Delhi to Kedarnath distance: Best Route, Train Timings & Travel Guide

Delhi to Kedarnath cannot be called a road trip, but it is a journey where the destination is sacred, so every part of the journey becomes a kind of storytelling. Most of the people ask, “Delhi to Kedarnath ki duri kitni hai?”

We have got you covered! During the morning of your departure day, you are just busy navigating the traffic on Delhi roads, and the same evening you are soaked in viewing the dramatic views of Himalayan valleys. At the very next moment, you might just notice the Mandakini River rushing just behind you.

And then comes the final and biggest question that hovers in everybody’s mind – “How far is Kedarnath from Delhi?”

Well, the answer to this question will not be a simple one.

Kedarnath is a holy shrine of Lord Shiva, which is not connected by roads, railways, or airports that you can conveniently access. The journey from Delhi to Kedarnath is done in several stages. The different portions of the journey can be covered by road, railways, or flights. But the final and most important part of the destination can only be covered through trekking or through ponies or palkies.

So before you actually start packing your essentials and woolens, read about the distance between Delhi to Kedarnath, the easiest and most convenient route between Delhi and Kedarnath, the travel time between both cities, and what is the cheapest way to reach Delhi to Kedarnath?.

Delhi to Kedarnath distance – must-know for you

Delhi to Kedarnath distance by road is roughly 450 to 470 km. This Delhi to Kedarnath by road distance is totally dependent upon the route that you take and the final leg where you stop your journey. From Gauri Kund, you have to take the trekking route to reach the final Kedarnath shrine.

Nowadays, the final trek is roughly 16-18 km. The most important part: How long does it take to reach Delhi to Kedarnath? It takes nearly 15-20 hours, but the time varies according to the mode of your travel.

So, summarising the shortest route from Delhi to Kedarnath:Delhi → Haridwar/Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath

This simply means that you have to travel 450 to 470 km by road and then do a trek of 16 to 18 km from Gouri Kund to Kedarnath.

If you want an answer to the question, “Can your car drop you at the Kedarnath Temple gate?” Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Route breakdown of Delhi to Kedarnath distance

Given below are the bite-sized pieces of your journey, which will definitely help you plan your Delhi to Kedarnath distance trip.

1. Travel Delhi – Haridwar – by road, you need to travel from Delhi to Haridwar, which is approximately 230-270 km by road and will take approximately 5-6 hours.
2. Haridwar – Rishikesh – After reaching Haridwar, you have to travel 20-25 km ahead to reach Rishikesh. That will take another 45 mins to 1 hour.
3. Rishikesh – Devprayag – Rishikesh to Devprayag is roughly a distance of 70-75 km, which can be covered in 2-3 hours by road.
4. Devprayag to Rudraprayag – the approximate distance is 70-75 km and can be covered in another 2-3 hours.
5. Rudraprayag to Guptkashi – this distance approximately stretches for 75-80 km and can be covered in 2-3 hours
6. Guptkashi to Sonprayag – this distance of 30 km can be covered in 1 hour.
7. Sonprayag to Gaurikund – this is just 5 km, which can be done in 20-30 minutes.
8. Gaurikund to Kedarnath – this is the most important trekking route of 16-18 km and can be done within 6-8 hours depending upon fitness and health.

These Delhi to Kedarnath distances by car and the time it takes to cover them are completely approximate and can vary. The journey time may go up due to certain traffic restrictions, climatic changes, pilgrim crowds, landslides, etc.

Distance Delhi to Kedarnath by road

If a question pops up: “Which route is best for Delhi to Kedarnath?” For road-trip lovers, this is going to be the most exciting and sacred journey of their lives.

The most popular route taken by the pilgrims while going from Delhi to Kedarnath is:
Delhi → Meerut → Muzaffarnagar → Roorkee → Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath

Let us now come to the real-time trip experience that the Delhi to Kedarnath trip by road will give you.

