It is the highest of the 12 “jyotirlingas” and the farthest situated “chota char dham”. The temple was talked about in the year 2013, when despite being the worst affected area during the flash floods, the Temple survived any major damages. Book Kedarnath tour packages and you’ll surely enjoy a great vacation at this pilgrimage site. The history, sanctity and nature around Kedarnath makes it a must-visit for all.

Enjoy a spiritual reconnection with your inner self. It’s not just about the temple, you’ll get a booster dose of adventure too with the amazing trekking trails and campsites in the region. The natural splendor of this region will leave you spell bound.

10 Best Tourist Places to Explore with a Kedarnath Package

1. Kedarnath Temple

What’s Special: Scared site, breathtaking views, snow-capped mountains

Nearby Attractions: Vasuki Tal, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: 4:00 am to 9:00 pm (closed from 3:00 pm to 5 pm)

Distance From City: NA

Transportation Options: The temple can be reached only while trekking

The sanctity and history of this temple make it a must-visit. It hosts lakhs of devotees per year. This lord shiva temple is also the highest of the 12 “jyotirlingas”. The architecture of the temple is also envious, with the inner walls showing carvings of deities and mythological stories. The temple is open for darshan from the end of April till the beginning of November leaving roughly 9 months to plan your Kedarnath trip.

2. Vasuki Tal

What’s Special: Photography, breathtaking views, beautiful and serene surroundings, trekking

Nearby Attractions: Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gauri Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: NA

Transportation Options: Vasuki Tal can be reached with a moderate trek

Another important place to include in your Kedarnath holiday packages is Vasuki Ta. An ideal climb for trekkers, this lake is situated at a height of 4135 meters. It has a backdrop of the beautiful Chaukhamba peaks situated close by. The glaciers from this lake line up the route of the climb right up to the lake. There are also mystic flowers blooming around the lake, one of them being the famous Brahma Kamal. Getting to the lake is treacherous as one has to ascend a long narrow track from Kedarnath and cross ravine filled glaciers in the path.

3. Shankaracharya Samadhi

What’s Special: Religious site, hot water spring

Nearby Attractions: Vasuki Tal, Bhairav Temple, Sonprayag, Chandrapuri, Kalimath, Phata, Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gaurikund

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: NA

Transportation Options: Cab, bus, car

Sri Shankaracharya, who brought forward the philosophy of Adwaita is believed to have established this shrine in the 8th century. He is also believed to have attained “moksha” here at the age of 32. Kedarnath was the last place he visited before leaving his mortal body behind. The place he attained nirvana is where the Shankaracharya Samadhi was built. Notably, the Spatika lingam has healing properties and is said to remove any kind of negative energy and effects of any illness.

4. Chandrashila

What’s Special: Trekking trails, picturesque views

Nearby Attractions: Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gauri Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Vasuki Tal, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: 89 km

Transportation Options: The spot can be reached by an adventurous trek

This range offers a skiing track and trekking range all through the year, except during peak winters. One of the most popular places to visit in Kedarnath, Chandrashila is located at a height of 3679 meters and is adorned by a shiva temple at its peak. The trek to Chandrashila is steep and trekkers are required to complete a distance of 4.5 km from Chopta. Furthermore, Chandrashila also offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the Himalayan range and some famous peaks located in the region such as Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba Peaks, and Kedar Peak.

5. Sonprayag

What’s Special: Place where the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati took place

Nearby Attractions: Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gauri Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Vasuki Tal, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Distance From City: 23.6 km

Transportation Options: Taxi, sharing jeep, bus, car

Sonprayag is a tiny settlement located at a height of 1829 metres. It is located at the meeting point of the rivers, Mandakini and Basuki. It is a popular spot for the pilgrims and they come here in the belief that a dip in this water will help them attain” nirvana”. The backdrop of snow-clad mountains, and mesmerizingly flowing rivers emit a unique charm while captivating vacationers from all across the globe.

6. Guptkashi

What’s Special: Holy temples, picturesque views, lush green forests

Nearby Attractions: Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gauri Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Vasuki Tal, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: 48.2 km

Transportation Options: Chopper, car, the spot can be reached by trekking

Guptkashi is a beautiful town, located around 47 kilometres away from Kedarnath. The town is situated at a higher altitude offering picturesque views. The town is home to two holy temples named as Ardhnarishwar Temple and Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The town is settled in lush green surroundings and offers captivating views.

7. Agastyamuni

What’s Special: Religious site, beautiful vistas, impressive architecture

Nearby Attractions: Kedarnath Temple, Kalpeshwar Temple, Gauri Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Vasuki Tal, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: 67 km

Transportation Options: Car, chopper, cab

Positioned at a height of 1000m above sea level, Agastmuni is a sacred town nestled on the banks of River Mandakini in Rudraprayag. This tourist spot is primarily known for the Agastyamuni temple which is named after the renowned sage who meditated here for one year. The temple is very famous for its architecture and has some beautiful wall art that adds to the beauty of this ancient temple.

