Madmaheshwar Trek
The second of the five Panch Kedar shrines, and honestly, the one most people skip because they've never heard of it. Our madmaheshwar trek package takes you through oak forests and open meadows to a temple that's still run the old way, no crowds, no rush, just the mountains and a walk that earns you the view.
Landscapes Of Madmaheshwar Trek Worth Walking For
A serene, less-crowded trek to the Madhyamaheshwar temple, one of the five Panch Kedar shrines of Lord Shiva.
auto_awesome Trek Highlights
The Second Kedar
Madmaheshwar is where Lord Shiva's navel is believed to have appeared, one of five spots that together make up the Panch Kedar. It's older than most people realise, and far less crowded than the first Kedar.
Walking Through The Sanctuary
Most of the trail runs inside the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, oak and rhododendron for the first stretch, then it opens up into meadows. Musk deer are sometimes spotted if you're quiet enough.
Budha Madmaheshwar
A short extension past the main temple takes you to a glacial lake and an older shrine, with Chaukhamba standing right in front of you. Weather permitting, we try to include this.
Ransi & Gaundhar
Small hill villages that most trekking crowds have never even heard of. Homestays here still feel like someone's actual house, because they are.
Difficulty
Moderate
Duration
5 Days
Max Alt.
3,497 m
Stay Type
Homestay/Camp
Basecamp
Ransi
Cloakroom
Yes
Offload
Yes
Best Time To Visit Madmaheshwar Trek
The temple stays open roughly from mid-May to early November, and closes for winter once the doli moves down to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. Here's where things stand right now. By early September, the trail dries up, and the meadows near Gaundhar are still green at this time of year. Skies also tend to stay clearer through late September and October, which matters a lot if you're hoping to see Chaukhamba from Budha Madmaheshwar. Batches are filling up steadily for the rest of this season, and we'd suggest locking your dates soon since the window closes once the temple shuts for winter.
What You'll Walk Through On The Madmaheshwar Trek
This is roughly what the trail looks like, stop by stop, once you leave Ransi behind.
Ransi
The vehicle road ends here. Last village with a proper market before the trail starts.
Gaundhar
Main overnight halt, forest thins out and the valley opens up around here.
Nanu
A small clearing on the steep stretch, usually a short tea-break point.
Madmaheshwar Temple
3,497 m, the actual second Kedar, with Chaukhamba visible on a clear day.
Budha Madmaheshwar
Optional walk beyond the temple, glacial lake and an old shrine.
Your Madmaheshwar Trek Journey
Pick your starting point below to see the exact day-wise plan and price.
touch_app Tap a starting point to switch
- check_circleBest if boarding from Rishikesh or Delhi
- check_circleStay, meals & permits included on route
- check_circleLocal guide for the temple day
Delhi/Rishikesh to Ransi
You'll join the batch at Rishikesh as it passes through on its way up from Delhi. From there it's a steady mountain drive via Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. You'll reach Ransi by evening and settle into your homestay for the night.
Ransi to Gaundhar
The actual trek starts today. It's a gentle climb through forest for the most part, oak, rhododendron, the odd stream crossing. Nothing technical, just steady walking. You'll reach Gaundhar by afternoon and can rest up before the longer day ahead.
Gaundhar to Madmaheshwar Temple & Back
This is the big one, and also the longest day of the trip. You'll climb roughly 10 km up to the temple, steep near the top, have your darshan, and then walk back down to Gaundhar the same day. We start well before sunrise and keep a slow, steady pace with enough breaks built in.
Gaundhar to Ransi, Drive Toward Rishikesh
A shorter trek back down to Ransi, where the vehicle's waiting, then we start heading back. Given how long the return drive actually is, we break it with an overnight halt on the way rather than push straight through in one go.
Arrival at Rishikesh/Delhi
You'll be dropped back at Rishikesh/Delhi by early afternoon, trek done, with a set of photos and a story most people haven't heard before.
What to Pack for Madmaheshwar Trek
Keep it practical. You'll be layering up and down constantly as altitude and weather shift through the day.
Clothing
- check_circle Thermal innerwear
- check_circle Fleece jacket
- check_circle Light down jacket
- check_circle Waterproof outer shell
- check_circle Trekking pants
- check_circle Woollen socks and gloves
- check_circle Woollen cap
Footwear
- check_circle Broken-in trekking shoes with good grip
- check_circle A spare footwear for the village
- check_circle Extra pairs of socks
Personal Essentials
- check_circle Sunglasses (UV protection)
- check_circle Sunscreen and lip balm
- check_circle Reusable water bottle
- check_circle Personal medication
- check_circle Power bank and a small torch
- check_circle ID proof, we'll ask for this at the forest checkpost
Food, Stay & Daily Comfort
Stay
Homestays at Ransi and Gaundhar, basic but clean, run by local families. Camps or GMVN rooms near the temple depending on the batch.
