Surrounded by glaciers, and filled with valleys, Kedarnath is the place where the Purush “Shiva” meets Prakriti “Shakti”. The Kedarnath temple is at a height of more than 3000 meters. This height brings challenges which is why you have to carry specific things while travelling to Kedarnath to tackle the challenges. In this article, we will talk about the things to carry while travelling to Kedarnath in 2024.“““““
Kedarnath
Kedarnath is one of the four “Chota Char Dham” of Uttarakhand. It is a very beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. If you are planning to visit Kedarnath and have no idea about the trip cost; you should read this “Kedarnath trip Cost: A complete guide for Kedarnath Tour“.
It is well known as one of the ancient Shiva Temples in India. The natural charm, hiking trails and now the Bhimshila and even the Kedarnath movie have increased its craze among youngsters. If you are being curious how then read this WHY KEDARNATH IS SO FAMOUS AND HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO KEDARNATH.
What are the things that you must carry while travelling to Kedarnath?
There is a general list of items that you need to carry for the Kedarnath trip. But a part of the list will depend on the mode you choose to get to the main temple. There can be some specific things that you must carry if you choose to travel through a different mode to the Kedarnath Temple. Let us see a basic list of things that you will need for the Kedarnath trip. Now, never think that Kedarnath is the only place you explore there. Here are the 5 Best Places to Explore in Kedarnath.
General Things that must carry when you even think of travelling to Kedarnath
In Bags
- One large backpack with a raincoat.
- One medium size carry bag.
- One waist bag or sling bag
Shoes
- One pair of casual or sports shoes.
- 3 pairs of knee-length socks.
Clothing
- Cotton Joggers/lowers. Cotton joggers/lowers are comfortable and are better than polyester ones, especially in cold weather.
- Polyester Joggers/lowers: These are quick dry in nature and are good while travelling. You can use them in some situations and also they are very lightweight hence are easy to carry.
- Winter Jackets: Even if you are travelling in peak summer never forget to carry at least one winter jacket. Elderly people may need more clothing.
- Traditional attire: In general people wear traditional attires and put a paste made of sandalwood and vermillion on their forehead with various designs signifying Lord Shiva.
- Your favourite clothes: Many people carry their favourite wearables and wear them at the Kedarnath temple and click pictures. You must also try it out.
Accessories
- A thermal flask: The weather is cold at the top so you may carry a thermos flask to keep some warm water, coffee or tea to stay warm.
- Carry extra water bottles: At high altitudes, our bodies get dehydrated really fast so you should definitely carry extra water bottles with you.
- Snacks: Carry some energy bars or dry fruits for instant energy.
- Tissue paper and wet wipes
- Sanitizer, Paper Soap/Squeezy handwashing bottles
- Sunscreen and Sunglasses
When we go on a trip, most of us, especially for the first time, only pack clothes and a few more things we like. Even I have done the same but with time I learnt that it is not the number of things that you carry. But there is a checklist that you need to follow as much as possible.
Let’s talk about the list of things to carry while travelling to Kedarnath with respect to the mode of transportation
The above-mentioned list is a very generic list of things to pack for Kedarnath. Now let us talk about what would we specifically need in some conditions. As I already mentioned earlier there are 4 ways to reach the temple. There are a few things you must carry along if you are planning to trek to the temple. If you are not sure from which point you will start trekking and from where to take the helicopters to Kedarnath. Do check this Kedarnath trip cost and guide.
Things to carry while travelling to Kedarnath by different means
When You are trekking to the Kedarnath Temple
- Carry a medium-sized carry bag
- Keep a sling/waist bag
- Keep knee wraps or knee caps. These are great for hiking and I am telling you from my personal experience.
- Carry extra water bottles
- Carry waterproof hiking boots
- Carry a hiking stick
- Carry ready-to-eat snacks, dry fruits and energy bars
- Wear Sunglass and use Sunscreen
- Carry tissue papers and wet wipes.
- Keep a power bank
- Carry ample cash with you as you may not find an ATM everywhere and not all the shops accept UPI Payment.
- Carry some medicines for cold, fever, loose motion, gas, headache etc. as per your requirement.
If you are going to camp at night in Kedarnath:
Plan Your Kedarnath Tour: Kedarnath Trip Cost Comprehensive Guide
- Sleeping Bag: It is the best accessory for camping and you don’t need to carry blankets or anything else.
