The Kedarkantha trek is one of the best trekking experiences that you can get if you are a lover of trekking. India has many things to offer starting from the great mountains to the deep seas. You can enjoy all types of adventures amidst the beauty of nature in India. Trekking is one of the most interesting and fun-loving activities that can be enjoyed in the mountain ranges. The Kedarkantha region is all full of mountains so it will be a great idea to go for Kedarkantha trek in Uttarakhand. Below all the basic and necessary information related to the Kedarkantha trek is given in great detail that will help you to plan your trip for trekking in the Kedarkantha.
Outdoor adventure might bring to a real joy and Trekking is one of the most popular forms of adventure that one can experience in his or her lifetime. Though it seems difficult for the first timers but the satisfaction comes only after one finishes the trek. Be it harder or easier, a real adventure lover will always get the pleasure of hiking. There are few important tips that one needs to follow before planning a trek to Kedarkantha.
Best Time To Go For Kedarkantha Trek
The best part about this trek is that it is around trial trek that both starts and ends in Sankri and you can go for trekking in Kedarkantha throughout the year but the best time to visit Kedarkantha trek is in the month of December to February that is in the winter season. At this time the location is filled with snow and so you get the feel of the winter trek or snow trek.
Therefore it is generally advised to take the Kedarkantha trek in winter to enjoy the complete benefits of the trek in the natural environment. Also it is highly recommended to avoid trekking in this region in the monsoon season that is up till the month of April, as the place receives a very high amount of snowfall during that phase so it may turn out to be extremely dangerous for you if you take a tour or go for trekking in Kedarkantha in the monsoon season.
Ideal duration: 5 days, can also be covered in the 6-day duration
Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
Maximum altitude: 12,500 feet
Location: Uttarkashi District, State of Uttarakhand
Kedarkantha is the name of a mountain peak in the Himalayan regions in the state of Uttarakhand in India. It is located in the Uttarkashi district within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sankri village.
About Kedarkantha Trek
The Kedarkantha trek is a trek of 5 days basically which is full of adventures and fun. You will get the chance to trek in the snow in the beautiful atmosphere of nature. Trekking is not at all an easy job but the trek to Kedarkantha would also not be too very difficult in comparison to many other treks in the Himalayan region.
This trip is advised for the people who are deeply interested in trekking in the Himalayan region however that can be both the beginners in the field of trekking or have the experience of trekking in the past. The experience of the Kedarkantha trek would be completely different from many other treks that you might have experienced.
What To See During Kedarkantha Trek
Here’s a list of picturesque wonders that you must witness while trekking. Make sure you undergo these experiences.
1. Pinnacle View
On reaching the summit, you’ll get to see a wondrous view of the Garhwal mountains. You’ll witness Black Peak, Bandarpoonch, and Swargarohini. This view makes the whole struggle required to reach the summit worthwhile. You’ll also be able to see the well-known Har ki Dun Valley from here.
2. Beautiful Campsites
The campsites in this trek are counting amongst the best ones in the Himalayas in India. One such site is Khujey, a meadow enveloped within lush-green forests. Bhoja Dadi is also a picturesque campsite that is in fact situated at a closer distance from the Kedarkantha trek.
3. The Kotgaon-Kedarkantha Route
Make sure you pass by Kotgaon during your trek, as this village is nothing less than a place straight out of a fairy tale. At the backdrop lie the Devkyara and Har ki Dun valleys. Make sure you don’t take this route during the snowfall, as it is often found blocked during this time.
Things To Know When Planning A Kedarkantha Trek
Get well-prepared before you are planning for a trek- It is very important to go through a thorough research work before you are planning for a trek as this research will lead to complete the trek in a satisfactory manner. So it is needless to say that a preparation for a trek does not end up while you are signing up for a trek rather it begins through your research work.
The trekker who is solely responsible for his trek planning and schedules will have to take the preparation very carefully and should join a trek agency and sign up for a trek plan. Reading the trek plan on email and making note of updated information as well as the changes in the plan on daily basis are also parts for the preparation for the trek. Fitness is a key to trekking, even if it is an easier trek as without fitness, it is really to complete an entire trek because of a lot of mental exhaustion and lack of physical strength.
