Planning a Kedarnath Tour is exciting, but many travellers first worry about the travel time. Delhi to Kedarnath is a long journey, and the route goes through the mountains of Uttarakhand. So choosing the fastest travel mode becomes important, especially if you have limited days in hand. Kedarnath is located in the high Himalayan belt, and the last stretch is accessible only by trekking or helicopter. Because of this, every pilgrim needs to break the journey into parts. The fastest option may change based on your budget, comfort, and how early you start from Delhi. Many people take a road trip directly from Delhi, but that usually takes a long time and becomes tiring. So, it is better to pick smarter ways that save time and energy.
Most visitors today choose to fly from Delhi to Dehradun and then continue their journey ahead. This makes the travel smooth, simple, and less confusing. Before planning, many tourists also explore different travel routes to understand how to reach Chardham and choose the most suitable route for their trip.
Option 1: Delhi to Kedarnath via Flight + Road + Trek
The first and most common way is to take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun. This cuts down long road hours and helps you start the mountain journey fresh. Once you reach the Dehradun airport, you can hire a taxi or take a shared cab towards the pilgrimage route. From Dehradun, your route moves thus -
• Dehradun → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath Temple
The final part is a trek of around 16 km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. The trekking route is long. Ponies and palkis are also available for those who need support.
You can either reach Gaurikund directly from Dehradun, but the road transfer will take about 8 hours, which might get exhausting. Alternatively, you can halt at Rudraprayag for the night. The next day, drive to Gaurikund from Rudraparag and then continue the trek to Kedarnath. This will help to divide the journey time, and you will get some time to relax.
Option 2: Delhi to Kedarnath via Flight + Helicopter + Trek
If you want the fastest way possible, then the flight plus helicopter route is the best pick. First, you take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun just like in the earlier option. After reaching the city, you travel to Sahastradhara Helipad, which is the main hub for mountain helicopter services in Uttarakhand. From here, you board a helicopter to Sersi Helipad, which is located close to the Kedarnath region. This saves many hours of road travel and gives you a smooth experience. This is how the entire route can be summarised -
• Dehradun Shahashtradhara Helipad → Sersi Helipad → Gaurikund → Kedarnath Temple
Once you land at Sersi, you continue by road to Gaurikund, the base for the Kedarnath trek. The drive is short and easy, and you can start your trek sooner. Just like the earlier option, the final stretch is a trek to the Kedarnath Temple. Pilgrims who want comfort or have limited time often choose this combination because it reduces the long road hours. This Chardham package is also great for elderly pilgrims who do not want to spend too much time driving through the mountains. Many tour planners include this helicopter option in their customised packages to make the trip faster and more comfortable.
Which Option to Choose to Reach Kedarnath from Delhi?
It completely depends on the affordability range of the pilgrim, whether to reach Kedarnath by road or by helicopter. No matter which option you choose, the final part of reaching Kedarnath Temple from Gaurikund has to be completely either by trek or by pony ride. There is no alternative to it. Covering the journey by helicopter will undoubtedly cost more than the first option, where you can combine the road transfer along with just the flight option to Dehradun. However, if you are short on time or there are elderly devotees, then opting for a helicopter will be the quickest and easiest way.
