Kedarnath Badrinath
Trip Overview Facts
- 12 Jyotirlinga Kedarnath darshan
- Badrinath Dham (Char Dham)
- Bhairav Temple
- Bhim Shila
About Kedarnath Badrinath
Kedarnath Badrinath together form the most sacred Do Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand and a major part of the Char Dham Yatra. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and sits at the head of the Mandakini River at 11,755 ft, reached by a 16 km trek each way from Gaurikund. Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, on the banks of the Alaknanda River at 10,279 ft, between the Nar and Narayan peaks — reached by direct road with no trek. Together they represent the perfect balance of Shaiva and Vaishnava faith, over 5 Days / 4 Nights from Haridwar or Rishikesh.
- 12 Jyotirlinga Kedarnath darshan
- Badrinath Dham (Char Dham)
- Bhairav Temple
- Bhim Shila
- Mana — last village of India
- Tapt Kund hot spring
- Charan Paduka
Kedarnath offers the thrill of a Himalayan trek and raw mountain beauty, while Badrinath offers peaceful darshan with the hot water Tapt Kund, Mana village and Himalayan views — one journey, two very different experiences.
Shiva at Kedarnath and Vishnu at Badrinath — devotees believe darshan of Kedarnath must be followed by Badrinath to complete the yatra.
Badrinath needs no trekking fitness at all, while Kedarnath's 16 km trail is fully paved with tea stalls and medical camps along the way, or covered by pony, palki or helicopter.
- Base village: Sonprayag / Gaurikund for Kedarnath, Mana Village for Badrinath
- Trek distance: 32 km round trip for Kedarnath (16 km one side from Gaurikund); Badrinath has no trek — direct road till temple, just a 0.5 km walk
- Highest point: Kedarnath Temple (11,755 ft) and Bhairavnath Temple (12,000 ft)
- Best season: May–June and September–October
- Winter: both temples closed November to April — Kedarnath idol shifts to Ukhimath Omkareshwar Temple, Badrinath idol shifts to Joshimath
- Monsoon: July–August is open but risky, with landslides on both routes — avoid if possible
Ideal for: Do Dham yatris, Shiva & Vishnu devotees, family pilgrims and Himalayan travelers.
Day-by-day Schedule
- 220 km, 8-9 hrs. Morning 5 AM pickup from Haridwar / Rishikesh.
- Drive via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi.
- Evening reach Sonprayag. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
What's Included & What's Not
- TransportationHaridwar to Haridwar by Tempo Traveller / Ertiga / Dzire as per group size — all transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary
- Accommodation4 nights total — 2 nights Sonprayag / Sitapur, 1 night Badrinath / Joshimath / Pandukeshwar, 1 night Rudraprayag / Pandukeshwar, hotels with attached washroom (Kedarnath night is a tent / dormitory stay adjusted against the Sonprayag hotel)
- Meal planMAP — 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners (veg only), Day 1 dinner to Day 5 breakfast; basic meals at Kedarnath top
- Driver allowancetoll, parking and fuel charges, driver night charges
- Kedarnath Badrinath Yatra support staff at stays
- First aid kit and oxygen support at hotel
Eligibility & Fitness
Graded Moderate. Days are built around drives, sightseeing stops and short walks, so a baseline level of everyday fitness is enough — no prior trekking experience is required.
This itinerary is open to travellers aged 1 and above. Travellers with a cardiac history, chronic knee trouble or reduced mobility should tell us at the time of booking so we can plan the pace and the stops around them.
- No official age limit for either Dham. Recommended 10-65 years for Kedarnath trekking; Badrinath suits all ages, 1-80 years, as there is no trek
- Highest point: Kedarnath Temple at 11,755 ft; Badrinath at 10,279 ft with direct road access
- Children below 10 and elders above 65 are recommended pony or helicopter for Kedarnath; Badrinath can be done by car directly at any age
- Not recommended for the Kedarnath trek if you have severe heart disease, high asthma, severe knee problems or very high BP — consult a doctor and opt for helicopter
- For Kedarnath: able to walk 16 km in a day on a steep incline
- For Badrinath: no walking fitness required — only a 500m walk from parking to temple
- Start preparing 2 weeks before the yatra for Kedarnath — walk 4-5 km daily and practice stairs; no special preparation is needed for Badrinath
Kedarnath Badrinath Departure Batches
Choose your preferred 5-day departure batch.
How to Reach Kedarnath Badrinath
The Yatra starts and ends at Haridwar / Rishikesh. Our pickup is from Haridwar / Rishikesh at 5:30 AM on Day 1.
35 km from Rishikesh with daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. From the airport, take a taxi to Rishikesh, about 1 hour.
Well connected to Delhi (6 hrs), Mumbai, Kolkata and Lucknow. From Haridwar to Rishikesh is 25 km by auto or bus.
Daily Volvo buses run from Delhi ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Rishikesh / Haridwar, 6-7 hours, with overnight buses available.
- Haridwar / Rishikesh
- Sonprayag
- Gaurikund
- Kedarnath
- Badrinath / Joshimath
- Haridwar / Rishikesh
Kedarnath: drive to Sonprayag (220 km), local jeep to Gaurikund (5 km), then a 16 km trek one side, or helicopter from Phata / Sersi / Sitapur. Badrinath: direct road till temple parking, only a 500m walk — no trek.
Trip Essentials Packing List
- Rucksack with rain cover
- Trekking poles
- Day backpack
- Thermals
- Quick-dry t-shirts
- Fleece jacket
- Trek pants
- Woollen cap and buff
- Waterproof gloves
- Woollen socks
- Trekking shoes
- Camping slippers
- Personal first aid kit
- Rain gear
- Sun cap and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Water bottle
- Power bank
Trip Photo Album
Trail, campsite and summit shots from past batches.
Cancellation & Voucher Policy
Cancel 30 or more days before travel and a 25% cancellation fee applies. Between 15 and 30 days, 50%. Within 15 days of departure, 100% — no refund.
Trek Reviews & Videos
"Summiting Kedarnath Badrinath with TripMySoul was a dream come true! The guide team carried oxygen tanks and checked our SpO2 twice daily. Food at high camp was fresh and hot!"
"The campsite management and safety protocols on Kedarnath Badrinath are top notch. Triple-layer sleeping bags kept us warm even at -8°C at night!"
"Joined the Women-Only batch and felt completely safe and empowered! Our female trek leader was super supportive during steep incline sections."
"Clear instructions from base camp to summit ridge. TripMySoul's logistics and transport coordination made the journey seamless."
Trip Article & Written Guide
The Complete Guide to Kedarnath Badrinath: Trail Contours, Campsites & Preparation
Everything you need to know about preparing for Kedarnath Badrinath. Deep-dive analysis of altitude sickness prevention, terrain contours, camp temperature ranges, and gear checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar Trips
- 12 Jyotirlinga Kedarnath darshan
- Badrinath Dham (Char Dham)
- Bhairav Temple
- Bhim Shila