What to Wear for Kedarnath: Clothes for the Trek and Temple
Kedarnath is a temple at the end of a long climb, high in the Himalayas. You will sweat going up and shiver at the top, often on the same day, and there is nowhere to do laundry. Here is how to dress for it and keep your clothes wearable.
What should you wear for the Kedarnath trek?
Dress in layers you can take off as you climb and put back on at the top: a quick-dry base tee or thermal, a fleece or sweater, and a waterproof jacket, with full-length trousers that are not jeans. The temple stands at roughly 3,580 metres and the walk from Gaurikund is about 16 km each way, so it can be warm on the climb and cold at the top. Pack fewer clothes than you think and plan to re-wear the outer layers.
ODORSTRIKE 50ml · pocket size
Clothing deodorant: neutralizes sweat, smoke and food smell in the fabric. Never on skin.
Use it when the fleece and jacket have to last a yatra with no laundry.
Cash on Delivery · Free shipping on prepaid · Ships from Hyderabad within 48 hours
We deliver within India only.
See how ODORSTRIKE worksIn this guide6 sections
Most people plan Kedarnath around darshan dates, registration and how to get to Gaurikund. Clothes come last, and that is how pilgrims end up climbing in jeans, soaked in sweat, and then freezing at the top in the same wet tee. A little planning fixes both.
This guide covers clothes only. For registration, health advice, weather alerts and gear, follow the official yatra notices: the temple committee asks every pilgrim to register on the Uttarakhand government's portal before travelling.
How cold is Kedarnath?
Cold at the top in every month it is open, and wet in the monsoon.
The temple sits at roughly 3,580 metres. It opens for pilgrims in spring and closes for winter around Bhai Dooj in October or November. Even in May and June, mornings and nights at the top are cold, and the weather can turn quickly. In July and August, rain is the main problem. The climb itself, about 16 km from Gaurikund, is hard work, so you will be warm and sweating on the way up.
What layers should you wear on the trek?
Three layers you can add and remove, plus rain protection.
- ~3,580 m
- altitude of the temple
- ~16 km
- walk from Gaurikund, each way
- 3 layers
- base, warm, waterproof
- Base: a quick-dry tee or a thin thermal top. Cotton stays wet once you sweat; quick-dry fabric does not.
- Middle: a fleece or a warm sweater you can tie around your waist on the climb.
- Outer: a windproof, waterproof jacket, or a light raincoat or poncho in the monsoon.
- Legs: trek or track trousers. Jeans get heavy and cold when wet and take days to dry.
- Small things: a woollen cap, gloves, and spare socks.
How many sets of clothes should you pack?
Fewer than you think: change what touches your skin, re-wear what does not.
For a four-to-six day trip from Haridwar or Rishikesh, two or three base tees, one fleece, one jacket, two trousers and fresh innerwear for each day is usually enough, plus one clean outfit for darshan. The fleece and jacket can be worn every day if you look after them.
What should you wear to the temple?
Modest, comfortable clothes with a warm layer on top. A kurta, a salwar suit, a saree or a plain shirt and trousers all work; keep your jacket or shawl handy in the queue. Change out of your sweaty climbing base layer into a dry one when you arrive: standing in the cold in damp clothes is how people get chilled.
How do you keep clothes fresh with no laundry?
Dry the sweat out every evening, and treat the layers you will wear again.
- When you stop for the day, change into a dry base layer.
- Hang the damp tee and fleece open, inside out, wherever there is air.
- Once dry, treat the underarms of the fleece and the jacket lining with a pocket clothing deodorant for trips with no laundry: 4–5 sprays from 15–20 cm, dry in 15–30 seconds. It is for fabric only, never skin.
- Keep worn clothes separate from clean ones so the smell does not spread.
More tricks for long trips are in our guide to keeping clothes fresh while travelling.
What if your clothes get wet?
Get out of them first, dry them second. Put on your dry spare layer straight away. Hang the wet clothes open overnight; damp clothes packed away will smell musty by the next morning. Our monsoon damp-clothes guide explains why.
This is a clothes guide, not a safety guide. Follow the official yatra and health advisories, and register before you travel. A fabric spray keeps re-worn outer layers fresh; it does not replace changing your base layer and innerwear.
Sources
Shri Badarinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Kedarnath Yatra information and registration notice. BKTC. badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in
Uttarakhand Tourism Kedarnath destination guide. Government of Uttarakhand. uttarakhandtourism.gov.in
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear jeans for the Kedarnath trek?
It is better not to. Jeans get heavy and cold when wet and take a long time to dry. Trek or track trousers are easier.
Is there a dress code at Kedarnath temple?
Wear modest, comfortable clothes. Most pilgrims wear kurtas, salwar suits, sarees or shirts and trousers with a warm layer on top.
Do I need a raincoat in May?
Carry a light raincoat or poncho in any month; weather in the mountains changes quickly. In July and August it is essential.
How many clothes should I pack for Kedarnath?
Two or three base tees, a fleece, a jacket, two trousers, fresh innerwear for each day and one clean outfit for darshan is enough for most trips.
ODORSTRIKE — Fabric Odor Mist
50ml pocket spray for clothes. HPβCD traps odor molecules in the fabric and Zinc PCA neutralises them, instead of covering them with perfume. Dries in 15–30 seconds, up to 8 hours of odor protection on fabric under normal office/commute conditions. Fabric only, never skin.
Buy now View product details