Kedarnath opens in late April or early May and closes around Diwali. The weather inside that window swings between hot sun, cold rain, and snow at the top, sometimes in the same afternoon. Plan for all three.
Before you go
Register for the Char Dham yatra online before you travel. It is mandatory and checked. Book your stay in Kedarnath weeks ahead in peak months. Carry ID, cash in small notes, and any regular medication in your day bag, not your main luggage.
The walk
From Gaurikund it is about sixteen kilometres uphill to the temple at roughly 3,500 metres. Most people take six to nine hours going up. Start at first light. Pony, palki, and helicopter options exist for anyone who needs them, and there is no shame in any of them. The point is darshan, not proof of fitness.
What to pack
Layers. A base that wicks sweat, a warm mid layer, and a rain shell you can pull on in seconds. Broken-in shoes with grip. A small backpack with water, dry fruit, glucose, a torch, a power bank, and a poncho. Sunscreen, because the sun at altitude burns fast.
What to wear to the temple
You will arrive sweaty and want to look right in the sanctum. A quick-dry kurta that passes for temple wear solves this in one garment. Trousers with pockets you can zip keep your phone and prasad safe in the queue. Keep a clean stole in a dry bag for the darshan itself.
What nobody tells you
Altitude hits people who feel fit. Walk slower than you think you need to and drink more than you want. The queue for darshan can be long and cold, so eat before you join it. And the descent is harder on the knees than the climb was on the lungs. Save something for it.
The moment
Behind the temple, the mountain fills the whole sky. Stand there for a minute after darshan before you turn around. That minute is the yatra.