Kedarnath Distance from Haridwar, Delhi & Rishikesh

Facts checked November 2026.

Going on to Badrinath? See Kedarnath to Badrinath distance for the road routes and time.

“How far is Kedarnath?” is one of the first questions families ask when they plan this yatra. The honest answer comes in two parts: a long mountain drive to Sonprayag and Gaurikund, then a walk (or pony, palki or helicopter) to the temple. Distances below are taken from district, state and Government of India pages, and where sources give different numbers we show the range and explain why.

This page is part of our Kedarnath Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Kedarnath yatra packages.

How is the distance to Kedarnath counted?

Every road yatra to Kedarnath follows the same last stretch, so it helps to split the yatra into three parts:

1. The road drive from Haridwar or Rishikesh up the Alaknanda and Mandakini valleys to Sonprayag. The Rudraprayag–Gaurikund road alone is about 74–76 km.
2. The Sonprayag–Gaurikund shuttle, about 4–5 km. Private and outside vehicles are not allowed on this stretch; only local shuttle vehicles carry pilgrims.
3. The trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, about 16 km one way.

So when you see a single figure such as “Rishikesh to Kedarnath 221 km”, check whether it means the road only or the road plus the trek, as sources do not always say. Plan your days around the trek, not the kilometres alone.

Kedarnath distance chart at a glance

Road figures are rounded and change with diversions, landslide bypasses and new road works, so treat them as a planning guide.

What is the Haridwar to Kedarnath distance?

Haridwar is where road yatras to Kedarnath begin. The Rudraprayag district administration gives Haridwar to Rudraprayag as 160 km, and the Rudraprayag–Gaurikund road is about 74–76 km. Together that is about 235 km of road from Haridwar to Gaurikund, followed by the 16 km trek.

The road goes Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Agastyamuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Sonprayag. Many families break the drive with a night halt on the way, often around Guptkashi, Phata or Sonprayag, so that the trek can start early the next morning.

What is the Rishikesh to Kedarnath distance?

The Rudraprayag district page puts Rishikesh about 210 km from Gaurikund, and gives Rishikesh to Rudraprayag as 140 km. Adding the 74–76 km Rudraprayag–Gaurikund road gives about 214–216 km, so a fair answer is about 210–216 km of road. The Incredible India page of the Ministry of Tourism says Kedarnath is 221 km from Rishikesh, but does not say whether that includes the trek.

What is the Delhi to Kedarnath distance?

From Delhi you first travel to Haridwar, then follow the Haridwar route. We did not find an official page that states the full Delhi–Gaurikund road distance clearly. Working from Chamoli district figures (Badrinath is 530 km from Delhi and 320 km from Haridwar), Delhi to Haridwar comes to roughly 210 km. Add about 235 km from Haridwar to Gaurikund and the total is roughly 440–450 km of road, plus the trek. Your exact figure depends on where in Delhi NCR you start and which highway you take.

Many families from Delhi travel to Haridwar by train or bus and start the mountain stretch from there with a hill-experienced driver.

What is the Dehradun to Kedarnath distance?

The Rudraprayag district page says Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is around 250 km from Kedarnath. By road you join the same route at Rishikesh and continue via Devprayag and Rudraprayag. Some helicopter yatras start from Dehradun, but the regular helicopter shuttle to Kedarnath flies from Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi. For flight options and booking rules, read our Kedarnath helicopter booking guide.

What is the Badrinath to Kedarnath distance?

Pilgrims doing Do Dham or Char Dham often travel between the two Dhams. Our Char Dham distance chart lists road and trek distances for all four dhams. The Chamoli district page gives Badrinath as 297 km from Rishikesh, and Rishikesh to Rudraprayag is 140 km, so Badrinath to Rudraprayag is roughly 157 km. Add the 74–76 km Rudraprayag–Gaurikund road and you get about 230 km from Badrinath to Gaurikund, via Joshimath, Chamoli, Karnaprayag and Rudraprayag. Then comes the trek. It is a full day or more of mountain driving, so an overnight halt is common.

