Is 5000 Enough For Kedarnath? Budget Guide 2026

Hi, I’m Saurabh Upadhyay from Panipat. I’ve recently started my journey as an accounting intern. Like most interns, managing expenses on a limited budget is a real challenge. But there’s one dream I’ve been holding close to my heart—visiting Kedarnath Dham. I’ve always believed that when I get my first full-time job, my very first trip will be to Kedarnath. Until then, I wanted to see if this dream could still be possible on a tight budget. So, I decided to plan a budget trip and ask myself an important question: Is ₹5,000 enough for a Kedarnath Yatra? 

 In this blog, I’ll break down the expenses and share how I planned this journey in the most affordable way possible. Let’s explore whether this divine journey can really be done on a small budget. I believe most of you must be aware of this divine temple, but still, let me give a brief introduction to the Kedarnath Temple before discussing more on the topic of "Is 5000 enough for the Kedarnath Yatra?"

About Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath temple is a holy shrine located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This temple is located in the lap of the Himalaya at an altitude of 3583 meters above sea level. This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and is part of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India.

There is no direct connectivity to the temple, and the last motorable road is till Gaurikund. From Gaurikund, you need to trek for 18 kms to the temple. This makes visiting the Kedarnath temple in the budget even more challenging. Thinking it in just INR 5000 seems to be a bit challenging, or you can say impossible. So without wasting time, let's jump to our main topic and let's see what the possibilities.

Is 5000 enough for the Kedarnath Yatra?

Yes, a trip to the Kedarnath temple under ₹5,000 is possible, but only with strict budget planning and limited comfort. This budget works only if you start from Haridwar or Rishikesh and follow basic travel conditions:

• Travel by shared or government transport only

• Trek from Gaurikund (no pony, palki, or helicopter)

• Stay in basic dharamshalas or budget lodges

• Eat simple, basic meals

• Avoid all luxury and convenience services

Price Breakdown to complete your Kedarnath Journey in ₹ 5000

The essential things you need to include in your 5,000 Kedarnath budget plan. The necessities you should consider are food, accommodation, transportation, and registration; without these things, you won’t be able to complete your journey to Kedarnath Temple.  Let's discuss one by one -

1) Transportation

2) Accommodation 

3) Food 

4) Kedarnath Registration 

1) Transportation

Gaurikund is the base to start the trek to the Kedarnath temple. The total trekking is 16 kilometres. So the first step is to reach Gaurikund and then continue the Kedarnath trek from there to the Temple. 

To reach Gaurikund, you must first reach Sonprayag, as no private vehicles are allowed beyond this point. From Sonprayag, only government-authorised shared taxis operate up to Gaurikund.

From Haridwar/Rishikesh to Sonprayag, you can travel by available Shared Jeeps or Local/Government UTC Buses. This is the cheapest and most budget-friendly way to reach here. You can check out our blog on How to reach Kedarnath from Haridwar and Rishikesh for a detailed guide. But make sure you opt for shared jeep or government buses only and not any private vehicle. This is the most important pillar to save money and complete your journey to the Kedarnath temple for ₹ 5000.

Fares breakdown for Shared Jeeps and Government buses from Haridwar and Rishikesh up to Gaurikund—

From Haridwar to Sonprayag– 

• Shared Jeep: ₹800–₹1,200, Faster option, slightly more expensive than the bus.

• Government UTC Bus: ₹700–₹900. Direct option, safe and budget-friendly.

From Rishikesh to  Sonprayag  – 

• Shared Jeep: ₹800–₹1,000, Faster than the bus, available till Sonprayag/Gaurikund.

• Government UTC Bus: Cheapest and Safest option, direct or via Rudraprayag/Sonprayag.

From Gaurikund, you need to trek 16 kilometres to the Kedarnath Temple. There is no entry fee for trekkers.  You can directly start the Kedarnath trek from Gaurikund.