Travelling from Delhi to Haridwar is the easiest section of your journey and can be done easily as it is a plain drive. When you reach Rishikesh, the landscape starts to change, and the hills start to approach. The drive, which was on straight highways, will turn into winding mountain roads, and you will notice Devprayag on your way. As you move forward, you will come across Srinagar and Guptakashi.

As you get closer to Sonprayag, the beauty of the mountains will take your breath away.

There will be lots of mountains, valleys, rivers, and hairpin bends.

Pro tip – don’t be in any kind of rush; adding an extra day to your road trip journey from Delhi to Kedarnath will definitely be more comfortable and convenient.

And if you also want to know how far Delhi to Kedarnath is by train?

There is no direct train; you have to travel to Haridwar by train and take a bus or taxi til Gaurikund and then trek for another 16-18 km to reach Kedarnath.

Delhi to Kedarnath by train

Before we begin, there is a little update – there is no railway station that goes from Delhi to Kedarnath! So definitely, there is no train that we can board from New Delhi railway station and get off at Kedarnath.

The nearest railway station for pilgrims travelling from Delhi is Haridwar. After you get off at Haridwar, there is excellent road connectivity that you can use to complete your further journey. There are many buses and taxis available to take you to your sacred destination.

So how exactly does the journey from Delhi to Kedarnath by train work?

The train route  is:

Delhi → reach Haridwar/Rishikesh by train → then reach Guptakashi/Sonprayag by road → further reach Gaurikund by road → then do the Kedarnath trek to reach the temple gate.

This route is favourable for those travellers who do not want to spend the first 5 to 6 hours of the journey sitting in the car or bus.

Is travelling to Delhi to Kedarnath by rail the cheapest option?

The cheapest option to travel from Delhi to Kedarnath can be by train if you opt for shared taxis or buses after your train journey.

How to travel from Delhi to Kedarnath by flight?

If the idea of your sacred trip to Kedarnath is “ just take me there, I have limited time!”, then flying is your best choice; that means the fastest way is to cover the Delhi to Kedarnath distance by air.

But please know that there is no airport that connects Delhi to Kedarnath.

The nearest airport that you can get to is in Dehradun, by the name of Jolly Grant Airport.

The route will look like this.
Depart from Delhi → reach Dehradun by flight → choose a road trip to Guptkashi/Sonprayag by taxi or bus → reach Gaurikund by road → reach Kedarnath after trekking.

If you want an answer to the question, “What is the fastest way to reach Delhi to Kedarnath?”

This route is faster till the Delhi to Dehradun stretch, but after that you have to tighten your shoes and be ready for the Himalayan portion of your journey.

Helicopter services to Kedarnath

After going through the above route description and budget estimates, you must be thinking that – “ I would rather admire the beauty of the mountains and actually climb them!”

Depending upon the government permissions and the weather conditions, there are helicopter services that operate from different destinations such as Guptkashi, Sersi or Phata.

This is particularly for senior citizens, children or disabled people, and for people who want convenience and comfort over budget. Since departures by helicopter are extremely weather-dependent and the climate in the mountains changes every hour, don’t fix your itinerary too tightly and be flexible. Always book your helicopter through the official website and verify before making payments.

Cheapest way to travel from Delhi to Kedarnath

If budget is your priority, the cheapest way is given below:

1. Depart from Delhi and reach Haridwar/Rishikesh by train
2. Take a bus or any shared transport from Haridwar/Rishikesh to reach Sonprayag
3. From Sonprayag, reach Gaurikund through the same shared taxis or bus
4. Trek up to the Kedarnath shrine on foot.

This is the cheapest way to complete your Delhi to Kedarnath journey, as it eliminates flights, helicopters, and premium accommodation.

The final cost of the journey depends upon the season of your travel and the mode you choose to commute.

The final trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath

During this part of your journey, your pilgrimage experience turns into a trekking experience.

The motorable road ends when you reach Gaurikund. From this point, you have several choices.

