What time of the year is the best to visit Kedarnath?
Kedarnath remains closed for 6 months every year, from November to March, owing to heavy snowfall in the region. The exact dates of the closing of the Temple are announced by the government every year. The monsoon season in Kedarnath lasts from July to August, bringing heavy rainfall and causing landslides and other hindrances. Thus, the best time to visit Kedarnath becomes between September to October and May to June, since the snow has melted and the rain has stopped during this time. May, being a peak month, Kedarnath remains crowded during this time of the year.
How to reach Kedarnath?
Gaurikund is considered to be the base camp for reaching Kedarnath. The only way to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund is by trekking but other facilities like horse or palanquin rides are also available to make your trip more comfortable. You can altogether skip the trek from Gaurikund by availing of the helicopter services from Dehradun. For reaching Gaurkund, rail, air, and road services are abundant. Cabs, buses, and jeeps are frequent and easily available.
What to pack when traveling to Kedarnath?
During Kedarnath Tour, it is advised to carry light baggage, only carrying the most important stuff with you. Since Kedarnath is situated at a high altitude, the weather is mostly cold with snow around, so warm clothes like jackets that cover you from head to toe must be carried. The cold weather can also cause some to suffer from fever and cold which makes it necessary to carry some medicines for cold and fever and other prescription drugs with you. Good trekking boots will help you with the long trek from Gaurikund and also make it comfortable to walk in the snow. Some lightweight foods like chocolates, dry fruits, etc can also be carried. Depending on the weather you are visiting in, you can also carry umbrellas. Masks and sanitizers are compulsory to maintain personal hygiene along with the Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate to prove you have completed your announced vaccine doses.
Which events are celebrated in Kedarnath?
Kedarnath is a popular and highly religious abode of Lord Shiva, is obvious that every festival or fair concerned with Lord Shiva is celebrated here with great enthusiasm and zeal. Moreover, Vinayak Chaturthi is also celebrated here with immense zeal since Lord Ganesh was Lord Shiva's son. Samadhi Puja witnesses a grand celebration involving lights, music, and puja processions during the closing day of the main temple. Shravani Anakoot Mela, a colorful fair organized just a day before Raksha Bandhan, is celebrated to mark the brand new harvest by the local people here. Kedarnath is also famous for its grand celebrations during the Badri Kedar Festival and Diwali.
What can you do in Kedarnath?
The first and foremost thing to do in Kedarnath is to visit the Temple for, being surrounded by the Himalayas, provides you with the best spiritual healing one can get. The Shankaracharya Samadhi that is just behind the Kedarnath Temple is the best place to understand the rich cultural history of India through the eyes of the monk, Adi Shankaracharya, who traveled throughout India preaching Hinduism. Vasuki Tal, a lake located in the Himalayas, can be reached by trekking through the steep heights but the breathtaking beauty of this pristine lake, surrounded by the lush green hills will be so enchanting and worth the challenging trek.
What is the cuisine available in Kedarnath?
Kedarnath, being a holy pilgrimage, is a strictly vegetarian place. However, it does not mean that they do not offer tasty foods. Although the Dhabas on the path leading to the temple serve basic Indian food, restaurants in Gaurikund serve Chinese, Gujrati, and Rajasthani cuisines too. Since non-vegetarian food is banned in Kedarnath, you will have to do with simple Indian food but, the positive side is that you will be getting that "Ghar ka Khana" even after being a thousand miles away from home.
What is the median Kedarnath accommodation package?
Despite the Kedarnath city being situated in the Hills, you will find a wide range of hotels, starting from high-budget five-star hotels to cheap guest houses and OYOs. The average cost of five-star hotels is around INR7000 per night. The minimum price for a hotel is around INR2000. Although the food is included in the price chart of the hotels, you will find a variety of restaurants to dine in, with prices not going further than INR1000 per head. Since, it is a pilgrimage place, different kinds of Pujas are conducted in the Temple. The minimum price is INR300 and the maximum is INR1700. Other than these, if you want to hire a pony or a palanquin ride from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, you will have to pay the price usually fixed by the government every year. The maximum it would cost is around INR1800 for every trip.