8. Bhairavnath Temple

What’s Special: Scenic beauty, pilgrim site

Nearby Attractions: Chorabari Tal, Gangotri Glacier, Kedarnath Temple, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Vasuki Tal

Timings: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm

Distance From City: 1 km

Transportation Options: Cab, bus, taxi

Perched on a hilltop and 500 m from Kedarnath temple, Bhairavnath temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairav. The deity of this temple is said to be the protector of the Kedarnath temple. The temple is also equally important and where pilgrims visit Kedarnath Temple. Upon reaching the temple one can see the beautiful view that consists of hills and mountains covered with snow.

9. Rudra Meditation Cave

What’s Special: Tranquil spot, meditation techniques

Nearby Attractions: Vasuki Tal, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptakashi, Chorabari Lake, Bhairavnath Temple

Timings: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Distance From City: NA

Transportation Options: Cab, taxi

Positioned one and a half kilometres left from the Kedarnath Temple complex, Rudra Meditation Cave is a perfect place to calm your senses and feel the holiness of the place. This underground meditation cave was established and constructed by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute and is a part of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam's Guest Houses chain. This unique cave pampers its guests with numerous modern amenities. While staying here, you can take advantage of consuming water and electricity. Notably, the price to enter the cave is INR 990. So, if you want to make the most of Kedarnath tour packages from Vadodara, make sure to spend a day at this majestic cave.

10. Gaurikund

What’s Special: Serene spot, holy hot water spring, the place of long tapa performed by Goddess Parvati

Nearby Attractions: Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan Temple, Kedarnath

Timings: Open throughout the day

Distance From City: 9.7 km

Transportation Options: Cab, bus, taxi

Positioned at an altitude of 1982 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, Gaurikund is one of the most renowned Hindu pilgrimage sites. Also being the base camp of the trek to Kedarnath, this place is named after the Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. With a 16 km trek from here, travellers can reach the holy shrine of Kedarnath. The attraction also features numerous hot springs that are now converted to bathing spots for the visitors who are coming to Kedarnath. Interestingly, Gaurikund is also known to be a religious spot where Ganesha acquired the head of an elephant. While opting for the best Kedarnath package from Chandigarh, you can enjoy the charm of Gaurikund and make memories for a lifetime.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kedarnath is during the summer- March to June. This is when the weather here turns out to be mildly warm. It is inaccessible during the winter due to which even the temple remains closed. The monsoons here vary from less to very heavy rainfall which is unpredictable. Hence it is advised to avoid. Read further to know the seasonal breakdown of the destination which will help you plan your Kedarnath tour.

Summer Season

The best time to visit Kedarnath is during the summers - April to June. This is when the weather here turns out to be mildly warm. One can enjoy all the outdoor activities easily, sightseeing becomes more enjoyable owing to the pleasant weather. The temperature during the summer season ranges from 15°C to 30°C.

Winter Season

It is inaccessible during the winter due to which even the temple remains closed. Winters start in October and stay till March. The temperature during the winter season fluctuates between 0°C to 20°C. The place also receives heavy snowfall in the months of December and January and the place becomes inaccessible for a few months.

Monsoon Season

The monsoons here vary to less to very heavy rainfall which is unpredictable. Hence it is advised to avoid. Monsoon begins in the month of July and stays till the end of September. The temperature in monsoon also ranges from 15°C to 30°C, but the changes of landslides and road blockages increases. It is recommended to avoid visiting Kedarnath during the monsoon season. Sightseeing and outdoor activities are also not advised in the monsoon season.

How to Reach Kedarnath?

By Road

Kedarnath is well accessed by cabs and buses from Dehradun and New Delhi. You can either hire a Cab or make use of the well-connected bus network from both these major cities. This goes only up to the highest motorable area, Gaurikund and you can trek your way up from there.

By Air

The closest airports to Kedarnath are New Delhi and Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. From here you can either hire a cab or use the bus services to reach Gaurikund and freak up from there. There are also helicopter services available directly to Kedarnath from New Delhi and Dehradun.

By Rail

The rail station closest to Kedarnath is Rishikesh. It is very well connected to all parts of India and also to all major cities across the country. From here you can take a bus to Gaurikund and trek your way up to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath is truly a magical place that holds a lot of importance to people. It is very different from all the other pilgrims in the country hence attracts not just Indian but even foreign tourists. There are several temples in the area that are a part of Char Dham and visiting them on foot is challenging but worth it. Book a Kedarnath package and pay respects to one of the most popular temples and complete the most important dhams of India.