Food
Simple home-cooked vegetarian meals, dal, rice, sabzi, roti, the kind of food that actually keeps you going on a climb.
Bathrooms
Shared, western or Indian style depending on the homestay. Nothing fancy, but functional and clean.
Electricity
Available at Ransi and Gaundhar most of the time. Can be limited or off for a few hours near the temple.
Mobile Network
Works fine till Ransi. Past that, it gets patchy and mostly disappears once you're near Gaundhar and the temple.
Charging
Bring a power bank. There's no guarantee of a socket free once you're past Gaundhar.
The Expedition Package
verified What's Included
- check_circle Permits: Forest entry permit and required documentation.
- check_circle Accommodation: Stay through the route, homestays at Ransi and Gaundhar, camp/GMVN near the temple.
- check_circle Meals: All meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 5 breakfast.
- check_circle Transport: From your chosen pickup point through the route and back.
- check_circle Guide: Local trek guide and support staff throughout.
- check_circle First Aid: Basic first-aid kit on route.
cancel Not Included
- block Travel to your chosen pickup point (Rishikesh or Delhi)
- block Personal expenses, tips, and porterage beyond standard limits
- block Travel insurance
- block Mule or personal porter for your own bag, available on request for an extra charge
Pickup Points for Our Madmaheshwar Trek Package
We run pickup from two points, Delhi and Rishikesh, so you can join from whichever is easier to reach. Here's how each route works.
| Pickup Point | How It Works | Approx. Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Our pickup point, from where the group travels together by road toward Sagar via Rudraprayag and Gopeshwar. It's the longer of the two routes, but a single, direct drive. | ~13–14 hrs |
| Rishikesh | Our pickup point, and the shorter option if you're flying or training into Dehradun or Haridwar first. Most trekkers coming from further away find it easier to reach Rishikesh a day early. | ~8–9 hrs |
Thinking About the Madhmaheshwar Trek? Book Your Batch Early.
The season for Madmaheshwar is shorter than most people expect, and batches from both Rishikesh and Delhi tend to fill up once word gets around. Lock your dates now and you'll have more choice on when you go.
Reserve Your Slot arrow_forwardCommon Queries
Everything you need to know before you set foot on the trail.
It's rated moderate. The first day of walking is a gentle forest climb, but the second day, Gaundhar to the temple, gets genuinely steep near the end. There's no technical climbing involved, but you do need reasonable fitness, since there are no ponies or palanquins available on this route.
It's a 5 days, 4 nights package, run as one Delhi to Delhi batch that passes through Rishikesh, so you can board at either point. The trek itself, Ransi to Gaundhar to the temple and back, is covered in 3 of those 5 days, with the temple day being a long one since it combines the climb and the descent.
Mid-May to June, and September to early November, are the two windows when the temple's open and the weather cooperates. Skies tend to be clearest right after the monsoon clears in September, which is also a good time for the Budha Madmaheshwar extension.
Our Madmaheshwar trek cost starts from ₹8,999 per person for the full 5 day, 4 night package with Delhi or Rishikesh pickup. This covers permits, stay, meals, transport, and guide support. It doesn't cover personal expenses, offload charges, or travel insurance.
Yes, plenty of first-time trekkers join this batch every season. The trail's well marked and there's no technical section, but the steep stretch on Day 3 does require decent fitness. Walking a few kilometres regularly in the weeks before you come helps a lot.
Yes, since the trail runs through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, a forest entry permit is required. We handle this as part of every madmaheshwar trek package, so you won't need to arrange it separately.
Network works reasonably well till Ransi, then gets patchy and mostly drops off past Gaundhar. Let people back home know in advance, and carry a power bank since charging points get limited higher up.
Visual Moments
Policies & Terms
Cancellations made 30 days before the trek start date will receive a 90% refund. Cancellations between 15-30 days will receive a 50% refund. No refunds are provided for cancellations within 15 days of the departure.
Your booking is confirmed only after the receipt of the initial booking amount. A confirmation voucher will be sent to your registered email within 24 hours of payment verification.
A 25% advance payment is required to secure your slot. The remaining balance must be cleared at least 15 days prior to the trek departure date. We accept all major credit cards, UPI, and bank transfers.
Rescheduling requests are accepted up to 20 days before the trek start date, subject to availability and a nominal processing fee. Rescheduling within 20 days is treated as a cancellation.
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