1. The most rewarding and enjoyable option is trekking. You need to climb approximately 16-18 km, which takes around 6-8 hours, depending on weather, crowds, breaks and your fitness. Since this is a Himalayan trek, you just can’t underestimate it!
2. Pony services can be availed easily by those pilgrims who do not want to walk or trek.
3. For senior citizens or elderly people who cannot walk, palkis are available, which can be booked in advance, subject to availability and current rules and regulations.
4. Helicopter services are also available from designated helipads and can be booked in advance through the official website.

Best time to travel from Delhi to Kedarnath

The pilgrim season in Kedarnath is limited, and it is located at a very high altitude. The opening time of temples is seasonal, and usually the temple opens in the months of April and May and closes in the months of October and November. The exact date, however, varies according to the temple committee.

The visit to the sacred shrine of Lord Shiva is favourable during the summer months, as it is comfortable to do trekking, but during these months, expect a large number of pilgrims.

Avoid planning your daily trip to Kedarnath during monsoon weather because of slippery mountain slopes and difficulty in covering the trekking distance.

Is there a Vande Bharat from Delhi to Kedarnath?

No, there is no direct train route that goes from Delhi to Kedarnath. You can travel from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh through other trains and then travel the rest of your journey by road.

A few important tips that you must keep in mind before starting your journey from Delhi

1. It may sound like Delhi is only 450 to 470 km away from Kedarnath, but the highway distance is very easy compared to the mountain distance.
2. Don’t be in a hurry to book return flights, as the weather changes may disturb your itinerary.
3. Always make sure that you register before travelling because it is mandatory to fill out a registration form at the Kedarnath Temple Committee or the online website before your visit to the pilgrimage site.
4. It is advisable to start your trekking early in the morning because of a smaller crowd, and daylight trekking is comparatively safer as compared to evening trekking
5. Make sure to keep your luggage light and light. You do not need to carry a suitcase up there in the mountains.
6. Carry cash with you as digital payments and networks may not work at higher altitudes.
7. Be very respectful towards the mountains. Do not let or go through the edges to click Instagram photos.

Final words

Delhi to Kedarnath by road, Delhi to Kedarnath distance by train, or Delhi to Kedarnath distance by flight may sound easier, but it is a journey that requires patience, fitness, and determination to complete a sacred pilgrimage destination. There are moments when the planes completely disappear, and the mountains are raging high above your head; the winding roads of Mandakini may make you motion sick, or you feel pleasure soaking in the sun while sitting in the chilly winds. All this will be worthwhile when you are standing right behind the sacred shrine of Lord Shiva.

Whether you plan to reach Kedarnath through a budget-friendly approach of travelling by train, bus, or taxi, or you book a flight or helicopter, just remember one thing.

“More than the destination. It is the journey that is important, so make it worthwhile!”

Because when you are on the road trip from Delhi to Kedarnath, kilometres are just half of the story! You need to travel to explore the other half.

The way ahead:

Your journey from Delhi to Kedarnath is more than a road trip. It’s a pilgrimage through the beautiful Himalayas, with every turn bringing you closer to the sacred abode of Lord Shiva. And with Thomas Cook, planning your spiritual getaway becomes easier. Explore our Kedarnath tour packages and Uttarakhand holiday packages, thoughtfully designed to suit your travel preferences and budget. With competitive deals, trusted expertise, quality services, and support at every step, you can plan your journey with confidence. So, whether you’re travelling with family or setting out on a pilgrimage with friends, explore our tour packages and find the right itinerary for your Kedarnath trip. Let Thomas Cook help you make every kilometre count!

Conclusion:

On Thomas Cook India, you can explore Kedarnath tour packages from Delhi to plan your spiritual getaway. The tour packages of Char Dham Yatra offer a curated itinerary for your pilgrimage. You can also explore our other Kedarnath tour packages to find an option that suits your travel plans and budget. With competitive deals, trusted expertise and quality services, Thomas Cook makes planning your pilgrimage easier. So, get ready to experience the beauty of the Himalayas and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Explore Kedarnath tour packages from Delhi and start planning your journey.