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Kedarnath — host of Kedarnath Opening

Festival · UTTARAKHAND

Kedarnath Opening.

Late April / Early May · Kedarnath

Temple doors open after 6 months of winter. First darshan of the season. Deity carried back from Ukhimath.

Why it mattersOne of the most emotionally charged days in Hindu pilgrimage.

Going for this? Kedarnath in May

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May opens Kedarnath. The temple doors open on Akshaya Tritiya (date varies, usually early May) with elaborate Vedic ceremonies. The murti returns from Ukhimath. The 16km trek from Gaurikund commences — steep, high-altitude, and life-changing. Helicopter services begin (Phata/Guptkashi to Kedarnath, Rs 5000-7000 one-way). Temperatures at the temple: 0-10°C. The Char Dham yatra season floods the approach with pilgrims.

See the Kedarnath May guide →

Getting there

Elevation
3583 m
Nearest airport
Dehradun (Jolly Grant)
Nearest railway
Rishikesh / Haridwar

Live in Kedarnath

Where to stay in Kedarnath

  • GMVN Guest House

    ₹500-1500/night
    guesthouse · Kedarnath town

    Government-run but the only reliable accommodation at Kedarnath itself. Basic rooms, hot water sometimes, but you're at 3,583m next to one of India's holiest temples. Book through GMVN website months ahead — it sells out in season.

  • Shivalik Valley Resort

    Rs 1500-3500/night
    guesthouse · Sonprayag

    Comfortable resort near Sonprayag base with mountain views, restaurant serving vegetarian food, and trekking assistance to Kedarnath

  • Dinesh Pony Service

    ₹2000-3000/one-way
    operator · Gaurikund

    Dinesh Rawat's ponies are the healthiest on the route. He never overloads and paces for safety on steep sections. If he says the weather is bad, listen — he's saved people from bad decisions. Book at Gaurikund the day before.

All stays in Kedarnath →

Where to eat

  • GMVN Tourist Rest House Restaurant

    GMVN Compound · ₹

    Signatureyatri thali (khichri, rajma, rice, poori, sabji)

    Buy your food coupon at the counter before queueing — there's no à la carte at peak yatra times. Outsiders queue at night with rest-house guests, so eat by 8pm to avoid 30+ minute waits.

  • Bharat Sewashram Sangha Bhojnalay

    Kedarnath main bazaar (near temple) · ₹

    SignatureBengali khichuri + labra (free langar)

    Lunch service 12-2pm, dinner 7-9pm. Bring your own steel thali if you have one (saves cleaning rush). The Bengali mustard-tempered khichuri is genuinely different from the Punjabi-Banarasi langar food at most Char Dham trusts — worth seeking out even if you're not Bengali.

  • Gaurikund Bhandara Run by Punjabi Sikh Trust

    Gaurikund (16km trek start) · ₹

    SignatureLangar — dal, sabzi, roti, sweet rice

    Eat a full carb meal at 5am before starting the trek — the 16km ascent gains 1500m. On return, the dinner langar runs late (sometimes to 11pm) to catch descending trekkers. Wash your hands with soap pre-meal — trust volunteers serve barefoot in the Sikh langar tradition.

  • Hotel Punjab Sindh Awas Canteen

    Kedarnath Temple Town · ₹

    Signaturerajma chawal

    Walk-ins are welcome but the canteen prioritises in-house guests at lunch and dinner peaks. The rajma chawal is the dish locals point you to — slow-cooked, served with raw onion and pickle.

All eateries in Kedarnath →

What else to see in Kedarnath

  • Kedarnath Temple

    One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, at 11,755 ft. Built by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century. Survived 2013 floods.

    temple
    1-2 hours

  • Bhairavnath Temple

    Guardian deity temple above Kedarnath. Trek to this spot offers spectacular views of the temple and valley.

    temple
    1-2 hours

  • Gandhi Sarovar (Chorabari Lake)

    Glacial lake at 12,900 ft, 3 km from Kedarnath. Named after Mahatma Gandhi, whose ashes were immersed here.

    lake
    3-4 hours

Other festivals in May, elsewhere

See every festival in May →

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