Transportation and other useful details to reach Kedarnath jee Dham.

Before going to Shri Kedarnath jee I have read many blogs to gather information on how to reach Kedarnath jee and what preparations needs to be done if you are planning to go in the month of September (when peak time for char dham yatra is over). But truly speaking I found everything in bits and pieces so thought of sharing my experience so that it may help someone.

I completely used public transport from Gurgaon (Delhi NCR) to Gaurikund from where the trek for Kedarnath jee starts.

Transportation information:

From Gurgaon to Kedarnath Jee:

Gurgaon –Metro-> Delhi ISBT –Volvo-> Rishikesh –MiniBus-> Rudraprayag –Mini Bus-> Guptkashi –SharedCab-> Sonprayag –SharedCab-> Gaurikund -- Trek-> trek Kedarnathjee

I started from Gurgaon at 07:00 PM and took metro to reach Delhi ISBT (Delhi Bus stand), I was aware of the Volvo timings which starts at 09:30 PM from Delhi to Rishikesh. I took the Volvo which costs (704/- Rs.) and dropped me at Rishikesh at 03:00 AM.

I asked for the taxies and buses for Rudraprayag (people have wrote that we may get direct state transport buses at particular times for Sonprayag, but truly speaking I didn’t find any). I didn’t find any taxi (shared one) but there were local buses which are starting at 03:30 AM from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag. I took one and reached Rudraprayag at 09:00 AM.

Next I asked for Sonprayag/Gaurikund buses/taxies, unfortunately no direct commutation available. I took one more mini bus which dropped me at Guptkashi  at 11:00/11:30 AM. 

From Guptkashi I got a shared cab which dropped me at Sonprayag at 12:30/01:00 PM, there I have to wait for Kedarnath Jee permit and healthcheckups for trekking. I waited there till 04:00/04:30 PM and took a shared cab after all clearance to Gaurikund which is just 5 KM’s from Sonprayag.

I stayed at Gaurikund that night and started the trek early morning to Shri Kedarnath jee.

From Kedarnath jee to Gurgaon:

Sonprayag –SharedCab-> Rudraprayag --SharedCab-> Srinagar --SharedCab-> Haridwar/Rishikesh –AC Bus-> Delhi --PrivateCab-> Gurgaon

While coming back there was a huge landslide and I have to trek from Kedarnath jee to Sonprayag. It was very cold and raining at Kedarnath jee because of which I started my way back at 08:30 AM and trekked 21KM’s to reach Sonprayag at 12:30/01:00 PM. And here the task to come back to Gurgaon started.

No taxi/No buses to dropped me at a place from where I can reach Rishikesh, somehow I got a cab after 30 mins or so and upon many requests by people he agreed to dropped us to Rudraprayag with little extra money. 

Again from Rudraprayag there is no direct cab/bus for Rishikesh, we got a shared cab from Rudraprayag to Srinagar. And from Srinagar we got a shared cab to Rishikesh/Haridwar. I reached Haridwar at 09:30 PM and there is a AC bus of uttarkhand from Haridwar to Delhi ISBT at 10:00. Boarded the bus and finally reached Delhi at 03:00/03:30 AM, now from Delhi to Gurgaon I booked a cab and reached home at 05:00’ish. 

This was the whole journey and the taxi/buses details to reach to the places.

Things to remember:

1#    Always have waterproof shoes, I was having sport shoes which put me in trouble during rain.

1#   Always have a proper meal before medical checks as I was not having anything since 24 hours and because of which my BP was showing little low.

1#    Rain coat is must, I was not having rain coat with me so I purchased temporary raincoat which was of very little effect.

1#   Proper woolen clothes as it is always cold at Kedarnath Jee.

1#   Limited luggage during trekking.

1#   New trek is very steep at some places so don’t rush.

1#   You will find medical camps during the yatra but recommended to have necessary pain killers and paracetamols.

1#   Woolen Cap is must as the breeze is very cold at the top.

Neelkanth trek and The Holy Ganga

It was 04:00 PM Friday evening when I decided to visit one of the holy places of Lord Shiva called "Neelkanth temple" with 14Km's of trek starting from Ram Jhula Rishikesh. 

