Kedarnath is one of the four sacred Char Dhams for the followers of Hinduism, the others being Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Hindu holy scriptures also state that the Pandavas performed the Char Dham yatra to atone for the sins they had committed during the battle, making Kedarnath a sacred religious place for many Hindus. ‘The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, Kedar is another name for Lord Shiva, the protector, and the destroyer. It is the highest and most important jyotirlingas among the 12 jyotirlingas. Kedarnath Yatra is operational from April to November every year and is open to the general public. There are several modes of transportation for Kedarnath. If you are looking for a budget-friendly way to reach Kedarnath, then here’s everything you need to know.
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Kedarnath On A Budget
The Kedarnath temple lies amidst the majestic snow-capped Garhwal Himalayan ranges and is visited by thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year. Although the government has developed a variety of transportation options for pilgrimages to cut down on travel time and excursions, using a helicopter to travel to Kedarnath is not always cost-effective.
Also read: Here’s A Complete Travel Guide For Your Kedarnath Trip
How To Reach Kedarnath?
- Instead of taking a flight to Haridwar or Rishikesh, board a train.
- Upon reaching Haridwar or Rishikesh, take a shared taxi or a local bus to Sonprayag, the cost of the transportation would come to around ₹400.
- Book your stay at Sitapur which is only 1 km away from Sonprayag. The stay will cost you around ₹500. It will help you money on accommodation as Sonprayag is a bit on the costly side.
- Dinner or lunch in Sitapur will cost around ₹ 80-100.
- Start your journey by booking a jeep from Sonprayag to Gaurikund at an affordable price of just ₹50.
- If you love trekking/walking then you can reach Kedarnath for free by walking from Gaurikund. While walking you will come across various fresh glacier waterfalls or taps where you can fill your water bottle for free.
- Once you reach the divine temple, stay in a communal tent on the basis of per person for an amount of just ₹500 per night.
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