Gaurikund Uttarakhand

About Gauri Kund

Gauri Kund, one of the most sacred places and holds great importance in the Kedarnath Yatra . Located at an altitude of 6502 feet above sea level in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand is the starting point of the Kedarnath tour .

It is just 16 kms away from the famous Kedarnath temple and a source of hot water spring located beside the Mandakini River.

It’s a strong belief that anyone going for Kedarnath should take a bath in Gauri kund to make it’s yatra successful.

As per the holy scriptures and folklore, it is believed that Maa Parvati meditated at this point to allure lord Shiva to marry her.

It is a place where Lord Shiva accepted Maa Parvati’s proposal of marriage and got married at the Triyuginarayan temple , which is located at a distance of 13 kms from Gauri kund.

According to other mythology, it is also believed that this is the place where lord Shiva beheaded his son lord Ganesh when he stopped him from entering, as Maa Parvati was taking a bath at Gauri kund and asked him to guard that area. Later, lord shiva replaced Ganesha’s head with the head of an elephant.

Gauirkund Hot Water Spring

Gaurikund, a natural hot water spring, is situated at an elevation of 6,500 feet above sea level. This sacred site is renowned for its great spiritual importance and is a primary stop for pilgrims on their way to the Kedarnath Temple. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati (Maa Gauri) created lord Ganesha from the form of her body and placed him as a Guard outside the spring. It is believed that taking a bath in this kund is a purifying ritual before continuing their journey to Kedarnath. After the flood of 2013, the natural hot water spring vanished, and Today a small hot water stream remains. The government of Uttarakhand and local villagers reconstructed this lake. The lake is also known as “Gauri Sarovar” and the “ lake of Compassion.”

Gaurikund Weather Overview

This beautiful location is located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, which experiences a wide range of weather conditions throughout the year. Let’s discuss the full weather forecast season-wise.

Summer Season (April-June) : During the summer months, Gauri kund experiences pleasant weather with clear skies, and the scenery also becomes fresh and lush green, making it an ideal time for temple visiting and sightseeing.

Temperature : The Gauri Kund temperature ranges from 15 °C to 25 °C during the day and 10 °C to 15 °C at night.
Conditions : At this time, the snow had cleared from the trails, and the days were warm and crisp. It experiences a huge crowd at this time, as the Kedarnath temple is open for the General public. Pleasant weather and accessible trails make it one of the best times to visit.

Monsoon Season (July-August) : The monsoon season is marked by huge rainfall and high humidity.

Temperature : During the day, the Gauri Kund temperature ranges from 10°C to 20 °C , and it drops to 10 °C to 5 °C at night.
Conditions : Heavy rain causes dangerous situations, like landslides, thunderstorms, and floods, which make the trails inaccessible. The visibility of the scenery is also very poor. Not the ideal time for travelling in this region.

Autumn Season (Sep-Oct) : The rain starts retreating, and the weather again becomes more pleasant with clear skies and views. Visibility of the peaks is excellent, which makes it another ideal time to visit.

Temperature : The daytime temperature ranges from 10°C to 15°C , and 5°C to 10°C at night.
Conditions : At this time, the surroundings become lush green, and excellent visibility and accessible trails are ideal for trekking and sightseeing. The days and nights feel cool with crisp air, as it is getting cold in the last of October.

Nov-Mar (winter season) : During the winter months, it will feel cold and freezy at this time, and the temperature becomes extremely harsh.

Temperature : From 0°C to 5°C in the daytime and 0°C to -5°C at night.
Conditions : Gaurikund experiences heavy snowfall, which leads to snowstorms. The Lake also freezes at this time. Due to harsh weather conditions, the trek might be impossible, and the Kedarnath temple also gets closed during this period.

Gaurikund Seasonal Travel Guide

Season	Temperature (Day/Night)	Conditions	Travel Suitability
Summer (April – June)	15°C to 25°C (day) / 10°C to 15°C (night)	Clear skies, lush greenery, snow cleared from trails, huge pilgrim crowds	✅ Best time to visit – Pleasant weather, temple open, trails accessible
Monsoon (July – August)	10°C to 20°C (day) / 5°C to 10°C (night)	Heavy rainfall, high humidity, landslides, floods, and poor visibility	❌ Not recommended – Unsafe travel conditions
Autumn (September – October)	10°C to 15°C (day) / 5°C to 10°C (night)	Clear skies, lush green surroundings, excellent peak visibility, cool & crisp air	✅ Great time for trekking & sightseeing
Winter (November – March)	0°C to 5°C (day) / 0°C to -5°C (night)	Heavy snowfall, freezing lake, snowstorms, harsh weather, temple closed	❌ Not suitable – Extreme cold, trek closed

Other Places To Visitear Gauri kund:-

Gauri Kund is itself a marvelous place and surrounded by natural beauty all around. The Madakini River flows just beside the hot water spring, and the high mountains surround this place. If you have time and wish to explore some more beautiful places around, then you can visit some other places listed below. In addition to natural beauty, these places also hold great divine power and importance in our tradition.