What Hindu mythology says is, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple stands in the sacred location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison that originated from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain "Amrita". This poison that emanated during the (Samudramanthan) churning of ocean made his throat blue in color. Thus, Lord Shiva is also known as Nilkanth, literally meaning The Blue Throated.

Journey started at 07:00 PM from Gurgaon with one small bag and some money in pocket, caught a Volvo at 09:30 PM from Delhi ISBT, reached Rishikesh @04:10 early morning. With almost no sleep, food and tired body I did an experience of lifetime, I slept on a bench at Rishikesh busstand for 1 hour. Wasn’t it crazy, yes it is, and it became a lifetime memory for me now...

Took an auto and reached nearby Ram Jhula, had a cup of tea to regain some strength. I talked to me: Yes, I am all prepared to start now. Bam Bam bhole.

Trek started from Ram Jhula, asked about the trek path from many people on the way and finally got the right way to follow. Trek was easy for first few KM's but was getting steeper and steeper after few KM's. There were many groups of "Langoor's and Monkey's" on the way, that was the most scary part that too when you are all alone on the trek. The view of mountains were awesome, the river Ganga was visible from the top, many small water falls on the ways. Overall good trekking experince once again. I reached the temple in few hours (2-3 hours), did the holy Darshan of Lord Shiva's shivling and in next 1 hours I started back to Rishikesh.

Reached Rishikesh in few hours and explored Rishikesh till 02:00 PM. Then I decided to attend the holy Aarti of "The Ganga" at Haridwar. Again to make the experience more memorable, instead of Bus or taxi, I took an local auto to cover 25 Km's of distance from Rishikesh to Haridwar. It took approx. 1 hour or so and I was in Haridwar at 04:00PM. Started exploring some local shops and streets and touched the holy "Ganga" to get refreshed. As soon as I touched the holy water of Ganga I got my soul and body back with full energy. Put some fuel inside my body as I was very Hungry "had some local kachori's, Tea, Milk and at last some local Golgappa's". 

Now I went to the "Ghat" where the holy aarti will going to take place, I reached at "Ghat" @ 05:15 and sat there for about 1 hour watching/noticing people, their rituals and trying to gain some unique experiences. The "Aarti" preparations were started and clusters of people gathered all around the "Ghat" and on the other side of "Ghat" too. Time came and the holy "Aarti of Mother Ganga" started. I was standing in the first row near "River Ganga" and with the Pujaris who were doing the "Pooja". The experience was awesome and can't be explain in words. Its again a lifetime experience and one should only experience that ourselves. The "Aarti" finished, I took the Prashad and started towards Local busstand to catch the bus.

One unique experience which I would like to share, I met a person "Shoaib" with his 3 friends who was travelling to Shimla for work, 19'een years young kid with profession of “A Painter”. I talked to him for 30 mins to 1 hour as our buses were late. The comments which he gave to me will remain in my heart forever "Yogesh Bhai, you are a gem of a person, its impossible to met a guy like you in entire lifetime. You can bring a difference in anybody's life. I wish your all dreams comes true, Allah Hafis". I hugged him twice and said you will also shine like a star My Dear Friend “Good Luck”. 

Holy Heaven- Kailash (Manimahesh)

This page is about a very sacred but one of the most religious, holy and beautiful place that one must visit in a lifetime. It has left me entrenched with the beauty of nature and reclined my body and soul with such positive pulses that I will cherish forever and I am sure it will have similar effect on you also. And of course, nature has poked us again with the very obvious questions!

                                                   

                                              On the Way to Manimahesh

So, ever thought of taking a couple of days time off to beat all the stress, in search of a peace or with a heart full of wishes to pour it in front of Lord Shiva? Well that's what exactly I had planned when I decided to go to the holy place “Manimahesh” and "The Kailash" situated at the interiors of Himachal Pradesh to visit Gauri kund, Shiva Kund, Kamal Kund and finally the Holy Kailash Peak situated right in the heart of Kailash Range. But what I got back from that place was much more than I expected. Yes!

