Overview
Haridwar to Kedarnath covers approximately 220 km by road to Gaurikund, followed by 16 km trek or helicopter. Haridwar is the primary rail and road gateway for Kedarnath pilgrims — with the most train connections from across India and the best bus/taxi services towards the yatra route. The road journey passes through Devprayag (Ganga confluence), Rudraprayag (Mandakini–Alaknanda confluence) and Guptkashi — all scenic and spiritually significant stops.
| Leg | Distance | Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haridwar → Devprayag | 75 km | 2 hrs | NH7 mountain road |
| Devprayag → Rudraprayag | 70 km | 2 hrs | NH7, Alaknanda valley |
| Rudraprayag → Guptkashi | 50 km | 1.5 hrs | NH107, Mandakini valley |
| Guptkashi → Sonprayag | 35 km | 1 hr | State road (congested peak) |
| Sonprayag → Gaurikund | 5 km | 15 min | Shared jeep only (no private cars) |
| Total (Haridwar → Gaurikund) | ~220 km | 8–9 hrs | — |
| Gaurikund → Kedarnath (trek) | 16 km | 6–8 hrs | Mountain trail |
| Phata → Kedarnath (helicopter) | — | 10–12 min | Aerial (book heliservices.uk.gov.in) |
Planning
Option 1 — Bus from Haridwar (budget, ₹300–₹450):
Uttarakhand Roadways (UKMRC) buses from Haridwar bus stand (adjacent to railway station) to Guptkashi or Sonprayag run daily during the yatra season. First departure: 5:00–6:00 AM. Journey: 7–9 hrs. Arrive Guptkashi by 1:00–2:00 PM. GMVN seasonal yatra buses offer direct Haridwar–Sonprayag service (₹350–₹450, book at GMVN Haridwar counter). Bus seats are first-come, arrive by 4:30 AM for the first bus in peak season.
Option 2 — Shared taxi from Haridwar (comfortable, ₹400–₹600/seat):
Shared taxis (Bolero/Innova) run from Haridwar railway station taxi stand to Guptkashi and Sonprayag — filling 6–7 passengers. Cost: ₹400–₹600/seat, journey 6.5–7.5 hrs. Faster and more comfortable than bus. Available from 5:00 AM onwards. Negotiate at the taxi stand or pre-book through a Haridwar travel agent.
Option 3 — Private taxi from Haridwar (₹3,000–₹5,000 full car):
Private taxi (Innova/Xylo/Scorpio) from Haridwar to Guptkashi: ₹3,000–₹4,500 one way. To Gaurikund (drop and return): ₹4,000–₹5,500. Best for groups of 4+ — cost per person competitive with shared taxi, but full comfort and flexible stops at Devprayag and Rudraprayag confluence points. Pre-book from Haridwar hotels or online.
Recommended 2-day Haridwar–Kedarnath plan:
- Day 1: Depart Haridwar 5:00–6:00 AM → reach Guptkashi by 2:00–3:00 PM → check in → Vishwanath temple visit → early dinner → sleep by 9:00 PM.
- Day 2: Wake 4:30 AM → transfer to Phata helipad (30 min) → helicopter 6:00–7:00 AM → reach Kedarnath 7:00–7:30 AM → morning darshan → Sandhya Aarti (5 PM) → overnight at GMVN tent.
Travel Information
- Haridwar railway station to bus stand: 5-minute walk. Exit the railway station main gate, turn right — the bus stand is directly adjacent. Uttarakhand Roadways counters are at the left side of the bus stand. Private taxi agents cluster near the station exit.
- Stop at Devprayag and Rudraprayag: The Haridwar–Guptkashi road passes through both Devprayag (Ganga confluence — Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda) and Rudraprayag (Mandakini meets Alaknanda). Both are spiritually important and beautiful — worth a 15–20 min stop each. Not detours — the main road passes through both town centres.
- ATM at Guptkashi: Last ATM before Kedarnath. Withdraw enough cash in Guptkashi for your entire Kedarnath leg (₹3,000–₹5,000/person). No ATMs at Sonprayag, Gaurikund or Kedarnath.
- Peak season road congestion (May–June): The Guptkashi → Sonprayag stretch (35 km) can take 2–3 hrs instead of 1 hr in peak May traffic. Police implement one-way traffic controls. Leave Guptkashi by 4:00 AM to avoid congestion, or wait until 10:00 AM when morning traffic clears.
Tips
- Overnight train to Haridwar + morning start: The ideal Kedarnath start from most cities is an overnight train arriving Haridwar at 5:00–7:00 AM, giving you the full day to drive to Guptkashi and arrive comfortably before sunset.
- Don't skip Guptkashi — sleep there, not Sonprayag: Haridwar pilgrims often want to push to Sonprayag or even Gaurikund on Day 1. Guptkashi is the better overnight stop — better hotels, ATMs, food, and only 35 km more the next morning. The hour saved is not worth the worse accommodation.
- Haridwar → Kedarnath by helicopter (Day 1 + Day 2): For helicopter pilgrims: Day 1 Haridwar → Guptkashi by road (8 hrs). Day 2: Guptkashi → Phata helipad (30 min) → helicopter → Kedarnath. This is the standard efficient plan for non-trekking Haridwar pilgrims and works well for elderly travellers or those with limited time.
FAQs
- What is the distance from Haridwar to Kedarnath?
- 220 km by road to Gaurikund (nearest motorable point). Route: Haridwar → Devprayag (75 km) → Rudraprayag (70 km) → Guptkashi (50 km) → Sonprayag (35 km) → Gaurikund (5 km, shared jeep). Then 16 km trek or helicopter (10 min from Phata, 30 min drive from Sonprayag).
- How to go from Haridwar to Kedarnath by bus?
- Uttarakhand Roadways buses from Haridwar bus stand (next to railway station): Haridwar → Guptkashi/Sonprayag, departs 5:00–6:00 AM, ₹300–₹450, 7–9 hrs. GMVN yatra buses also run direct to Sonprayag during May–June and Sep–Oct season (book at GMVN Haridwar counter).
- How long does it take from Haridwar to Kedarnath?
- Haridwar → Gaurikund by road: 8–9 hrs. Then: trek (6–8 hrs) or helicopter from Phata (10 min, 30 min drive from Sonprayag). Total: 14–18 hrs trek route or 10–11 hrs helicopter route. Best done over 2 days with overnight at Guptkashi.