Overview
Kedarkantha is a popular winter trip. It is also called the “Queen of Winter Treks.” It is famous among trekkers because of the knee-deep snow in the winter, the breathtaking views from the summit, and the lovely and simple paths.
Kedarkantha is a low-level hike suitable for novices and families. The ‘easy on endurance’ track winds through Govind National Park’s dense pine trees. The vistas from the top are worth the 12,500-foot elevation gain.
Isn’t this a fascinating mountain feature to add to a trekker’s vocabulary?
When Is the Best Time to Visit Kedarkantha?
The best feature about this journey is that it is a trial walk that begins and finishes in Sankri. You may go trekking in Kedarkantha all year, but the ideal time to visit the Kedarkantha trek is from December to February, which is the winter season. The region is covered with snow at this time. It gives you the impression of a winter walk or snow trek.
It is often recommended to take the Kedarkantha trip in winter. Get the full benefits of the walk in the natural setting.
It is strongly advised to avoid hiking in this region during the monsoon season. It lasts from June to April. The area receives a lot of snow at that time.
What to Expect on the Kedarkantha Trek
View from the Peak
Black Peak, Bandarpoonch, and Swargarohini are seen. This view justifies the entire effort necessary to reach the peak.
Beautiful Campsites for Night Camping
The campsites on this hike are among the nicest in India’s Himalayas. One such spot is Khujey, a meadow surrounded by lush green forests. Bhoja Dadi is another lovely camping near the Kedarkantha climb.
Sankri Someshwar Mahadev
Someshwar Mahadev temple is also a popular tourist destination for hundreds of visitors who visit treks such as Kedarkantha, Har ki Doon, Bali Pass, Juda ka Talab, and others. Local festivals and fairs are held in Temples. Thousands of devotees from all over the world visit this temple to learn about the local culture and architecture.
The Someshwar Mahadev temple is a work of pure timber workmanship. The walls of temples are made of Deodar wood. These are covered with magnificent artwork.
Local artisans carve on wood to reflect the rich history, culture, and customs.
The architecture is in the traditional Pahadi style.
Trekking Base Camp Sankri Village
Every trekker should visit the Sankri Village in Uttarakhand on their way to the Himalayan Paradise. It is not only a picturesque hamlet in Uttarkashi district but also a trekker’s paradise.
The last route leading to the Govind Balabh Pant Wildlife Sanctuary is through Sankri Village. The settlement provides breathtaking views of the Himalayan skyline and a multitude of mountain peaks that stare at you from afar.
The following is a rough schedule for a short Kedarkantha hike.
The Kedarkantha trip begins at Sankri village.
Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri Base Camp
The trip from Dehradun to the base camp at Sankri hamlet at 6,400 feet is 187 kilometers long. It takes 8-10 hours to get there, and you’ll travel through gorgeous villages like Mussoorie and Naitwar along the route.
Day 2 Sankri to Juda Ka Talab
A 5-kilometer ascent from the base camp to Juda ka Talab at an elevation of 9,000 feet. The walk takes around 5 hours as you pass through lush green meadows, pine, oak, and maple trees. You may also drink water from the lake after you are to Juda ka Talab.
Day 3: Juda ka Talab to Kedarkantha Camp Site
Begin the trip early in the morning at sunrise to Kedarkantha base camp, which is located at 11,200 feet. It is now a 4-mile hike that takes 3 hours to complete, traveling through pine and oak woodlands.
Day 4 : From Kedarkantha Peak to Hargaon
Begin your day before dawn to reach the mountain before sunrise. The top is about 12,500 feet and takes approximately 2-3 hours to arrive. Stop and take in the beauty of nature once you’ve seen it. Return to Hargaon, which is a 6-kilometer hike at an elevation of 8,450 feet.
Things to bring on the Kedarkantha trek: a list of the essentials
1) Woollen clothing, such as sweaters, thermals, gloves, hats, mufflers, and socks:
The weather is unpredictable in the winter. Heavy and comprehensive three to five clothing layers are recommended.
2) Windproof coat
3) Shoes for hiking, snow boots, sandals, or slippers
4) A hiking pole or a walking stick
5) Sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen creams, lip balm, headlamp, and flashlight with spare batteries
6) Tissues, sanitizer, liquid soaps, paste, and toothbrush
7) Drugs: Diamox for altitude sickness, vital medicines for headaches, stomach discomfort, regular medication, band-aids, volini spray, and anything else.
8) Phone chargers or a portable power source
9) Raincoat, additional shirts/t-shirts, and hiking pants
Please remember to bring a raincoat, an umbrella, and an additional pair of clothes when it rains.
10) Identification card and photocopies
Three ways to reach Kedarkantha
However, the path between Sankri-Ka-Talab and Kedarkantha Base Camp is the most popular of the three. The three Kedarkantha hike routes are as follows.
Route 01: Sankri – Juda-Ka-Talab – Kedarkantha Base Camp – Kedarkantha Peak
(On the way back from Kedarkantha summit, you can take the Hargaon path.) If you are returning to Sankri through Hargaon, your path will be as follows: Hargaon Base Camp – Sankri)
Route 02: Kotgaon to Khujeya, then to Kedarkantha Base Camp, and finally to Kedarkantha Peak.