                                            

                                                    Hushing Water Falls

Day1:

With my packed bags, I started from Delhi on 01^st September and have started the journey towards Manimahesh in the early Morning of 02nd September with some of my friends, whom I joined in Ambala. We hired a Taxi to reach Hadsar, the starting point of the trek and so began our joyful ride right in the lap of nature on the Holy land of Lord Shiva. The very picturesque mountains and the rivers right across them greeted us and seemed more beautiful than anything we have ever seen in our lives. Not all is fun as lots of scary land slides, traffic prevailed along entire journey. After near 15 hours (@22:30 hours) of journey, we reached Hadsar and stayed there at night. The sky was overcast and it was drizzling that can be expected in any monsoon season.

                                          Beauty at its very best

Day2:

Early next morning we started the trek of approx. 10 to 12 KM’s to reach a place called Sundrassi which is our first halt point and we decided to stay there at night. The weather was awesome and getting colder and colder as we were going up the mountains with shower of rain in between. The trek was simple for first few KM’s but was getting tough and steep as we were approaching towards Sundrassi. The breeze was getting colder and the temperature was getting down at night!!!... We spent the night at camp. The clusters of stars appeared so close that one can caught them with hands.

                                                           Glacier's

                                                                  

Day3:

The water in the morning was too cold. We started the next part of our track from Sundrassi to Gauri Kund and from Gauri Kund to Shiv Kund. The trek was getting more steeper. We all reached Gauri Kund after doing a trek of 3-4 KM’s. Now the twist came, some of us decided to go to Kamal Kund and see the Holy Kailash from minimum distance. Rest of all directly went to Shiv Kund and did Holy bath in the Kund. Some of us including me started our trek of 3-4 Km’s towards Kamal Kund and Holy Kailash. The trek was moderate but very steep at certain points, finally we reached and the Holy Kailash was in front of us. Wow…that moment can’t be explained. The place was so clam and surrounded by many mountains, snow & flowers. The complete range of mountain was so beautiful, the cool breeze was sounding so melodious with crystal clear sky and golden rays of Sun falling on top of the snow and hills. The day was perfect to see the Holy Kailash, though it was very very cold. With heart full of Hope, Love and Trust, I decided to go further up and try to touch the Holy Kailash “The Home Of Lord Shiva” with my hands. I moved appox. 1 KM further and touched the Holy Kailash for someone very special. It gave me the satisfaction which no one in this world can explain. I moved back and we decide to go back to Gauri Kund and then to Shiv Kund. Trekked approx.. 5 KM’s to reach Shiv Kund, the place is well known as “Manimahesh”. It was again very cold and the body was getting freezed in few  seconds. We took a bath at Holy Shiv Kund. The temperature was getting too low with rain showers in between and there was no place in camps to spent your night. The group decided to move back to Gauri kund, spent the night there and start the downward trek following morning. We moved back to Gauri Kund and somehow get a place to sleep though no one slept as the camp was full of people. Overall the day was very tiring but was full of unforgettable experience which none of us will forget in your entire life.

                                                        Gauri Kund

                                                                 Kamal Kund

                                                      Shri ManiMahesh (Shiva Kund)

                                                              The Holy Kailash

                                                                   Holy Kailash Range

Day4/5:

This was the last day of our trek, we trekked approx. 13 KM’s towards the ending point Hadsar. It was too cold in the morning but it was getting warmer as day progressed. The main significance of day 4 was to see the SUN rise from the top of the Holy Kailash which appears like a Jewel (Mani), the moment was unbelievable and magical.  We reached Hadsar at late evening, did some rest and boarded our taxis to start the last part of the journey towards home.

                             Clouds are also saying "OM" at The Holy Kailash

My Special thanks to all my friends Deepak, Amit Singla, Rajneesh, Aman, Neeraj, Ankur, Satinder, Piyush, Booby, Abhishek and Nikhilesh without them this great journey of Bam Bam Bhole would never be accomplished. Thanks for your support, help, motivation, co-ordination during whole Yatra!..."Bam Bam Bhole".