Key hubs
Kedarnath airport and railway station
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, roughly 4–5 hours by road to Gaurikund (the trek start). Pantnagar Airport is an alternative.
- Railway station
- Rishikesh or Dehradun are the main rail hubs, 5–6 hours by road from Gaurikund. Rudraprayag, closer to the trek start, has some train services.
- Getting around
- Private car and driver to Gaurikund (or shared taxis from major towns), then trek on foot to Kedarnath. Horses or porters available for hire at Gaurikund for those unable to walk the full distance. No motor vehicles reach Kedarnath itself.
How to reach Kedarnath by air
Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun is the nearest, roughly 4–5 hours by road to Gaurikund, where the trek begins; Pantnagar Airport is an alternative.
How to reach Kedarnath by train
Rishikesh and Dehradun are the main railheads, 5–6 hours by road from Gaurikund; Rudraprayag, closer to the trek start, has some train services.
How to reach Kedarnath by road
A private car or shared taxi covers the mountain road from Rishikesh or Dehradun to Gaurikund; no motor vehicle reaches Kedarnath itself.
Getting around Kedarnath
From Gaurikund, the temple is reached only on foot, or by hired horse or porter for those unable to walk the full distance; there is no vehicle access beyond the trailhead.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Kedarnath
- Hire a horse or porter at Gaurikund if walking the full distance is too demanding. Costs are roughly ₹500–₹1,500 per horse per day.
- Carry water, high-calorie snacks, a warm layer, and a sunhat. The sun at high altitude burns quickly, and the air is thin.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.