Lord Shiva is the supreme most god in Hinduism, hence also named Mahadev (the god of the gods). It is believed that he is the creator, destroyer, and transformer of the universe. People having faith in Hinduism worship lord Shiva. As per stories and legends, Lord Shiva is looked upon as the God of mercy and compassion towards his worshippers. There are thousands of Shiva temples in India, but the Char Dham yatra (four pilgrim journeys) holds a special place and importance in Hinduism. Kedarnath is one of the four pilgrims. It is a must-visit for all people having faith in Lord Shiva. Also amongst the twelve Jyotirling, the holy Kedarnath temple is of uttermost importance. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience of divinity, faith, and spirituality. The word Kedar means “fields” and Nath means “lord” meaning lord of the fields. Kedarnath is 223 kms. from Rishikesh. It is situated at the height of 3583 mtrs.
The temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayan range of Uttarakhand, India. Before 2013 there was an old route that passed from Rambada, but due to the massive flash floods, this route got destroyed and now not accessible for the trek. Hence a new route is now formed to reach Kedarnath temple.
Duration: 4 days / 3 Nights
Trek grade: Easy to moderate
Trekking distance: 32 KM
Maximum altitude: 11,755 Ft.
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant (Dehradun)
Nearest railway station: Dehradun / Haridwar
Mode of transport from Dehradun: By taxi from Rishikesh
Best Time for Treks: May-oct
Itinerary
First day Early Morning we will pick you up from Hridwar/ Rishikesh from fixed place to Guptkashi. We will start from Hridwar/ Rishikesh in the morning (Time and place will be share on WhatsApp Group 6 days before the trek) reach Hridwar/ Rishikesh in Morning before 6 AM. Stay will be in cottage Tents or guest houses at guptkashi. Snacks will be ready on reaching at guptkashi, Dinner will be around 8 to 9 pm, till now enjoy the night beauty of Guptkashi. No meals included During Transport. (From Haridwar to Guptkashi).
We start early morning around 5 a.m. from Guptkashi and head towards Gaurikund. Before we start we shall have our breakfast. In Gaurikund there are hot water springs.You can enjoy that for the time being. From Gaurikund our actual trek begins which is approximately 16 kms to Kedarnath temple. This is a steep trek. It’s a moderate level trek which requires good physical fitness. Before the trek begins the physical fitness of every visitor is checked there. People having respiratory issues and high blood pressure must avoid this trek. It’s a high altitude trek; hence. While trekking we can see snow clad mountains from a distance. Despite all the hardships, the beauty of this trek is astounding. This valley is surrounded by glaciers and waterfalls. The cool breeze and the scenic views are heavenly. You will forget all the worldly worries and your heart would be filled with sheer happiness. In 5-6 hours i.e. at around 3 p.m. we shall reach Kedarnath Valley. Now we shall have our lunch and rest. In the evening we can attend the evening “Aarti” or prayer at the temple. The evening aarti lasts for one hour. Let your soul get drenched in the sacred vibes of prayers and let your spirituality take you to a different world of faith and divinity. It gets quite cold here at night. This night at the valley is a special one as you can feel the sacredness inside and outside of you. Overnight stay just near to temple in hotel or Tents on sharing basis. Meals: - Dinner & Breakfast
Next morning at 5 a.m. the morning prayers begin. You can see the beautiful golden rays of the rising sun falling on the temple. We must stand in the queue for our turn to worship (for Darshan) and to offer the offering to lord Shiva. Once we are done with morning prayer at the temple, we shall head back to Guptkashi . We shall reach by 02-03 pm if the group descends on time. Meals: snacks, Dinner and early morning Tea, breakfast
Today we will wake up around 8-9am. Have your last breakfast with us and we shall drive back to Hridwar/Rishikesh. Afterwards this soul nourishing journey to the Kedarnath we shall bid adieu each other from Haridwar. we shall reach by 6-8 pm at Haridwar/Rishikesh. This journey and this trek are going to change you and your inner self. This trek is going to fill us with immense peace, calm, and happiness as if lord Shiva has blessed us. All hail lord Shiva