- Torch: Although you might want to rely on your phone flashlight I would recommend you carry a torch too. Mobiles are only capable of producing light at some distance but there you need more than that and hence a good torch will be necessary.
- Neck pillow: If you are planning to sleep anywhere outside your home then neck pillows are the best option to go with.
- Carry some paper cups to have some tea coffee or even hot water.
If you are going to hire a Mule(Khachhar):
- Keep padded shorts: These are great for preventing rashes in your inner thighs and bums while riding the Mule. Most of us ride it for the first time so it becomes more necessary.
Why do you need to carry such things while travelling to Kedarnath?
Kedarnath is one of the toughest Hindu pilgrimage sites to reach. There are four main ways to get to the temple.
Walk to the temple by yourself
5 Most Amazing Places in Kedarnath Best for Hiking
It is the most famous way to get to the temple, especially among youngsters. But it is not as easy as it might seem. You have to take care of a few things to reach the temple safely and without much difficulty.
Watch this video if you have no idea about what trekking to Kedarnath would be like. Sonpryag to Kedarnath temple trekking of 16 km.
By Pithhu
10 Most Famous Mahadeva Temples Near Pune
There are people out there who charge a particular amount to carry someone on their back to the temple. This option is opted for mainly by elderly people, who can’t walk by themselves for that long and even can’t ride a mule.
Riding a mule
Unakoti, The mysterious mountain of Tripura: How to reach?
This is an option generally preferred by people of all ages who don’t prefer to walk to the temple. It is a very popular and easy way to get to the temple but still you need that you don’t need that packing list for this option to reach Kedarnath temple. We will discuss that list later.
By Helicopter
If you want to explore the Kedarnath temple and the area from the top then it can be the best option for you to go with. In this case, as well you will need a few things to make sure you are safe and for a hassle-free trip.
Conclusion
Kedarnath is a Hindu pilgrimage site and a beautiful place to visit at least once in a lifetime. But nature is unstable and it has both ups and downs. So there is nothing like a hassle-free trip and one has to be prepared for some unfavourable situations. Here we discussed the packing list for Kedarnath. I am sure if you follow this list and carry these things with you, you can make your journey much more smoother and enjoyable. Let us know in the comments what else did you find useful on your Kedarnath trip.
Till then, I wish you a safe and memorable trip, keep travelling, keep exploring.
Thank you for this fantastic post. We are planning to visit Kedarnath in October 1st week of 2023. We as in me and my wife. Just wanted to ask you… What are the room rates like the one where you stayed so near to the mandir. How did you book? Also can you please guide me as to what are the things I must carry?
Since the tourist rush in October is comparatively low, hence the room rate also decreases. There are accommodations close to the temples which charge up to 5000/day in peak seasons and below 4000 in non peak seasons like October. To avoid any sudden price hike or cancellation you must book hotels via GMVN website. For the things you must carry for the Kedarnath trip, please go through the article. Here are the highlighted point for your reference.
In Bags
One large backpack with a raincoat.
One medium size carry bag.
One waist bag or sling bag
Shoes
One pair of casual or sports shoes.
3 pairs of knee-length socks.
Clothing
Cotton Joggers/lowers. Cotton joggers/lowers are comfortable and are better than polyester ones, especially in cold weather.
Polyester Joggers/lowers: These are quick dry in nature and are good while travelling. You can use them in some situations and also they are very lightweight hence are easy to carry.
Winter Jackets: Even if you are travelling in peak summer never forget to carry at least one winter jacket. Elderly people may need more clothing.
Traditional attire: In general people wear traditional attires and put a paste made of sandalwood and vermillion on their forehead with various designs signifying Lord Shiva.
Your favorite clothes: Many people carry their favorite wearables and wear them at the Kedarnath temple and click pictures. You must also try it out.
Accessories
A thermal flask: The weather is cold at the top so you may carry a thermos flask to keep some warm water, coffee or tea to stay warm.
Carry extra water bottles: At high altitudes, our bodies get dehydrated really fast so you should definitely carry extra water bottles with you.
Snacks: Carry some energy bars or dry fruits for instant energy.
Tissue paper and wet wipes
Sanitizer, Paper Soap/Squeezy handwashing bottles
Sunscreen and Sunglasses
Thanks and Regards,
Travelling Legend
Your travel tips are spot-on! Thanks for inspiring my next adventure. Wanderlust ignited
Nice Blog…. This is really amazing. Great information about ashtavinayak darshan.
Great insights, learned a lot from this post. Looking forward to more informative content!