Treks by
May to June and September to October Avoid the monsoon season (July–August) due to risk of landslides. The route is inaccessible from November to April because of heavy snowfall.
By Road: Reach Sonprayag (by bus/taxi from Haridwar or Rishikesh). From Sonprayag, take a shared jeep or local taxi (5 km) to Gauri Kund. By Train: Nearest railway stations: Rishikesh (~210 km) or Haridwar (~225 km) By Air: Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~225 km). From there, hire a taxi to Sonprayag → Gauri Kund.
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1,982 meters
Gauri Kund is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, located at an altitude of 1,982 meters (6,502 ft). It serves as the base camp for the Kedarnath Trek, making it one of the holiest spots for devotees embarking on the Char Dham Yatra.
Gauri Kund is a sacred Hindu site located in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is the base camp for the 16 km trek to Kedarnath Temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites.Pilgrims begin their spiritual journey from here by bathing in the natural hot springs of Gauri Kund, believed to cleanse the body and soul before the trek.
Gauri Kund holds deep mythological significance in Hinduism. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Parvati (Gauri) meditated to win the affection of Lord Shiva. According to legend, while bathing here, she created Lord Ganesha from turmeric paste and appointed him as her gatekeeper. When Shiva returned and was stopped by Ganesha (unaware of his identity), he beheaded him in rage. Later, on realizing the truth, Shiva restored Ganesha’s life with an elephant’s head. This sacred tale makes Gauri Kund a powerful spiritual site.