Panch Kedar Yatra
Trip Overview Facts
- Kedarnath (Hump / पीठ) — 11,755 ft, 16 km trek from Gaurikund, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
- Madhmaheshwar (Navel / नाभि) — 11,473 ft, the most peaceful of the five, ringed by the Chaukhamba peaks
- Tungnath (Arms / भुजाएं) — 12,800 ft, the world's highest Shiva temple, with Chandrashila peak just 1 km beyond
- Rudranath (Face / मुख) — 11,800 ft, the toughest Kedar, a natural rock face of Shiva through dense forest and bugyals
About Panch Kedar Yatra
Panch Kedar are five sacred Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas, where the body parts of Lord Shiva — in the form of a bull — reappeared after the Mahabharata. After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva. He avoided them by taking the form of a bull and diving into the ground; his body parts then surfaced at five places. We are Uttarakhand's first Panch Kedar specialist team, taking you to all five shrines — Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar — in one continuous 12-day yatra from Rishikesh / Haridwar, in small batches of 8–12 with our own local team and stay on each Kedar. This is not a luxury tour — it's a pure Himalayan expedition, and only about 5% of devotees complete all five Kedars in one go.
- Kedarnath (Hump / पीठ) — 11,755 ft, 16 km trek from Gaurikund, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
- Madhmaheshwar (Navel / नाभि) — 11,473 ft, the most peaceful of the five, ringed by the Chaukhamba peaks
- Tungnath (Arms / भुजाएं) — 12,800 ft, the world's highest Shiva temple, with Chandrashila peak just 1 km beyond
- Rudranath (Face / मुख) — 11,800 ft, the toughest Kedar, a natural rock face of Shiva through dense forest and bugyals
- Kalpeshwar (Hair / जटाएं) — 7,200 ft, a cave shrine and the only Panch Kedar open all year
- Panar Bugyal and Deoria Tal en route — high-altitude meadows and lake views of the Garhwal Himalayas
Rudranath has 3 different routes and Madhmaheshwar has 2 — online maps will confuse you. We know which route has water, which village has a stay, where the network comes, and where a pony can and can't go. That knowledge only comes from living here.
Our homestay in Sari covers Madhmaheshwar and Tungnath, our hotel in Sagar covers Rudranath, and our hotel in Sonprayag covers Kedarnath. You are never left alone anywhere on the circuit.
We take only 8–12 people per batch, with 1 guide and 1 porter, so everyone gets proper attention in the jungle and at high altitude.
We tell you honestly on Day 1 — you'll walk ~80 km, sleep in wooden rooms, eat dal-chawal, and go without phone network for 3–5 days. We don't sell fake luxury in the Himalayas.
- Total duration: 12–14 days from Haridwar / Rishikesh
- Best time: May–June and September–October
- Total trek: ~80 km on foot across the five Kedars
- Sequence: Kedarnath → Madhmaheshwar → Tungnath → Rudranath → Kalpeshwar (Badrinath can be added at the end)
- Altitude range: 7,200 ft at Kalpeshwar to 12,800 ft at Tungnath
- Batches of 8–12 people with 1 guide and 1 porter, and our own local team/stay on each Kedar
Ideal for: Serious Shiv Bhakts and fit trekkers ready for a pure Himalayan expedition, not a luxury holiday — only about 5% of devotees complete all 5 Kedars in one go.
Day-by-day Schedule
- 220 km / 9 hrs drive via Devprayag (Sangam of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi), Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Agastmuni and Guptkashi.
- 5:30 AM pickup from Haridwar Railway Station / Rishikesh Bus Stand; breakfast en route at Srinagar.
- Evening check-in at Sonprayag; briefing for the Kedarnath trek — hand over your main bag and carry only a small bag for the next 2 days.
- Stay: Sonprayag Hotel. Meals: Dinner.
What's Included & What's Not
- TransportHaridwar/Rishikesh to Haridwar/Rishikesh, by Bolero / Ertiga / Innova / Tempo Traveller as per group size
- All driver allowancetoll, parking and fuel
- 11 nights accommodation2N Sonprayag Hotel, 3N Sari Village Homestay, 1N Kedarnath Tent/Dorm (sharing), 1N Madhmaheshwar Homestay/Temple Guest House, 1N Panar Bugyal Tent (sharing), 1N Rudranath Temple Dharamshala/Priest House (very basic), 1N Sagar Village Homestay/Hotel, 1N Urgam Village Homestay
- 11 Breakfasts + 11 Dinners (Veg)Day 1 dinner to Day 12 breakfast — hot homestay meals at Sari, Sonprayag, Sagar and Urgam
- Experienced trek guide for the Madhmaheshwar and Rudranath treks
- All forest and temple permits
- First aid kit
Eligibility & Fitness
Graded Difficult. 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 12 to 58. 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.
- Age limit: 12 to 58 years. Children below 12 are not permitted.
- Travellers above 55 need a medical fitness certificate before joining.
- Altitude ranges from 7,200 ft at Kalpeshwar to 12,800 ft at Tungnath.
- ~80 km of trekking across the 5 Kedars — pony is available only at Kedarnath; the other four Kedars can only be reached on foot.
- Recommended: walk 5 km daily for 30 days before the yatra, and have completed at least one small trek before.
- Rudranath (16 km one way) and Madhmaheshwar (16 km round trip) are the toughest stretches — good stamina is essential.
- Be ready to carry a daypack, sleep in basic wooden rooms/tents/dharamshalas, and go without phone network for 3–5 days.
Panch Kedar Yatra Departure Batches
Choose your preferred 12-day departure batch.
How to Reach Panch Kedar Yatra
Panch Kedar Yatra starts and ends at Rishikesh / Haridwar, with pickup at 5:30 AM on Day 1.
About 35 km from Rishikesh, with daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. From the airport, take a taxi to Rishikesh, about 1 hour.
Best-connected station on the circuit, with trains from Delhi (6 hrs), Mumbai, Kolkata and Lucknow. 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; overnight buses are also available.
- Rishikesh / Haridwar
- Sonprayag
- Sari Village
- Chopta
- Sagar Village
- Urgam Village
- Rishikesh / Haridwar
Jio network works till Sonprayag, Sari and Sagar Village; there is no network at the Kedarnath base, Madhmaheshwar, Panar and Rudranath for 5–6 days.
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
Available at the start point, priced per item for the whole trip.
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 Panch Kedar Yatra 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 Panch Kedar Yatra 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 Panch Kedar Yatra: Trail Contours, Campsites & Preparation
Everything you need to know about preparing for Panch Kedar Yatra. Deep-dive analysis of altitude sickness prevention, terrain contours, camp temperature ranges, and gear checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Kedarnath (Hump / पीठ) — 11,755 ft, 16 km trek from Gaurikund, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
- Madhmaheshwar (Navel / नाभि) — 11,473 ft, the most peaceful of the five, ringed by the Chaukhamba peaks
- Tungnath (Arms / भुजाएं) — 12,800 ft, the world's highest Shiva temple, with Chandrashila peak just 1 km beyond
- Rudranath (Face / मुख) — 11,800 ft, the toughest Kedar, a natural rock face of Shiva through dense forest and bugyals