1. Avoid Littering
This is a unique quality that every trekker should inherit that she or he should be very careful while generating waste. One trekker not only should avoid generating waste but also take back home waste if it generates. Every trekker should believe that all trekking trails must be clean.
2. Essentials You Must Carry
One should not carry any kind of packaged food for instance biscuits, namkeen packets. Instead of that one should carry dry fruits, peanuts, bananas and jiggery. Even if you are carrying the biodegradable waste such as the bananas, dry fruits, apple stalks or orange peels, you should not throw them on the trails that you are walking.
3. Be Alert
If you are a responsible trekker, you should always take care of other trekker while you are in a team. You need to listen to the instructions and the guidelines shared by the trek leaders. This means you need to keep motivating your trek mates. Furthermore, you need to be well-aware about the tent etiquette while you are on a trek and you should make other trek mate understand the tent etiquette.
4. Follow The Leader
A responsible and professional trekker understands the depth of the instructions that the trek leader fixes for the safety call while on a trek. Instructions such as the wake up timing, the time to reach on the summit day, to send a trekker down for any kind of medical reasons. In short, while you are on a trek, the trek leader’s word is final and you need to show respect to the instructions by following them.
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Kedarkantha Trip Itinerary
The trip takes almost 5 days. You can also cover the trekking distance in 6 days or 7 days. It depends upon your capabilities and your trekking group as you do not generally go for solo trek tours in this location so you have to move as per your guide’s instructions, however, the ideal time would be 5 days and the itinerary for the same is given below:
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Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri
The base camp of the Kedarkantha trek is in Sankri that is located at a distance of 186 km from Dehradun. So the journey of the Kedarkantha trek begins from Sankri and you can reach the place by taking both the railways and roadways to Dehradun. You can also come using air transportation and then take a local transport journey by bus or can hire a car or taxi to reach the base camp location.
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Day 2: Sankri to Juda Ka Taal
You will be provided with spikes and gaiters by your instructor to wear for your safety in the trek. You will have to cover a distance of 5 km in total on the second day of the trek starting from the Sankri to Juda Ka Taal. You will start with some warm-up by walking for 10 minutes. You will get to see Swargarohini in the way and will reach Juda ka Taal by the afternoon and will stay there overnight.
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Day 3: Juda Ka Taal to Kedarkantha base camp
On the 3rd day, you will begin to form the Juda ka Taal and by the late evening, you will reach the Kedarkantha base camp where you will experience the serenity of nature’s beauty and will rest there overnight after having dinner. The altitude of this place is around 11,200 ft. and the total trekking distance that you will cover on the 3rd day would be 3 to 4 km.
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Day 4: Kedarkantha base camp to Kedarkantha
This is a long day as you have to cover 6 km of distance. You will enjoy the nearby locations for sometimes and then have your lunch. After lunch, you will leave you will get back from the summit. You will get to see Black Peak, Gangotri, Bandarpoonch and many more places in between and then you will take a route to Hargaon.the same day.
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Day 5: Hargaon to Sankri to Dehradun
On the last day of trekking, you will return to Sankari and then to Dehradun. The total distance to cover on the last day is also approximately 6 km so the day is long and lazy as well. While returning you will get to see some of the nearby villages and pause in between meals. When you return to Sankri, you task some rest and then again start for Dehradun the same day.
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Tips To Know When Going For Kedarkantha Trek
- The temperature of the place various from 15°C to – 5°C so there shouldn’t be any doubts to fill your bags with warm clothes while you go for Kedarkantha trek in December or any month of the year for that matter
- It is always good to have an expert and guide with you as you will get to know the unknown place in a better way
Entry permits and the other such required documents act is important to carry - Trekking shoes, slippers, sunscreen lotions, windcheaters, raincoat, and UV protected sunglasses, water bottles, personal medication, walking stick, torch, first aid equipment should be with you in the trek
- Carrying extra energy cells for the flashlight and the torch will be fruitful as due to low temperature sometimes cells don’t work properly
- The weather out there is cold and chilly so it is advisable to carry a proper pack of moisturiser to keep your skin healthy.
