Across India, millions of people plan to visit Char Dham yatra, and among which thousands plan to travel from Manali and other parts of Himachal Pradesh to the Kedarnath temple.
Here is the easy guide if you are planning to visit the Kedarnath temple from Manali but are not sure how:
Distance between Manali to Kedarnath
- Manali Kedarnath: 737 km
- Manali to Chandigarh: 307 km
- Manali to Dehradun: 450 km
- Manali to Rishikesh: 517 km
- Chandigarh to Kedarnath: 443 km
- Dehradun to Kedarnath: 254 km
- Rishikesh to Kedarnath: 216 km
- Chandigarh to Rishikesh: 234 km
- Dehradun to Rishikesh: 44 km.
A route guide you can follow according to your preference:
Manali → Chandigarh→ Rishikesh → Kedarnath temple
Manali → Dehradun → Rishikesh → Kedarnath
Manali → Rishikesh →Kedarnath.
There are no direct buses, trains, or flights from Manali to Kedarnath, so the easy way is to travel to Chandigarh, Dehradun, or Rishikesh, Flights are from Delhi international airport to jolly grant airport Dehradun which hardly takes 55 minutes, but you have to take a bus or cab from Delhi which will take 12 to 13 hours.
Hence, the best option is to travel by road from Manali to Dehradun or Rishikesh the fare starts from 600 and is up to 1700 rupees if traveling by bus and 5000 to 9000 rupees for booking a cab, many options are available so choose according to your preferences and traveling budget.
The route from Rishikesh has one of the most mesmerizing views of the mountains also looking below you will see the flowing river Ganga. The route gets better as you get closer to the destination.
Things to keep in mind once you start your journey from Rishikesh, the route should be:
Rishikesh → Sonprayag
Sonprayag → Gaurikund
Gaurikund → Kedarnath.
From Gaurikund to Kedarnath one has to trek which takes almost 5-6 hours and differs from person to person depending on age and other factors, luckily pony, manchan, and palki services for people facing difficulty in trekking and guides for a better understanding of the history and the surroundings of Kedarnath temple is provided by the locals.
About Kedarnath
A dedicated temple to God Shiva.
Located in the Rudraprayag district on the Garhwal Himalayan range in the state of Uttarakhand, it is 3585 m (11.762 ft) above sea level.
One of the most sacred places for Hindu pilgrims across India, and a major part of the Panch Kedar yatra. The date is a secret, no one knows when and who build this temple but most believe that the Pandavas heroes of Mahabharata build the temple to pay their respects to God Shiva, and later on Adi Shankaracharya restored the holy place in the 8th century A.D.
The Best time to visit the Kedarnath temple
Located at one of the highest altitudes in Uttarakhand, it is quite risky to travel during the peak of the rainy season which are the months of July and August as the weather is unpredictable at higher altitudes, and during these months there are high chances of floods, landslides, and road blockage.
May to June and September to October is the best time to visit the temple with family and friend.
Popular places to visit near the Kedarnath temple
- Vasuki Tal lake
- Gauri Kund
- Gandhi Sarovar
- Sonprayag
- Triyuginarayan temple
- Shankaracharya samadhi
- Bhairavnath temple.
Things to carry while traveling to Kedarnath
- Carry lightweight baggage
- Extra pair of sweaters, jackets and comfortable clothes
- Sports or trekking shoes
- Water bottle and packed food
- an Umbrella or a raincoat
Conclusion
- The best and most convenient way is to travel by road book a cab or take a bus from one stop to another.
- While stopping at different places to collect and refill utilities, ensure you have everything for the journey ahead.
- The 4G mobile connectivity available in Kedarnath is Jio, Airtel, and BSNL.
- Stay well updated on the weather before, and throughout the journey to be well prepared and have a safe trip.
Blog by: Shivani Kukreti
