Most trekkers heading to Kedarkantha end up going through Dehradun first, then covering the same stretch of hill road to Sankri, the trek's base village. The city you start from — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur — changes how you get to Dehradun. It doesn't change much after that.
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Quick Answer Sankri, the base village for Kedarkantha, is roughly 200–220 km from Dehradun — an 8 to 10 hour drive along NH123 via Mussoorie, Naugaon, Purola, and Mori. There's no railway station or airport at Sankri. Every trekker reaches Dehradun first, by flight, train, or road, then continues by shared jeep, bus, or private cab. From Delhi, that means roughly 230–250 km to Dehradun first, then the same Dehradun-to-Sankri leg everyone else covers. |
Sankri Is Not the Summit
It's worth separating two things people often merge. Sankri is the base village where the road ends and the trek begins — sitting at roughly 1,950 to 2,000 metres (around 6,400–6,500 ft). The Kedarkantha summit itself is at about 3,800 metres (12,500 ft), reached by a trek of roughly 19–20 km on foot, typically spread across 4 to 5 days including acclimatization. Reaching Sankri by road is a travel problem. Reaching the summit is a trekking one. This guide is about the first part.
The Route, Leg by Leg
| Leg | Approx. Distance | Typical Time | Mode |
| Delhi → Dehradun | 230–250 km | 6–7 hrs | Road / Train / Flight |
| Dehradun → Sankri | 200–220 km | 8–10 hrs | Shared jeep / Bus / Cab |
| Delhi → Sankri (direct) | ~430–450 km | 10–12 hrs | Private cab (long haul, not ideal non-stop) |
| Sankri → Kedarkantha summit (round trip) | ~19–20 km | 4–5 trekking days | On foot |
These are the ranges most trek operators and travel guides converge on. A few quote figures slightly outside this — anywhere from 190 km to 230 km for the Dehradun–Sankri leg alone — which comes down to which exact route and start point they're measuring from.
Nearest Airport and Railway Station
For the Kedarkantha trek, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport (DED) in Dehradun, about 25 km from the city centre. The nearest railway station is Dehradun Railway Station itself — there's no rail line beyond Dehradun, so this is where every train journey ends and the road leg begins, regardless of which city you started in.
Getting to Dehradun from Delhi
By road: Direct buses run from Delhi's ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dehradun, with onward connections toward Sankri. Driving yourself, the Delhi–Dehradun stretch on NH334 takes about 6–7 hours without heavy traffic.
By train: The Dehradun Shatabdi is the commonly used daytime option. Check IRCTC for current timing before booking — schedules on this route shift periodically, and it's not worth planning around last year's timetable.
By air: Flights run multiple times daily into Jolly Grant Airport. It's the fastest way to Dehradun, but you're still looking at the same 8–10 hour road leg to Sankri once you land — flying doesn't shortcut the last stretch.
Other Cities
Outside Delhi, connectivity to Dehradun depends heavily on whether your city has non-stop flights to Jolly Grant Airport. Some do; most don't, and route through Delhi or Mumbai instead.
| City | How to get to Dehradun | What to know |
| Mumbai | Flight (Air India, IndiGo run this sector) | Confirm current flight timing before booking — don't assume last season's schedule holds |
| Chennai | Via Delhi or Mumbai | No confirmed non-stop Chennai–Dehradun service at the time of writing |
| Pune | Flight (IndiGo) | Frequency isn't daily — check the week's schedule, not just whether a flight exists |
| Nagpur | Via Delhi or Mumbai | Nagpur's stronger asset is rail connectivity to Delhi, useful as backup |
| Ahmedabad | Flight (IndiGo) | Check current frequency before assuming daily service |
| Hyderabad | Flight (IndiGo) | Non-stop option exists on this route |
| Chandigarh | Direct road, or via Delhi | ~170–190 km by road if driving direct; no direct train |
| Jaipur | Flight (IndiGo), or road/rail via Delhi | Jaipur–Delhi road leg alone runs 5–6 hours if you skip the flight |
Flight frequency, and even which airline flies a given route, can change month to month on these smaller sectors. Check the current schedule before you lock in dates — this table tells you the route exists, not that Tuesday's flight will. For cities not listed here, the same rule applies: look for a direct Dehradun flight first, and fall back to Delhi as the connecting point if there isn't one.
The Last Stretch: Dehradun to Sankri
You've got three ways to cover it. Shared jeeps leave from Dehradun's Hill Bus Stand in the early morning — exact departure times vary by operator, so confirm locally rather than planning around a fixed hour. Private cabs cost more but let you stop when you want, which matters if you're traveling with people who need breaks. Buses run too, slower and rougher on the winding sections past Mori.
Winter changes the math. Snow near Mori can slow things down — how much depends on the day, so build in slack rather than planning to the hour. Night driving on this stretch isn't something local operators recommend, and for good reason: the turns get tight past Mussoorie. The same road is also prone to monsoon landslide delays between June and September, which sits outside Kedarkantha's main trekking window anyway, so it rarely affects an actual trek departure.
Where People Get It Wrong
- Landing in Dehradun late in the day — miss the morning jeep window and you're paying for an unplanned night's stay.
- Assuming Sankri has reliable ATM access or mobile network — both are limited. Carry cash and tell people back home not to expect a quick reply.
- Skipping ID and permit paperwork — Kedarkantha falls inside the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, so carry a valid photo ID and check current entry requirements with your operator or the forest department before travel.
- Treating a Sankri arrival as the finish line — the summit trek itself still takes 4–5 days on foot after you get there. If someone says they'll “do Kedarkantha in a day trip from Delhi,” they mean reaching Sankri, not the summit.
Booking with Himalayan Holidays
Himalayan Holidays (Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd.) handles the Dehradun–Sankri transfer as part of the Kedarkantha package — one less thing to arrange yourself if you're flying in from outside north India and already juggling connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct train to Sankri?
No — no railway line reaches it. You take a train to Dehradun and cover the rest by road.
What's the nearest airport to Kedarkantha?
Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun — about 25 km from the city.
What's the nearest railway station?
Dehradun Railway Station. It's the last rail point on the route; everything past it is by road.
Can I reach Kedarkantha from Delhi in a day?
You can reach Sankri in a day if you start early. You cannot complete the trek in a day — the summit climb takes 4–5 days on foot after you arrive at Sankri.
How high is the Kedarkantha summit?
About 3,800 metres (roughly 12,500 ft). Sankri, the base village, sits much lower, at around 1,950–2,000 metres.
How long is the actual trek from Sankri?
Roughly 19–20 km on foot, round trip, usually done over 4–5 days including acclimatization.
Do I need a permit to trek Kedarkantha?
The trek route falls inside the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, so entry documentation applies. Check current requirements with your trek operator or the local forest department before you travel.
Do I need to book the Dehradun–Sankri transfer in advance?
During December–February and around major holidays, yes — shared jeeps fill up. Outside that, it's less tight, though still worth checking.
Is the road open in winter?
Mostly, but snow can slow or occasionally hold up the last stretch near Mori. Build a buffer day into your plan rather than cutting it close.
Is there mobile network on the way to Sankri?
Coverage thins out well before Sankri and is unreliable once you're there. Let people know in advance.
Before You Book Anything
Work out what time you need to leave Dehradun to reach Sankri before dark, then pick your Delhi/Dehradun leg around that window — flight, train, or road. That one decision matters more than which airline you fly.
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