This brought my total travel cost to ₹900 to reach Gaurikund

2) Accommodation

To complete your trip for ₹5000, you will need to avoid premium hotels and consider booking hotels at affordable prices. Alternatively, you can stay in Dharamshala's GMVN Dormitories or camps during your journey to Kedarnath Temple. 

During your trip, you will need a total of three nights of stay—two nights in Guptkashi or Sonprayag and one night in Kedarnath. 

Let’s first discuss the stay options in Sonprayag/Guptkashi-

 Dharamshala / GMVN Dormitory (₹300 – ₹600):-

The most budget-friendly option, ideal for solo travellers and pilgrims. Facilities are basic but clean, usually with shared bathrooms.

  Basic Budget Hotel – Shared Room (₹600 – ₹1,000):-

A decent choice for budget travellers who want a bit more comfort than a dorm, with shared rooms and essential amenities.

Budget Hotel – Double/Triple Sharing (₹1,200 – ₹2,000 per person):-

Suitable for families or small groups, offering private rooms with better comfort, attached bathrooms, and basic hotel services.

 GMVN Guest House – Double Sharing (₹1,500 – ₹2,500 per room):-

A reliable government-run stay known for cleanliness and safety, ideal for couples or two travellers seeking a peaceful stay.

 Stay options at Kedarnath –

Dharamshala Available Options–

• Temple Trust Dharamshalas: Under ₹200–₹400 with basic bedding, common toilets, and limited hot water.

• Local Ashram Dharamshalas: Around ₹300–₹500 for a Mattress/blanket and shared washrooms.

• Free Dharamshalas: Free – 200 with floor bedding and free langar, but the availability depends on the crowd.

Note: Limited availability during the peak yatra season from May to June in the summer. As you are planning to complete your journey to Kedarnath for just ₹5000, you prefer to book your stay well in advance.

GMVN Dormitories Options– 

• GMVN Dormitory Bed: Under 400 – 600 with Clean bedding, blankets, common washroom.

• GMVN Shared Room: Under 800 – 1,200 for 3–4 sharing, with more privacy and basic heating.

Note: The Best option for safety and hygiene. Booking in advance is recommended from May to June.

Shared Rooms Available– 

• Tin-Shed / Budget Lodge: starting at 500 – 800 with a mattress, blanket, and shared toilet.

• Shared Hotel Room: For 2–4 sharing from 700 – 1,000 with a basic room and charging point.

• Temporary Camps / Tents: Under 400 – 700 with sleeping bags and common toilets.

Note: Prefer sharing with small, splitting in room shares can save. Prices increase in peak season.

3) Food

Although food cost is minimal, as you are travelling on a budget, it is better to carry instant and ready-to-eat food options, or you can prefer having langar. There are many stalls and budget-friendly, affordable dhabas near the temple.

• Free Langars: You can have temple langars, NGO & seva trust bhandaras. Simple Satvik meals, including dal, rice, roti, and khichdi, at ₹ 0 – ₹100.
  
  

• Budget Dhabas & Stalls: Prefer affordable small roadside dhabas near the temple offering plain thali, dal–rice, roti–sabzi, Maggi, and tea, under ₹80 – ₹200.
  
  

• Self-Carried / Ready-to-Eat Food: Carry snacks or buy Biscuits, dry fruits, instant meals, energy bars; best for trekking & emergencies at ₹50 – ₹300.

The reality is that you won’t get free langar meals for all four days of your journey. I was able to eat langar only in Kedarnath. It is available mostly in the morning, and usually not available late at night. Because of this, I had to spend around ₹400–₹500 per day on food and water. In total, my food expenses for the entire 4-day Kedarnath Yatra came to approximately ₹1,800.

4)Kedarnath Registration

Preferably, complete the Kedarnath registration process online before starting the journey through the official Kedarnath registration website. 

The Kedarnath registration does not charge any fees. Carry the registration slip throughout the journey for a safe and secure pilgrimage.