Overview
The Delhi to Kedarnath journey covers approximately 490 km by road to Gaurikund (the nearest motorable point), followed by a 16 km trek or helicopter ride to the temple. From Delhi, the journey takes 14–18 hrs by road/train or 10–11 hrs via the faster flight + road combination. Most pilgrims take 2 days for the Delhi–Kedarnath leg (Day 1: Delhi to Guptkashi, Day 2: Guptkashi to Kedarnath).
| Route Option | Total Distance | Travel Time | Cost/Person | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train + Road + Trek | 490 km road + 16 km trek | 16–20 hrs total | ₹1,500–₹3,500 | Budget pilgrims |
| Train + Road + Helicopter | 490 km road + 10 min heli | 14–16 hrs total | ₹8,000–₹15,000 | Most pilgrims |
| Private Car + Trek | 490 km + 16 km trek | 14–16 hrs driving | ₹3,000–₹6,000 | Groups of 4+ |
| Flight + Road + Helicopter | 250 km road + 10 min heli | 10–11 hrs total | ₹12,000–₹20,000 | Time-limited / elderly |
Planning
Delhi to Kedarnath step-by-step (most popular route — Train + Road + Helicopter):
- Delhi → Haridwar by overnight train (Day 0 night): Board at New Delhi / H. Nizamuddin station. Trains: Dehradun Express (12017, dep 7:10 PM, arr Haridwar 12:10 AM), Mussoorie Express (14041, dep 10:00 PM, arr 4:55 AM). Journey: 5–6 hrs. Book on IRCTC 60–90 days ahead.
- Haridwar → Guptkashi by road (Day 1 morning): From Haridwar railway station, hire taxi to Guptkashi (175 km, 6–7 hrs, ₹2,500–₹4,000 for car) or shared bus (₹250–₹350, Uttarakhand Roadways, 7–8 hrs). Route: Haridwar → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi. Arrive Guptkashi by 12:00–2:00 PM.
- Guptkashi — acclimatisation night (Day 1 evening): Check into Guptkashi hotel. Visit Vishwanath temple. Dinner. Sleep early (9:00 PM). This acclimatisation night at 1,319 m significantly reduces altitude sickness risk the next day at 3,583 m.
- Guptkashi → Phata helipad → Kedarnath helicopter (Day 2 morning): Wake at 4:30 AM. Transfer to Phata helipad (30 min drive, ₹100–₹200 shared jeep or auto). First helicopter slot 6:00–6:30 AM. 10-min flight to Kedarnath. Reach temple by 7:00–8:00 AM for morning darshan.
- Kedarnath darshan + overnight (Day 2): Morning darshan, Bhairavnath temple, lunch, Sandhya Aarti (5 PM), overnight at GMVN tent.
- Kedarnath → return to Delhi (Day 3): Pratah Aarti 4 AM (optional). Helicopter return. Drive Guptkashi → Haridwar (7 hrs). Train or overnight bus Haridwar → Delhi.
Delhi to Kedarnath by road (self-drive / private car):
Route: Delhi → NH58 → Haridwar → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Agastmuni → Guptkashi → Phata → Sonprayag → Gaurikund (490 km)
- Delhi → Haridwar: 230 km, 4.5–5 hrs (NH58, expressway section to Muzaffarnagar, then NH7)
- Haridwar → Devprayag: 75 km, 2 hrs (mountain road begins)
- Devprayag → Rudraprayag: 70 km, 2 hrs
- Rudraprayag → Guptkashi: 50 km, 1.5–2 hrs
- Guptkashi → Sonprayag: 35 km, 1 hr
- Sonprayag → Gaurikund: 5 km, shared jeep (private vehicles not permitted)
- Total: 490 km, 13–15 hrs driving (best done over 2 days)
Travel Information
- Best departure time from Delhi for road trip: Leave Delhi by 4:00–5:00 AM to reach Haridwar by 9:00–10:00 AM and Guptkashi by 4:00–5:00 PM — comfortable 1-day drive. Leaving after 7:00 AM means reaching Guptkashi after dark, which is inadvisable on mountain roads.
- Night driving on mountain roads: The Rudraprayag–Guptkashi and Guptkashi–Sonprayag sections should NOT be driven at night. Mountain roads with sharp bends, no guardrails in sections and landslide risk make night driving dangerous. Plan to reach Guptkashi before sunset.
- IRCTC train booking: Create an IRCTC account at irctc.co.in. For May yatra dates, set a booking alert for 90 days before (the day tickets open). Sleeper class (₹300–₹500) and 3AC (₹800–₹1,500) are the most popular for the Delhi–Haridwar route. Tatkal available from 1 day ahead (25–30% premium).
- Delhi transport hubs: New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) and H. Nizamuddin (NZM) have the most Haridwar/Dehradun trains. Anand Vihar ISBT has buses to Haridwar (₹350–₹600 Volvo, 5–6 hrs). Kashmiri Gate ISBT also has Haridwar buses.
Tips
- The overnight train is the best Delhi start: Taking the 10:00 PM Mussoorie Express or 7:10 PM Dehradun Express from Delhi means you wake up in Haridwar fresh (5:00–7:00 AM), have the full day ahead to drive to Guptkashi, and avoid wasting a full day in transit. This is consistently the most efficient start for Delhi-based pilgrims.
- Don't drive to Gaurikund — park at Sonprayag: Private vehicles cannot proceed from Sonprayag to Gaurikund (government restriction). Park at the Sonprayag government parking lot (₹100–₹200/day) and take the shared jeep to Gaurikund (₹50–₹80, 15 min). Self-driving to Gaurikund is not possible.
- Delhi to Kedarnath in one day is not recommended: Even with a 4:00 AM Delhi departure, reaching Gaurikund and completing the 16 km trek to arrive at Kedarnath in a single day means arriving exhausted at 8:00–10:00 PM in the dark. Always break the journey with an overnight at Guptkashi or Rudraprayag.
FAQs
- What is the distance from Delhi to Kedarnath?
- 490 km by road from Delhi to Gaurikund (nearest motorable point), then 16 km trek or helicopter to the temple. Route: Delhi → NH58 → Haridwar → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund. By flight: Delhi → Dehradun (250 km + road to Gaurikund).
- What is the best way to travel from Delhi to Kedarnath?
- Most popular: Overnight train Delhi → Haridwar + taxi to Guptkashi + helicopter to Kedarnath (14–16 hrs total, ₹8,000–₹15,000). Fastest: Flight to Dehradun + taxi + helicopter (10–11 hrs, ₹12,000–₹20,000). Budget: Bus Delhi → Haridwar + shared transport + trek (₹700–₹1,500, 16–18 hrs).
- How many days does it take from Delhi to Kedarnath?
- Minimum 2 days: Day 1 Delhi → Guptkashi; Day 2 Guptkashi → Kedarnath. Recommended: 4 days total (Delhi → Kedarnath → Delhi) for a comfortable, spiritually fulfilling yatra with overnight at Kedarnath and acclimatisation night at Guptkashi.