also take a bus from Rishikesh to Gaurikund.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance: Kedarnath is one of the Char dhams in Hinduism along with other dhams including Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. According to Hindu mythology, Kedarnath is where Lord Shiva resides. Haridwar is the doorway to begin the Char dham yatra. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The temple is situated in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.

The distance between Haridwar to Kedarnath is 124 km. it would take around 4 to 5 hours by bus to travel from Haridwar to Kedarnath. 

About Haridwar

Haridwar is one of the most famous holy cities in India. If you live in India and have explored Hinduism, then you must have heard about Haridwar already. The town is situated on the bank of the Holy River Ganga. Thousands of pilgrims, Sadhus, and tourists visit Haridwar every day. It is the doorway to the Char Dham Yatra (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri).

Haridwar during Peak Season
Haridwar

Pilgrims headed for Badrinath or Kedarnath always start their journey from Haridwar. The town Haridwar can be spelled either Hardwar or Haridwar. In Sanskrit, Har refers to Lord Shiva, and dwar means gateway. The name comes because pilgrims headed towards Kedarnath (dedicated to Lord Shiva) start their journey from Hardwar.

Similarly, Haridwar translates to ‘gateway to Lord Vishnu’. In Sanskrit, Hari means Lord Vishnu. As it is the common starting point for the journey to Badrinath (dedicated to Lord Vishnu), hence people also call it Haridwar. Here we created the Haridwar itinerary for you.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance: Places to visit in Haridwar

  • Ganga Aarti: The grand Ganga Aarti by group of Pandits is a delightful sight as thousands of Diyas lit up the Ghat. The Ganga Aarti is a form of worshiping River Ganga. 
  • Har ki Pauri ghat: It is the most famous Ghat in Haridwar. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu visited Har ki Pauri during Vedic times. 
  • Chandi Devi temple: The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi. The temple is also known as Siddh peetha (where desires and wishes are fulfilled) among its devotees. 
  • Mansa Devi temple: Dedicated to Goddess Mansa (goddess of snakes). Goddess Mansa is believed to be daughter of Lord Shiva in human incarnate.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance: Places to visit near Haridwar

Haridwar is the starting point for the Char Dham yatra. But that’s not it. If you are looking for a vacation near Haridwar, then let me tell you, you won’t be disappointed. There are numerous stunning places to visit near Haridwar for your vacation.

Take a look at what we have for you. And all you have to do is take a week off, book your tickets, and come over for the most refreshing vacation.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is just 30 mins from Haridwar, this town is situated on the banks of River Ganga located in the Garhwal region. This is a perfect getaway for a family trip. 

Rishikesh
Rishikesh

The lofty hills of the Garhwal Himalayas and the gushing river Ganga adds up to the beauty of the city. The stunning landscapes, refreshing forests, and mountains will take away your breath for sure. 

Apart from the gorgeous religious places to visit in Rishikesh, you can also enjoy some time in adventure sports like river rafting, cliff jumping, and many more.

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Dehradun

Dehradun is one of the most exciting places to visit near Haridwar of all the places. Situated bout 50 km from Haridwar, this place is a perfect holiday destination to calm down, and forget all your woes.

dehradun
Dehradun

Dehradun is famous for its beautiful weather, and awe-inspiring landscapes. The misty mountains and lush green forests are simple breathtaking. 

Dhanaulti

Surrounded by the magnificent Himalayas, deodar forests, and oak forests, this small village is located on the Chamba-Mussoorie road. Dhanaulti is the perfect weekend getaway if you are a sucker for off-beat destinations away from the crowd. 

Dhanaulti
Dhanaulti

Soaked in the smell is Rhododendrons, and pine trees, this place would give a boost of refreshing thoughts. Enjoy the mesmerizing landscapes and snow-capped mountains around you. There are several apple orchards in Dhanaulti, so don’t miss them at any cost.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance: About Kedarnath

The Kedarnath temple is said to be built by the Pandavas and is one of the holiest Hindu shrines. After the Kurukshetra was over, Pandavas left in search of Lord Shiva to seek his blessings and apology for committing sins like killing their own brothers.

Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath

But, Lord Shiva was deeply infuriated with their sins. To avoid the Pandavas, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a bull and hid in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Bhim, the second of five Pandavas, immediately recognized the bull form of Shiva and caught the bull by his tail.