How long is the Kedarnath trek from Gaurikund?

This is where sources differ most, so here is the honest picture:

• 16 km: The Rudraprayag district’s official rate tables for palki and porters list Gaurikund to Kedarnath as 16 km one way. National news reports on the Kedarnath ropeway also describe the climb from Gaurikund as about 16 km.
• 17 km: The same district page, in its general text, says the temple is a 17 km trek from Gaurikund.
• 18 km: The Incredible India page calls it an 18 km trek, and the Shri Kedarnath trust page gives Sonprayag to Kedarnath as 18 km. The trust’s “About Kedarnath” page gives a higher figure of about 21 km from Gaurikund.

Why the difference? First, the path changed after the June 2013 disaster destroyed the old route. ETV Bharat reported that on the rebuilt old route, the Rambara–Kedarnath stretch went from 7 km to 8.6 km because of route changes. Second, sources measure from different points: some count from Sonprayag, some to the base camp (the district horse rate table lists Gaurikund to Kedarnath base camp as 14 km), and some to the temple itself. For planning, assume about 16 km each way on foot, and a little more if you start walking at Sonprayag.

On time, the Incredible India page says the trek can take up to about 6 hours by pony and up to 10 hours on foot, depending on fitness. Weather and crowds also matter, so check our Kedarnath weather and best time guide before you fix dates.

In early 2026, ETV Bharat reported that the old foot route via Rambara and Garudchatti was being rebuilt and was expected to open as a second option. Ask locally or ask us for its current status before you go.

How far is Sonprayag from Gaurikund?

About 4–5 km. The Rudraprayag district rate table lists 5 km, and the Shri Kedarnath trust page says Sonprayag is 4 km from Gaurikund. Private cars park at Sonprayag. In May 2026 the Rudraprayag transport office said outside vehicles cannot operate between Sonprayag and Gaurikund; only local shuttle vehicles run here, and some vehicles were reserved for women and elderly pilgrims during the rush. Keep your yatra registration handy. Our Kedarnath registration guide explains the process.

Will the ropeway shorten the distance?

In March 2025 the Union Cabinet approved a ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath with a total length of 12.9 km. News reports said it would cut the one-way journey from about 8–9 hours to about 36 minutes once built. It is not running yet, so for now plan for the trek, a pony or palki, or a helicopter.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Distances on paper do not show the real effort of mountain roads and a long trek. Our road yatras start from Haridwar and are planned with sensible night halts, so the trek day begins rested and early. We can also help with helicopter yatras, registration and the right season for elders. See our Kedarnath yatra packages, read the full Kedarnath yatra guide, or talk to us on +91 78178 98687 (call or WhatsApp) or at shiva@yatratotemples.in.

Frequently asked questions

Can a car go all the way to Kedarnath temple?

No. Private vehicles stop at Sonprayag. A local shuttle covers the 4–5 km to Gaurikund, and from there it is a trek of about 16 km, or you can take a pony, palki or helicopter.

Is the Kedarnath trek 16 km or 18 km?

Official sources give 16, 17 and 18 km (one trust page even says about 21 km). The 16 km figure comes from the Rudraprayag district rate tables for Gaurikund to Kedarnath; higher figures usually count from Sonprayag or reflect the longer post-2013 path. Plan for about 16 km each way.

Which is nearer to Kedarnath, Haridwar or Rishikesh?

Rishikesh is on the way from Haridwar, so it is closer: about 210–216 km of road to Gaurikund, against about 235 km from Haridwar. Road yatras usually begin from Haridwar.

How far is Kedarnath from Badrinath?

By road it is about 230 km from Badrinath to Gaurikund via Rudraprayag, then the trek. This is worked out from Chamoli and Rudraprayag district figures, and the real distance can vary with diversions.

How long does the trek take?

The Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India page says up to about 6 hours by pony and up to 10 hours on foot, depending on fitness. Start early in the morning and allow for rest stops and weather.

Is Kedarnath open all year?

No. The temple closes for winter and reopens in spring. Check the announced opening and closing dates before you plan.