Plan your journey from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath with this detailed guide on distance, routes, travel options, and estimated costs. Discover the best way to visit these sacred shrines
Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath Distance : Vaishno Devi and Kedarnath are both major pilgrimage sites in India and millions of devotees visit here every year. Vaishno Devi is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir while Kedarnath is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The journey from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath is an important religious journey.
In this article, we will give information about various routes, distance, cost and best route to reach Kedarnath from Vaishno Devi. This journey is about 816 to 900 kilometers.
Route and distance of travel from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath
The journey from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath can be done by various means like train, bus, and air travel.
By Train and Bus:
Route 1– Katra to Jammu – Pathankot – Hoshiarpur -Ambala – Shaharanpur – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Rudraprayag – Gaurikund – 18 kms walk from here – Kedarnath Temple. It will take 18 hours and 32 minutes to travel by this route and the distance is approximately 817 kms.
Route 2– Katra to Jammu – Pathankot – Jalandhar – Ludhiana – Ambala – Shaharanpur – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Rudraprayag – Gaurikund – 18 kms walk from here – Kedarnath Temple. It will take 19 hours and 45 minutes to travel by this route and the distance is approximately 870 kms.
- Katra to Jammu: The distance from Katra to Jammu Tawi railway station is approximately 50 kms, which can be covered by taxi or bus.
- Jammu to Rishikesh/Haridwar: Direct train services are available from Jammu Tawi to Rishikesh or Haridwar. This journey takes about 10-12 hours.
- Rishikesh/Haridwar to Gaurikund: Bus or taxi is available from Rishikesh or Haridwar to Gaurikund. This journey takes about 8-10 hours and the distance is about 210 km.
The cost of the journey can be approx or around Rs 3500 to Rs 9000, and always keep a little more money than you need, which will be useful to you when needed, and also keep some cash with you. Because there is a network problem on the Kedarnath side, so it is a bit difficult to make online payment (upi, money transfer).
Air travel:
- Jammu to Dehradun: Air services are available from Jammu to Dehradun (Jolly Grant Airport), which takes about 3.5 hours. The cost of air travel can range from about Rs 4500 to Rs 18000.
- Dehradun to Gaurikund: From Dehradun to Gaurikund, one can travel by helicopter service or taxi or bus. This journey takes about 8 hours. If you want to reach early, then you can go by helicopter.
Gaurikund to Kedarnath Trek
The distance from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is about 18 km, which can be covered on foot or by horse/pony or helicopter. This trek is challenging, so good physical fitness and preparation is necessary. If you are thinking of completing the trek on foot, then keep the following points in mind during this time:
- Physical preparation: Practice regularly for the trek and get used to living at high altitude.
- Equipment and clothing: Carry suitable clothes, shoes, and essential medicines for the cold and changing weather. (As Kedarnath experiences extreme cold)
- Food items: Carry water, energy snacks, and other essential food items. (Items are very expensive in Kedarnath so carry some essential items like water etc.)
- Accommodation and other facilities: Between Gaurikund and Kedarnath and in Kedarnath, there are various types of accommodation facilities available such as guesthouses, dharamshalas, and tents. It is better to book them in advance, especially during the pilgrimage season
Best time to travel from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath
The best time to visit Kedarnath is from May to June and September to October. The weather is relatively stable at this time, and suitable for trekking. Avoid travelling during monsoon (July-August) and winter (November-April) as heavy rains, landslides, and snowfall can make the journey difficult.
Thus, proper planning and preparation is essential to make the journey from Vaishno Devi to Kedarnath successful and enjoyable. Be sensitive towards the environment during the journey and enjoy a safe journey.
FAQ
Kedarnath is also known as Panch Kedar. What are the other four Kedars
The Panch Kedar includes the following temples: Kedarnath Tungnath Rudranath Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar
