How to Reach Kedarkantha from Delhi

Kedarkantha starts from Sankri, a small village in Uttarkashi district, about 440 km from Delhi. There's no direct bus, train or flight. Every route goes through Dehradun, and the real challenge is the second half: a 190 km mountain road to Sankri that takes most of a day, with the only buses leaving Dehradun early in the morning.

This guide explains exactly how to reach Kedarkantha from Delhi, by every option: overnight train, Volvo bus, flight and your own car. It shows which ones get you to Sankri the same day, where the Sankri buses actually leave from in Dehradun (not the bus stand most Delhi buses arrive at), and how to get back after the trek. If you'd rather not plan any of it, the Delhi-to-Delhi Kedarkantha package handles the whole journey for you.

How to Reach Kedarkantha From Delhi at a Glance

The journey has two legs. The first is quick and has lots of options. The second is slow and has very few.

Road distances: Delhi-Dehradun via the expressway is about 210 km; via the older highway about 250 km. Dehradun-Sankri via Mussoorie, Naugaon, Purola and Mori.

Step 1: Delhi to Dehradun

This leg decides whether you reach Sankri on the same day. The Sankri buses leave Dehradun early, between about 5:30 and 8 AM, so the question for every option below is: does it get you to the right place in Dehradun in time?

Train times and fares from booking sites, October 2026; timetables change, so check before booking. Bus fares are typical bands from major booking platforms.

By Train: The Nanda Devi AC Express Is the One to Book

If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this train. The Nanda Devi AC Express (12401, Kota to Dehradun) leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11:50 PM and reaches Dehradun at about 5:50 AM. You walk out of the station right next to where the Sankri buses and taxis leave, with time for a chai. It's an all-AC train and fills up fast in December, so book as soon as your trek dates are fixed.

The other trains work only if you're happy to spend a night in Dehradun. The evening Jan Shatabdi or Vande Bharat gets you in by about 9 to 10:30 PM; sleep near the station and take the morning bus or taxi.

By Bus: Cheap, But Check Where It Stops

Overnight Volvo and AC buses run from ISBT Kashmiri Gate (and private operators from other points in Delhi) to Dehradun. They're comfortable and cheap, but there's one catch most guides miss: buses from Delhi arrive at Dehradun ISBT, which is about 6 km from the railway station area where the Sankri buses leave. Keep 20 to 30 minutes for an auto or cab across town, and don't book a bus that arrives after about 6:30 AM if you're catching the 8 AM roadways bus. Winter fog on the plains can also delay night buses by an hour or more.

By Flight: Fast to Dehradun, Slow After That

IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express fly Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, about six or seven times a day, in under an hour and a quarter. The airport is about 25 km from the city. The problem is timing: the first flights land around 10 AM, after the Sankri buses have gone, and a 7 to 9 hour drive from then means arriving after dark on mountain roads. If you fly, either book a taxi straight from the airport to Sankri, or fly the day before, stay in Dehradun and leave at dawn.

By Car: The Expressway Has Changed This Leg

Since the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway opened in April 2026, Delhi to Dehradun takes about 2.5 to 3 hours by car. That makes driving the fastest way to Dehradun, door to door. The slow part, Dehradun to Sankri, is covered in the self-drive section below.

Step 2: Dehradun to Sankri

This is the long leg. The road climbs through Mussoorie, then follows the Yamuna and Tons valleys via Naugaon, Purola and Mori to Sankri. It's about 190 to 200 km and takes 7 to 9 hours by car, or 10 to 12 hours by bus with stops.

Bus timings change; confirm the evening before. Taxi rates from online cab-booking listings, November 2026.

If you're travelling with friends, a shared taxi costs only a little more than the bus, saves three or four hours and gets you to Sankri in daylight. For bus stops, jeep changes, road conditions in winter and the alternative route via Vikasnagar, read our Dehradun to Sankri bus and taxi guide.

Kedarkantha From Delhi by Bus: The Full Journey

The cheapest way to do the whole trip is by bus. Here's how it works, step by step.

•      Evening, Day 0: take an overnight Volvo or AC bus from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dehradun. Pick one that arrives by about 5:30 to 6 AM.

•      Early morning, Day 1: from Dehradun ISBT, take an auto or cab (about 6 km) to the railway station area.

•      6:30 or 8 AM: board the private bus from Gandhi Road or the roadways bus from the Mussoorie bus stand.

•      Evening, Day 1: reach Sankri after 10 to 12 hours on the road.

Total cost one way: about ₹1,000 to ₹1,600. It's long and bumpy, but it works. Carry snacks, water and a warm layer, because the bus climbs into the cold well before Sankri.

Which Overnight Option Gets You to Sankri the Same Day?

Here are the five most common plans, side by side, with a realistic arrival time in Sankri.

Plans A and D are what we'd recommend for most groups. Plan E suits anyone who can spare an extra day, and it's the safest option in the fog season of late December and January.

Driving From Delhi to Sankri

With the expressway, driving is now a realistic choice for a group of three or four. Here's the route.

Route distances and times from Sankri-based operators' published guides. Mussoorie traffic can add time; the route via Vikasnagar and Kalsi is 20 to 25 km longer but avoids Mussoorie.

•      Leave Delhi early, by about 4 AM, so the mountain section is done in daylight.

•      Don't drive the mountain road at night. It's narrow, winding and, in winter, can be icy in shaded patches near Sankri.

•      Fill up and withdraw cash in Purola. It's the last reliable fuel and ATM stop before Sankri.

•      Don't drive back the same day you finish the trek. You'll be tired after summit day and the descent. Leave the morning after.

•      Parking: ask your operator or homestay in Sankri where to leave the car for five days.

The Easiest Way: A Package With Transport

If you're doing the Kedarkantha trek from Delhi and all of this sounds like too much planning, choose a package that includes the journey. TrekYaari runs Kedarkantha with three starting points:

The Dehradun option removes the hardest part of the journey, and the Delhi option removes all of it. See dates and current prices for each option on the package page, linked at the end of this guide.

Getting Back to Delhi After the Trek

Plan the return before you leave Delhi. On TrekYaari's route, Day 5 is a short walk down from Juda Ka Talab to Sankri, usually finished by late morning or midday.

•      Buses from Sankri to Dehradun leave early, between about 5:30 and 8 AM. If you come down after they've gone, you'll need a taxi or an extra night in Sankri.

•      Shared or private taxi on Day 5 gets you to Dehradun by evening, in time for an overnight bus or an evening train back to Delhi.

•      On the Dehradun or Delhi package, the return drive is arranged for you.

•      Book your return train in advance, especially for late December and early January.

Winter Travel Tips for the Delhi to Kedarkantha Journey

•      Fog: December and January fog on the plains delays night buses and trains. Prefer the train, and keep a buffer on the return if you have a flight or work the next day.

•      Snow on the road: after a fresh snowfall, the last stretch near Sankri can slow down. Leave Dehradun early and follow your operator's advice.

•      Motion sickness: the Dehradun to Sankri road has endless bends. Eat light, sit near the front and carry medicine if you need it.

•      Layers in the vehicle: buses and taxis get cold in the hills. Keep a jacket and cap in your daypack, not in the roof luggage.

•      Cash and network: withdraw cash in Purola or earlier. Mobile signal is patchy after Mori and weak in Sankri.

•      Food stops: breakfast at dhabas around Mussoorie or Naugaon, and lunch around Purola. Carry snacks for the long gaps.

How Much Does It Cost to Reach Kedarkantha From Delhi?

For travel alone, return from Delhi to Sankri costs about ₹1,500 to ₹2,300 by bus, about ₹2,800 by overnight train and shared taxi, and about ₹11,000 if you fly and take a taxi. For the full trip budget, including the package, food and rentals, see our Kedarkantha trek cost from Delhi breakdown.

When you arrive, Sankri is a small village with homestays, a few shops and rental stores, and limited network. Our Sankri village guide covers where to stay, what to buy and what to expect on your first evening.

Planning a Kuari Pass trek too? It's reached from Delhi by a different road, through Rishikesh; see the Delhi to Joshimath route guide.

Knowing how to reach Kedarkantha from Delhi comes down to one timing rule: be near Dehradun railway station by about 6 AM, because that's when the day's transport to Sankri leaves. The Nanda Devi AC Express makes that easy. Add a shared taxi and you'll be in Sankri by mid-afternoon; take the bus and you'll arrive by evening. Driving via the new expressway is now the fastest option for a group, while flying only makes sense if you take a taxi or arrive the day before.

Book your train early, keep a buffer for winter fog, plan the return before you go, and the journey becomes part of the adventure. Or let us handle all of it with the Delhi-to-Delhi Kedarkantha package.