1) Triyuginarayan temple :- Do you know the marriage spot of lord shiva still exists and is very close to Gauri Kund? Yes, you heard right, the Triyuginarayan temple, which is a marriage spot of lord shiva and Maa Parvati, is yet in existence and is just 13 kms from Gauri kund. This temple got its name as Triyuginarayan as it has seen three yugas and has witnessed the first love marriage on earth. If you are going to the Gauri kund temple, then this is a must-visit temple. People offer wood and Sesame seeds in the perpetual fire or Akhand dhun, i which his burning there since the marriage of lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. The [best time to visit Triyuginarayan Temple] is during the summer and post-monsoon months, and travelers often combine this visit with other sacred attractions listed under [places to visit near Triyuginarayan Temple] due to its close proximity to Kedarnath and Sonprayag.

2) Tungnath Temple :- One of the highest Shiva temples on earth is tungnath temple Tungnath temple, which is just 68 kms from this place. On the way, you will also get to visit Chopta, which is also famous as the Switzerland of India due to its immense beauty all around. Tungnath is the combination of spirituality and nature’s beauty here you can get the blessings of lord shiva this temple is open for 6 months and also closed for 6 months due to heavy snowfall in winter time so if you planning to visit Tungnath temple then decide then don’t plan in the monsoon season because at this time you can face weather problems like landslides or other problems.

3) Kedarnath Temple :- One of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, the Kedarnath temple is just 16 kms away from Gauri kund. Everyone visiting this place must visit Kedarnath. You can also cover both places during your Kedarnath yatra. We also provide a Kedarnath tour package which covers the sightseeing of Devprayag Sangam, Rudraprayag Sangam, Dhari Devi Temple, Guptkashi, Sonprayag and Gauri kund. Check out with our customer care executive for details about the Kedarnath yatra package cost and available dates.

4) Vasuki Tal Trek :- Vasuki Tal is a beautiful, untouched lake nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, and it’s just 8 kilometres away from the Kedarnath temple. It is a pristine lake located at a distance of 8 kms from the holy Kedarnath temple. It is a lake which is similar to the snake shape which is found on the neck of lord Shiva. This lake is also famous for the Brahma Kamal, which is very favourite to lord shiva. The trek to Vasuki tal begins from Kedarnath, taking you through a rugged yet breathtaking path surrounded by majestic mountains and sweeping views of the Himalayas.

How to Reach Gauri kund:-

Gauri Kund is located at a distance of 5 kms from Sonprayag, beyond which no outside vehicle is allowed. After Sonprayag, you have to take a government-operated taxi to cover these five kilometres. This will cost you Rs 50 per person for one side travel. To reach Sonprayag first, you have to reach Haridwar / Rishikesh / Dehradun, which is 245 kms from Gauri kund. You will get a direct flight, train or bus from your home city to this location. The nearest airport to Gauri kund is Jolly Grant Airport, which is also known as Dehradun Airport. You will get a direct flight from your home city to this airport. The nearest railway station to this place is Haridwar or Rishikesh, or Dehradun. Very few direct trains are available for Rishikesh, but you will get many trains from your home city to Dehradun and Haridwar. From there, you can hire your personal cab, a shared cab, or you can directly take a government bus to reach this.

How to reach gaurikund

Distance of Gaurikund from Various Places

Gaurikund to Kedarnath Distance:

The distance from Gaurikund to Badrinath is approximately 225 km by road. You can cover this distance by hiring a private cab from Sonprayag, the nearby town to Gaurikund, to reach Badrinath. The journey takes 8-10 hours to complete, depending on the traffic and road conditions.

Sonprayag to Gaurikund Distance:

Sonprayag is the nearest town to Gaurikund, which is located at a distance of about 6 km. Sonprayag is the main stop point of the Kedarnath Yatra; from here, pilgrims travel to Gaurikund by Shared jeep.

Gaurikund to Badrinath Distance:

Haridwar/Rishikesh to Gaurikund Distance:

Gaurikund is 240 km away from Haridwar, which can be covered by road travel, and the journey takes 8-10 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic. The journey passes through Rishikesh, Devprayag, Dhari Devi Temple , Rudraprayag, and Sonprayag, with the final step to Gaurikund. From Rishikesh, the distance shortens to around 220 km, and the route continues on the same path to Gaurikund. The journey passes on the hilly road, which demands careful driving.

Dehradun to Gaurikund Distance:

Gauri kund is the last motorable point on the way to the Kedarnath Temple. The trek distance from Garuikund to Kedarnath is about 16 km, which is considered moderately challenging and physically demanding, as it passes through high altitude, steep ascents, and rocky terrain. You can avoid the trek by hiring alternative transport services such as Ponies and Palkis, or you can also take a helicopter service if you want more comfort.