- The idea of keeping extra food and dry foods will be amazing
- Do not carry more than 10 kg of weight or luggage as it will become difficult to carry
- Keep an appropriate amount of money with you so that you do not fall short of the fund in the middle of the trekking tour
- Avoid such treks if you have breathing problems and you are acrophobic
- It is strictly suggested not to visit this place during monsoon season since there won’t be trekking due to the heavy snowfall in the region
- You shouldn’t smoke while trek because by doing that you will require more oxygen and in the mountains, you have thin air to breathe
- The person suffering from a heart problem, high blood pressure and ellipses should avoid such trip
- Kedarkantha is supposed to be the throat of Lord Shiva and this place has religious significance so do not try to hurt the religious sentiments of the local people
- Consuming alcohol and other intoxicating products during trekking makes your body dehydrated so avoid that while trekking
- Dehydration is one of the reasons for altitude sickness so keep yourself properly hydrated
- Avoid trekking at night as it is dangerous due to the low temperature
- Avoid leaving your group, guide and follow the instructions to be safe
- Do not use headphones or earphones while trekking and do indulge in lettering the places
How To Reach Kedarkantha Trek
The route of Kedarkantha trek is not very difficult. You can easily reach the base camp location with the help of local transportation once you reach Dehradun.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is located about 25 km from the city. From Delhi, there is a daily flight for Dehradun. After you reach Dehradun you can hire a cab or can use the local transport to reach the base camp.
By Train:
You can board the train to Dehradun from Delhi. There are regular trains that run from Delhi for Dehradun so you can take an overnight journey for Dehradun from Delhi and after that, you can use the private vehicle or bus to reach Sankri.
By Road:
Regular buses run for Delhi to Dehradun that you can board. There are Delhi government buses that run so it is advised to board the government bus from Kashmere gate in Delhi for Dehradun. After reaching Dehradun you can use the local transport system or can hire a private vehicle to reach Sankri.
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The trek of Kedarkantha is a very beautiful bivouac that is covered with snow and pine forest. You will be able to experience the full view of the mountains and will also be able to stand on the top of one of the trekkable peaks of the Himalayan region. The complete Kedarkantha trek distance is almost 23 km and the altitude of the peak of the Kedarkantha is 12500 feet. You will also get a chance to see the Godly peaks such as the Black Peak, Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, etc. while you go for the Kedarkantha trek. The Kedarnath trek will refresh your mood and will give you a very joyous feeling and you are filled with life and happiness in the Kedarkantha trek.
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Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kedarkantha Trek
What is the location of Kedarkantha?
Kedarkantha is in Uttrakhand, one of the states of India. It is located in the Uttarkashi district within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sankri village.
What are the other locations in the nearby regions of the Kedarkantha that you can see?
This place is bestowed with natural bliss with vivid fauna and flora. There you get to see 13 mountains peaks of Himalayan ranges, Govind wildlife sanctuary, beautiful and perfect sunrise, you can enjoy trekking, climbing, etc.
Is Kedarkantha trek suitable for the beginners?
Yes, this trek is considered best for beginners. Except for the uphill climb from Kedarkantha base the difficulty level rises from easy to moderate otherwise it is the perfect place to start trekking for a beginner.
Which is the best month for Kedarkantha trekking and what is the average temperature of the region?
The temperature varies from 15°C to -5°C. During the daytime, the usual temperature ranges from 8°C to 15°C and at night it ranges from -5°C to 3°C. The best month for this trek is from December to February.
What should you carry with you in the Kedarkantha trek?
It is obvious and natural to experience the snow-capped Himalayas in the route of the Kedarkantha trek. So you are supposed to carry warm clothes, pullovers, trekking shoes, water bottles, personal medications with you to be safe.
How to reach Kedarkantha?
You can use either of the transportation that is bus, car, train, flight. You can easily reach Sankri Village where Kedarkantha is located from Dehradun by using any of the listed means of transportation.
What is the one most important thing which one needs to avoid in the trek of Kedarkantha?
It is strictly advised not to consume alcohol or any intoxicating products while trekking in this region due to religious sentiments. It is also suggested not to trek at night as this could not be safe for you.
Why is the Kedarkantha trek popular as the winter trek?
In the winter season, you get to see the mesmerizing white snow, the beauty of pine trees and the feeling of touching the sky, lush green landscape, frozen ponds which give a very delightful sight so it is called as winter trek.
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