Nomad Saikat
For a Shiva devotee Kedarnath is the holiest shrine of Lord Shiva. One of the 4 Dhams, the Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is also one of the most visited sites of Pilgrimage in the country. People from all over the world visit this location to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. Set amidst the Garhwal Himalayas at the tip of the Mandakini River the temple is perched at a height of 3500 meters. Due to the extreme weather conditions here the temple also remains closed for 6 months and then remains open for the next 6 months. To plan a successful visit to this location it is really important to know about the best time to visit Kedarnath. The journey to this temple is not like any other journey. It takes a lot of effort and resilience to finally reach here.
It is extremely important to know about the ideal time for the temple visit. The weather conditions as well as the time when the temple remains open are crucial in planning a visit to Kedarnath. In this article I will mention about the best time to visit Kedarnath Temple along with the pros and cons of the various seasons. This article will also help you to figure out when is the best time to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath together as well. So keep on reading this article because this will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this location.
Best time to visit Kedarnath
The best time to visit Kedarnath Temple is the summer season. Moreover the time of the summer season from April to June is the time when the Kedarnath Yatra takes place. It continues till the time of pre-winter months. You can visit Kedarnath till the months of September- October. From the month of November to March however the temple remains closed due to extreme harsh weather conditions. Due to the heavy snowfall the roads remain completely closed and it is almost inaccessible to reach here during this time. During the summer time it is the peak period to reach the temple. The temperature remains at check and also the way to reach here is easy and comfortable. The monsoon months from July to August are however months that you should avoid a visit. Due to excessive rainfall the trail to reach the temple gets unsafe.
Kedarnath in Summer ( April to June )
April
The summer season is ideally the best time to visit Kedarnath. During this time the temperature is comfortable ranging between 15 degrees to 30 degrees. The weather is mildly cool with occasional breeze which makes it extremely enjoyable in terms of summer weather. In the months or April however the snow just starts melting so it’s mostly chilly. The April temperature in Kedarnath ranges from -3 degrees to 8 degrees. Days are better with the sun shining bright but the evenings start getting cold. During the night it sometimes gets too chilly. So if you are visiting during this time you should be prepared for that weather. April is also comfortably the best time to Visit Kedarnath in snow. This is the time when you can still see the remaining of the snow while it starts to melt after the harsh winter season.
May
In the months of May the temperature rises a little and ranges between 0 degrees to 5 degrees mostly. This is the time of the Kedarnath Yatra and May is by far the most crowded month to visit the Kedarnath. Most of the devotees start their Kedarnath Yatra or Char Dham Yatra at this time. If you are visiting around this time you will have to be prepared to face a lot of crowds. Also for the tickets and booking you have to do everything in advance as well. Even though it is the summer season, the temperature here is quiet on the lower side. So make sure you are carrying enough woolens along with you. Sometimes the temperature gets down to 0 degrees at night and that’s too chilly to take.
June
This is ideally the best time to visit Kedarnath weather wise, as the temperature and the weather both are too pleasant for a visit at this time. The temperature ranges between 4 degrees to 15 degrees during this time and that makes it a comfortable time for trekking as well as sightseeing. The daytime is beautiful and sunny and makes up for a pleasant visit.
Kedarnath in Monsoon ( July to September )
It can be a little bit risky to plan a Kedarnath trip in monsoon. The area receives very heavy rainfall and due to that the chances of landslides increase to a lot of extent. This can further lead to blockage of routes and hence it will lead to delay in the journey as well. Even though the temple remains open during this time, ideally this is not a peak season so less number of people visit here during these months. Also if you want to visit the temple when there are fewer crowds then you can plan a visit if you want. This is the best time to Visit Kedarnath with less crowd.
July
July is the first month of monsoon in Kedarnath. In July the area receives moderate rainfall and the temperature ranges between 6 degrees to 15 degrees. However the cloudy and unpredictable weather makes the journey hard for the devotees.
August
The temperature in August ranges from 8 degrees to 14 degrees. The mornings get humid with the cloudy weather at times and while the nights are comfortable and chilly when the temperature drops. If you are travelling around this time do carry some warm wear along for the nights. Also you must carry a raincoat or umbrella during this time. The journeys can get delayed with the weather conditions. So there can be more halts and longer waiting time as well.
September
From September the rain starts ceasing a little and makes it a good time to visit Kedarnath. The temperature also is comfortable during this month ranging between 3 degrees to 12 degrees. The devotees also start going to Kedarnath in large numbers during this time again.
Kedarnath in Winter ( October to March )
This region experiences sub zero temperature during the winter which is too harsh and freezing. The temple also remains shut from the month of November due to excessive heavy snowfall. The temperature ranges between 0 degrees to 20 degrees with occasional sunny days as well. Even though the temple remains closed, if you are willing to enjoy the captivating beauty of Kedarnath amidst snowfall you can plan a trip during this time period. This is the best time to visit Kedarnath for snowfall. You will be able to explore the beautiful snow capped peaks along with the snow covered region that looks like a dreamland. But also keep in mind that a lot of roads get blocked due to snow and the weather is too freezing to take as well.
Also as the temple remains closed during these months the idol of Kedarnath shifts from the temple to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath in the district of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. This is the winter abode of the deity for the following months. The Omkareshwar Temple is one of the most popular and oldest shrines of Lord Shiva. One of the Panch Kailash Dham, many devotees visit here during winter to seek the blessings of the God.
October
During this time the temperature ranges from 1 degree to 5 degrees on average. If you are visiting here during this time you must carry heavy woolens as the region gets really cold at this time with chilly wind as well. So be prepared for that situation as well.
November
The month of November is the time when the temperature drops even further. Average temperature in the month of November ranges between 4 degrees to -10 degrees. Also this is the time of heavy snowfall in Kedarnath. The whole area gets covered in white snow. Also in November around the time after Diwali on Bhai Dooj the Kedarnath Temple closes.
December
The months of December are too harsh in Kedarnath. Moreover the temperature dips down and ranges between -2 degrees to -10 degrees. Also this is the time of heavy snowfall in this area. Mostly the region gets inaccessible during this time. The Kedarnath Yatra also remains completely closed during this time. With the road blockage and harsh weather it is not advisable to visit Kedarnath during this time.
January
This is again one of the harshest winter months in Kedarnath with heavy snowfall. The temperature ranges between -18 degrees to -4 degrees. With the temple closed this is one of the months when the town gets calm with very few people. With the onset of winter it becomes practically impossible to visit here during this time.
February
The February month also experiences snowfall in Kedarnath with temperature ranging from -17 degrees to -3 degrees. Weather remains excessively chilly and unfavorable for a visit.
March
In the months of March weather starts getting bearable with temperature rising above sub zero. Average temperature ranges between -12 degrees to 1 degree.
Wrapping Up!
After reading this article I am sure you have a good idea now about when you can visit Kedarnath. I have specifically mentioned all the seasons along with the temperature and weather. And in conclusion I must say the best time to visit Kedarnath would be the summer season which is also the peak season as well. The temperature will be most comfortable and you will be able to make a visit to the temple more peacefully without weather constraint and restrictions. Also this pilgrimage season is the best time to visit Kedarnath by helicopter. And you can opt for trekking as well if it permits you.You must try to avoid visiting during monsoon or the winter season here. At this time the weather would be too challenging for you to deal with along with poor road conditions. So now you should plan accordingly for a visit to this holy site. Do let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning about the Kedarnath Yatra. Also when are you planning a visit to this temple? Do let me know if there is anything else that you would like to know about this spot.
