Kedarnath Temple sits at 3,583 metres (about 11,755 feet) in the Garhwal Himalayas of Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, beside the Mandakini river. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the highest of them by elevation. The shrine is closed for the winter and re-opens each year around Akshaya Tritiya in late April; the 2026 kapat opening is fixed for 22 April. There is no road to the temple. Pilgrims walk roughly 16 km uphill from Gaurikund, or fly by helicopter from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi. This article covers the 2026 opening window, daily darshan and aarti timings, the trek profile, helicopter options, and the registration process Uttarakhand now requires for Char Dham travel.
2026 opening and closing
- Kapat opens: 22 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)
- Kapat closes: around Kartik Purnima / Bhai Dooj in late October or early November (the closing date is announced on Vijayadashami each year)
- Winter abode: the deity is taken to Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath for winter worship
Kedarnath is closed in winter because of snow at the site. The deity is carried in palanquin from Kedarnath down to Ukhimath on closing day, and back up to Kedarnath on the opening day, with stops at Phata and Guptkashi en route. Both processions draw their own large crowds.
Daily darshan timings during the open season
- Temple opens: 4:00 AM (for special pujas and abhishekam)
- General darshan: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Closure for sandhya preparations: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Evening darshan: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Shayan aarti and closing: around 8:30 PM
Devotees can touch the lingam and do abhishekam only in the morning window before 3:00 PM. After the evening re-opening, the lingam is dressed and decorated, and darshan is from a short distance. The morning Maha Abhishek slot is sold in advance through the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC); on busy days it sells out at counter level before sunrise.
The trek from Gaurikund
Gaurikund (about 2,000 m / 6,562 ft) is the motorable roadhead. From here the trek to Kedarnath is roughly 16 km on the upgraded path, gaining about 1,580 m of elevation. Most pilgrims take 6 to 8 hours one way at a steady pace; trained walkers do it in around 5. The path was rebuilt after the 2013 floods and now has cemented sections, drinking water points, medical posts, and toilets at regular intervals.
- Gaurikund (km 0) to Jungle Chatti (km 4): gentle gradient through forest
- Bhimbali (km 7): first major rest stop, food stalls, basic accommodation
- Linchauli (km 11): second rest stop and tented camps
- Kedarnath base (km 16): GMVN guesthouses and the temple at 3,583 m
Ponies, palanquins (palki) and porters operate from Gaurikund at GMVN-regulated rates. The rates are revised each season and posted at Sonprayag and Gaurikund. Pony bookings are now done through the official Kedarnath ghoda-khachhar registration portal; turn up early.
Helicopter services
Helicopters fly to Kedarnath helipad from three approved bases: Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi. Flight time is about 7 to 10 minutes one way. Bookings open every season on the official IRCTC heli-yatra portal at heliyatra.irctc.co.in; slots are released in batches and the early-season dates sell out within hours. UCADA (the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) is the regulator and the IRCTC portal is the only authorised online seller.
For what it’s worth, the heli option is the realistic choice for older pilgrims and for anyone with cardiac or knee issues. The trek itself, while no longer a true wilderness route, is still 16 km uphill at high altitude in unpredictable weather, and the acute mountain sickness risk above 3,000 m is real for the unfit and unacclimatised. People who underestimate the climb often end up doing the descent at midnight in mist; the helicopter avoids that entirely.
Char Dham registration
Since 2022 the Uttarakhand government has required all Char Dham pilgrims to register before travel. Registration is free, mandatory, and capped each day by site. The official portal is registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. After registration, you receive a yatra ID that is checked at Sonprayag (for Kedarnath), Pandukeshwar (for Badrinath) and the Gangotri/Yamunotri entry points. Without it you will be turned back.
Reaching Kedarnath
- By road to Gaurikund: Haridwar to Gaurikund is roughly 240 km via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Sonprayag (the last 5 km from Sonprayag to Gaurikund is a shuttle).
- By rail: nearest railhead is Rishikesh, then by road via NH-7.
- By air: Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) is the nearest at about 250 km; flights from Delhi are roughly an hour.
- Through helicopter: Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi to Kedarnath, by IRCTC heli-yatra slot.
Common questions
Is darshan free at Kedarnath?
General darshan is free. Special abhishekam, Maha Abhishek, Rudrabhishek and the morning ghee abhishek are paid sevas managed by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. Current rates are published at the BKTC counter and at badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in. Slot capacity is fixed and bookings open early in each season.
Where to stay at Kedarnath?
GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) runs the main official accommodation at Kedarnath base, including tents and guesthouses. Private tented camps and dharamshalas operate seasonally. During peak periods (May, June, September, October) the entire base is full days in advance; reserve well ahead through the GMVN online portal. For a same-day descent, the heli-yatra round trip is the standard plan.
Is the trek safe?
The path is well-maintained and patrolled by SDRF and police. The real risks are altitude-related, weather-related and overexertion. Acclimatise at Sonprayag or Gaurikund for at least one night before the climb. Stop and rest if you feel breathless or light-headed; do not push through symptoms. The medical posts on the route are equipped for emergency oxygen and basic stabilisation.
What is Kedarnath’s place in the twelve Jyotirlingas?
Kedarnath is the northernmost of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the highest in elevation. The lingam at Kedarnath is described as a three-sided rock, with a pedestal of about 3.6 m in circumference. The traditional account links the site to the Pandavas, who built the original shrine seeking penance after the Kurukshetra war. The current temple structure is attributed to Adi Shankara, with later repairs over centuries.
One limitation worth noting
Opening and closing dates, heli slot availability, registration limits and seva rates are revised every season by the BKTC and UCADA. The 2026 opening date above is the BKTC’s announced date; check the official portal before you book flights. Weather can shut the route at short notice, particularly in late September and October when early snow occasionally cuts off the path.
For background and the puranic context, see Kedarnath Temple on Wikipedia.