Distance from Airport: The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Gaurikund, which is located at a distance of around 224 km, which can be covered by road travel. Taxis are easily available at the airport for Sonprayag.

Delhi to Gaurikund Distance:

The distance from Delhi to Gaurikund Kedarnath is 450 km, which involves multi-stage travel; the first stage of the journey is to reach the Gateway cities of Uttarakhand, such as Rishikesh/Haridwar/Dehradun (accessible by road, train, and air). After heading to these cities, you need to travel by road. Local Buses and shared taxis are easily available from gateway cities to Sonprayag, from where you need to take a taxi to reach Gaurikund.

Rudraprayag to Gaurikund Distance:

Rudraprayag, a spiritual town in Uttarakhand (the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers), is 78 km away from Gaurikund. The distance can be covered by road travel, which takes 2-3 hours to reach there, and it is an important part of the journey to the Kedarnath temple. Generally, the NH-107 route is followed for the journey to this city from Rudraprayag.

Guptkashi to Gaurikund Distance:

The distance between Guptkashi and Gaurikund is approximately 35 km, which can be covered by a short drive.

Phata to Gaurikund Distance

Phata, a main stop point on the way to Kedarnath Yatra, is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The distance from Phata to Gaurikund is about 15 km, and it typically takes 30 to 45 minutes to cover.

Sitapur to Gaurikund Distance:

Sitapur, a sacred village, is another main stop on the way to Kedarnath Yatra, located near Sonprayag. The distance between Sitapur village and Gaurikund is just 7 km, which is usually covered in 20-25 minutes of a short drive.

delhi to gaurikund distance chart including all the cities enroute

Gaurikund to Kedarnath by Helicopter:

The helicopter service for the Kedarnath temple is available from various helipads in Uttarakhand, like Phata, Sersi, and Guptkashi, so you need to reach any of these destinations, as the helicopter does not directly depart from Gaurikund. Hiring a helicopter service is a convenient option, as it avoids any physical exertion, which makes your journey more comfortable, and it also saves your time. You can book the ticket online through the official website of IRCTC Heliyatra (heliyatra.irctc.in).

Helicopter Ticket Price for Kedarnath:

The fare for the Helicopter service for Kedarnath is around ₹8,000 to ₹12,500 per person; it can vary due to factors like the helipad and the demands and availability of the seats, so you can check the exact price through the IRCTC Heliyatra website or any tourism website.

Prices for the year 2025, from different helipads, are:

From Phata to Kedarnath Temple : Around ₹8,842 per person for a round trip.
From Sersi to Kedarnath Temple : Approximately ₹8,839 per person for a round trip.
From Guptkashi to Kedarnath Temple : Around ₹12,444 per person for a round trip.

Conclusion

Visiting Gaurikund not only gives a spiritual experience but also serves as an adventure of the hazardous Kedarnath trek. This site is ideal for all the pilgrims seeking devotion, history, adventure, and scenic Himalayan views of nature.

Explore this sacred site, including the Gaurikund Temple and its natural hot water spring, along with nearby attractions, including the divine Kedarnath Temple.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and embark on your sacred journey to Gaurikund Uttarakhand, to explore one of the best experiences of your life.

FAQs

What is Gaurikund famous for?

Gaurikund is famous for its natural hot spring and Gaurikund temple. Also, it is popular among the pilgrims, as it serves as the base camp for the Kedarnath trek and the last motorable point. Gaurikund is known for its significance and treks alike.

Can we bathe in Gaurikund?

Yes, pilgrims can bathe in the water of the natural hot spring in Gaurikund. It is a traditional ritual performed by pilgrims to purify themselves before starting the trek to the sacred Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand.

How many hours from Gaurikund to Kedarnath?

It generally takes 6 to 8 hours to complete the Kedarnath trek , but it depends on physical fitness, weather, and rest stops. Gaurikund to Kedarnath distance is 16 km, which includes the most scenic views of the Himalayas, but it also requires physical effort to reach the temple.

What is the difficulty level of the Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek?

The difficulty level of the Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek is considered moderate to challenging, especially for beginners who are not used to high altitudes. The trek is challenging due to its high altitude of around 3,583 meters (11,755 feet) above sea level, with extreme cold and shortness of breath.

Can we stay at Gaurikund?

Yes, you can stay at Gaurikund, as it serves as the base camp for the Kedarnath Dham. It offers accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, dharamshalas, and ashrams, with basic to decent facilities. Booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak season.

How far is Gaurikund from Kedarnath?

The distance between Gaurikund and Kedarnath is 16 km, which is generally covered in 6 to 8 hours by trek, or Kedarnath pony, palki, and Kandi services , or you can book the Kedarnath helicopter service from Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi to avoid trek.