Gaurikund — Where the Kedarnath Yatra Begins

Quick Facts

How to Reach Gaurikund

From Haridwar it is 235 km to Sonprayag — figure 8–9 hours via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi. Every private car, taxi and bus stops at the Sonprayag parking; the final 5 km to Gaurikund runs on a narrow cliff road that only registered local jeeps are allowed to ply. The shuttle costs around ₹50 per seat and takes fifteen minutes, but in May–June the queue for it can take an hour or more — which is why serious pilgrims are standing in line at 3:30 AM.

By rail, the nearest stations are Rishikesh and Haridwar; by air, Jolly Grant (Dehradun). There is no way to shortcut the road journey except by helicopter to the Kedarnath-side helipads at Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi. Full route details are in our Haridwar to Kedarnath guide.

The Legend of Gauri Kund

The name comes from Goddess Gauri — Parvati — who is said to have meditated and performed penance at this spot to win Lord Shiva as her husband. Local tradition also places the story of Ganesha receiving his elephant head here: Parvati created the boy Ganesha to guard her bathing place, Shiva beheaded the unknown guard in anger, and then restored him with the head of an elephant. The small Gauri Devi temple in the village marks the site, and many pilgrims offer a short prayer here before starting the climb — asking the mother for permission, as locals put it, before walking to the father.

The Hot Spring — What Remains

Gaurikund was famous for its tapt kund, a natural hot spring where pilgrims bathed before beginning the trek. The 2013 Kedarnath floods destroyed most of the original bathing complex, and the spring's flow has never fully recovered. A smaller rebuilt bathing point functions today with warm rather than hot water. Most pilgrims now take a symbolic sprinkle or quick dip. If a proper hot-spring bath matters to you, plan for Badrinath's Tapt Kund later in the circuit — that one thunders on as it always has.

Gaurikund to Kedarnath — the Trek in Brief

The rebuilt trail runs 16 km via Jungle Chatti (4 km), Bheembali (7 km), Lincholi (11 km) and Kedarnath base camp (15 km), climbing from 1,982 m to 3,583 m. On foot it takes 6–9 hours up and 5–7 down. Ponies, palkis and kandis operate from the trailhead at BKTC-fixed rates — our current rate table is here, and the full trail description with preparation advice is in the Kedarnath trek guide.

Staying: Gaurikund vs Sonprayag vs Sitapur

Gaurikund itself has basic lodges and dharamshalas within walking distance of the trek gate — the advantage is a pre-dawn start without depending on the shuttle. Sonprayag and Sitapur, 5–7 km back down the road, have the better hotels and food, which is where we put our package guests; the trade-off is joining the shuttle queue early. In peak season, room pressure at all three is intense — hotels sell out 45–60 days ahead. Whatever you do, don't arrive in May without a confirmed booking.