easy
Guptkashi
Uttarakhand · Char Dham Route · 1,319m🚗 hatchback OK — on Kedarnath highway
👨👩👧 Family: easy family base — small pilgrim town
2/5
April
Why 2/5? Kedarnath may open late April (date varies). Road being cleared. Town fills with waiting pilgrims. Helicopter bookings surge. Unpredictable access.
The last comfortable town before Kedarnath — where smart pilgrims base themselves instead of suffering at 3583m.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
1-2 days
Budget
budget
Kids Rating
4/5 ✓
✓ Families with kids✓ Spiritual travelers✓ First-time travelers
Data verified: April 2026 · Scores based on weather, road access, crowd levels, infrastructure, safety conditions · Kids ratings factor in: medical access, ATM availability, phone signal, altitude, road safety
📶
Network
Jio, Airtel, BSNL
Fair 4G. Better than areas further up.
🏥
Medical
CHC Guptkashi. District Hospital Rudraprayag 40km.
🚗
Road
NH7 fair. Landslide-prone in monsoon.
🛡️
Safety
4/5
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Why Special
Vishwanath temple (ancient, predates Varanasi). 30km from Gaurikund (Kedarnath trailhead). Hotels, ATMs, hospitals that Kedarnath does not have. Helicopter operators base here. The practical choice for families doing Kedarnath pilgrimage.
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Festivals & Events
Guptkashi Vishwanath Temple Festival
MayMay (kapaat opening)
Celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple when the Kedarnath pilgrimage season opens, with the deity's winter-seat rituals and devotional gatherings.
Guptkashi is where Shiva hid from the Pandavas before taking the form of a bull at Kedarnath; the temple predates Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath.
Infrastructure Reality
📶
Network Coverage
JioAirtelBSNL
Fair 4G. Better than areas further up.
WiFi: Some hotels
🏥
Medical & Emergency
Hospital: CHC Guptkashi. District Hospital Rudraprayag 40km.
Ambulance: 108 (slow)
Police: Guptkashi police
🚗
Getting There
Rudraprayag→Guptkashi: 40km 1.5hrs. Rishikesh→Guptkashi: 180km 7hrs.
Roads: NH7 fair. Landslide-prone in monsoon.
Public transport: Buses from Rishikesh and Rudraprayag. No rail. Jolly Grant airport 230km.
⛽
Fuel & Stay
Helpline: Uttarakhand Tourism: 0135-2559898
Where to Stay
Best for Families
Main town area
Best for Backpackers
Dharamshalas
Best for Peace & Quiet
Outskirts
Avoid
Very crowded during Char Dham season
Off-season: ₹300-800/nightPeak: ₹500-2000/night
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Daily Budget Reality
🎒
Budget
₹750Stay₹300
Food₹200
Transport₹200
Activities₹50
per person per day
🏨
Mid-range
₹2,700Stay₹1,500
Food₹500
Transport₹500
Activities₹200
per person per day
✨
Luxury
₹6,300Stay₹4,000
Food₹1,000
Transport₹800
Activities₹500
per person per day
💡 Kedarnath route stopover; pilgrimage town; dharamshala stays from ₹200; Kashi Vishwanath temple here
Crowd Intelligence
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Quiet Moderate Peak
Best days: Any
Key halt before Kedarnath. Yatra season May-Jun and post-monsoon Oct see heavy pilgrim traffic. Book accommodation early.
Food & Dining
🥬
Vegetarian
easy — pilgrim town
👨👩👧
Family Dining
basic
Cuisine: North Indian, Garhwali
Pilgrim town — simple vegetarian food. Decent dhabas on highway.
How to Reach
Airport
Dehradun — 185km
Rail
Rishikesh — 175km
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