But Shiva disappeared into thin air and appeared in parts as five forms in five different places. The hump appeared in Kedarnath, arms in Tungnath, face in Rudranath, stomach in Madhyamaheshwar, and hair in Kalpeshwar.

The Pandavas built five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and they are now known as the Panch Kedar. This is our Kedarnath itinerary for you to experience the best.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance: Places to visit in Kedarnath

  • Kedarnath temple: Situated at an altitude of 3580m above sea-level. The Kedarnath temple is one of the the twelve Jyotirlingas od Lord Shiva, and one of the Char dhams. Thousands of pilgrims visit Kedarnath temple to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. The journey to Kedarnath starts from Haridwar. The distance between Haridwar to Kedarnath is about 125km.
  • Bhairav temple: It is located about 800m uphill from Kedarnath temple. The temple is dedicated to fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva (often known for destruction) – Bhairav. It is said, during the winters, when the roads are blocked by snowfall, Bhairav temple protects the Kedarnath temple.
  • Gandhi sarovar: Situated about 4kms from Kedarnath temple. It is a small lake with crystal clear water. The trek to Bhairav Temple goes through picturesque forests, and surrounded by Himalayan peaks.
  • Rudra cave: located 1.5km from Kedarnath temple. It was built in 2018. It is a meditation cave, one can book the cave and stay for 24hrs to 3 days at solitude. Even if you are not interested to stay at night, you must pay a visit to this beautiful cave built in ancient archeological style.

Final thoughts for Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance

Haridwar is the starting point for the journey to Kedarnath. Thousands of pilgrims travel from Haridwar to Kedarnath each year. Haridwar is one of the holiest cities in India. It has a huge significance in Hindu mythology. The name Haridwar or Hardwar means ‘gateway to Vishnu’ or ‘gateway to Shiva’ respectively.

Haridwar at night
Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance

Haridwar to Kedarnath distance is about 125km. One can reach Haridwar to Kedarnath by road, or by air. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport. Buses are easily available from Haridwar to Kedarnath. You can also rent a car or bike to travel from Haridwar to Kedarnath.

Haridwar to Kedarnath Distance – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Kedarnath trek distance?

The Kedarnath trek begins from Gaurikund, and the Kedarnath trek distance is about 16km. You can reach Gaurikund via Delhi, and Haridwar. People usually take buses from Haridwar to Gaurikund. The total trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath and back to Gaurikund takes about 3 days.

What are the options other than trek to Kedarnath?

Gaurikund to Kedarnath is not connected via any motorable road. There are other options than just trekking to Kedarnath, you can either book a helicopter from the base to the temple, or there are horse rides that take you to the temple.

What is the distance from Haridwar to Kedarnath?

The distance from Haridwar to Kedarnath is about 124km. You must drive or take a bus from Haridwar to Gaurikund and then trek to Kedarnath.

What is the best time to visit Kedarnath?

Kedarnath is closed during the winters. The best time to visit Kedarnath is summer and autumn, during the months of May to June and September to October.

Is Kedarnath safe to travel?

Roads to Kedarnath are very prone to landslides, so always avoid monsoon. Also Kedarnath road is blocked during winter due to heavy snowfall. So the safest time to visit Kedarnath is summer and autumn. Also, bear in mind that during the Yatra season the area is filled with tourists, so keep your belongings safe with you.

What are the road conditions now in Kedarnath?

As we all are well aware the 2013 disaster occurred in Kedarnath. Due to town renovation and poor connectivity after the disaster, many of the roads in the town are yet to be repaired. But NH58 and NH109 till Gaurikund are pretty smooth and suitable for personal vehicles. However, the town is yet to recover fully from the damages incurred by the 2013 disaster in Kedarnath.

Is there any working ATM in Kedarnath?

No, after the 2013 disaster that occurred in Kedarnath, none of the ATMs are back to working condition due to poor internet connectivity in the town. 

What is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath?

Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. It is about 102km from Kedarnath.

What is the bus timing from Haridwar?

There are two buses that run daily from Haridwar to Kedarnath. One is run by GMOU, scheduled at 5:15 am, and another is run by Himigri at 7:10 am.

What are the things to do in Haridwar?

  • Take a dip at the holy Har-ki-Pauri Ghat to wash away your sins. Witness the morning and evening Ganga Aarti at Har-ki-Pauri. Trek to Mansa Devi Temple. Enjoy the local dishes of Haridwar.