Overview
One of the top trekking routes in winter India, Kedarkantha is one of the few Himalayan treks that is accessible throughout winter. It is ideal for those who want to start their journey through the Himalayas, or for experienced trekkers seeking a short vacation and a relaxing getaway. Kedarkantha trek is a fantastic adventure to walk across the snowy terrain and enjoy the view of the mountains, even in the coldest winters.
The trail is dotted with dense oak and pine forests, large open meadows of green, tranquil lakes, stunning campsites, and a vast view of the majestic Himalayan mountains The Kedarkantha hike is the perfect combination of adrenaline, adventure and spectacular views.
Kedarkantha Trek
Its Kedakantha Trek difficulty is moderate. It is, therefore, suitable for those who are just beginning. It is suitable for beginners. Kedarkantha trail is full of Dense pines, Oak forests open meadows and snow in winter. It is situated in Uttrakhand. The base camp in Sankri is about 200 kilometres from Dehradun. The altitude of the trek is approximately 6000 feet at Sankri to 12,500 feet. on Kedarkantha Peak. The Kedarkantha trekking distance is approximately 25 kilometres. The trek can last between 4 and 5 days. The ideal time to undertake this trek is between December and April.
The Kedarkantha trek starts from the tiny village located in Sankri in Uttarakhand situated at an elevation of 6000 feet. With expansive views of snow-covered mountains almost everywhere along the trail and the Kedarkantha trek is a single trail through dense oak and pine trees as well as frozen lakes, and snow-covered trails that lead to the Kedarkantha summit, which is situated at 12,500 feet. The entire trek is four days to complete, beginning at Sankri and returning, aside from additional days to travel from Dehradun and others.
Mythology
Like many places around Uttarakhand are rich in mythological and religious references, Kedarkantha is no different. The most well-known reference to the area comes from the epic poem Mahabharata in which it is stated that Kedarkantha is the location where Lord Shiva in his bull-like form took refuge from Pandavas and was able to meditate in the valley, but after being interrupted by locals, he fled toward Kedarnath. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built on the peak of the valley is believed to guard this valley as well as its inhabitants.
Itinerary
Day 0: Coming to Dehradun
Day 1: Drive to Dehradun and on to Sankri Base Camp
Day 2 1: Hiking Sankri up to Juda Ka Talab
Day 3: Trekking Juda Ka Talab to arrive at Kedarkantha Base Camp
Day 4: Trekking from Kedarkantha Base Camp to reach Kedarkantha peak, and then back to Hargaon Campsite
Day 5: Return trek the way you came from Hargaon towards Sankri and then back to Dehradun
Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri Base Camp
Take off from Dehradun early at 6 AM, and make it to Sankri at night to witness the stunning sunset that is visible from the peaceful village that is surrounded by natural beauty. This gives you plenty of time to finish your last-minute preparations, and to get some sleep before tackling the trek the next day.
It is 220 kilometres. The time is between 10 and 11 hours. The elevation is 6,400 feet high. Sankri is accessible Sankri by road from Dehradun only road by hiring a private car either a bus or an individual cab.
Day 2: Sankri to Juda Ka Talab
The distance is 5 kilometres. It takes 5 hours to complete the distance. The Altitude is approximately 9,100 feet. A mere 5 km hike starting from base camp, through lush meadows, thick pines and oak forests leads to the picturesque Juda Ka Talab campsite. Juda Ka Talab as the name suggests is a picturesque frozen lake that was used in the past to have two lakes but has been joined to form one.
Day 3: From Juda ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp
The distance is 4km. The time will take 3 hours. This trek is 3 hours long. Altitude at 11,250ft. The hike begins with Juda Ka Talab, a 4km trek that is normally through dense pine forests, it later opens up to mountain views, reaching Kedarkantha Base Camp. Kedarkantha Base Camp is located at 11,150 feet. From here, you can enjoy all-encompassing panoramas of snow-covered mountains that include Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Ranglana to name a few. The Kedarkantha peak is visible from this spot.
Day 4 from Kedarkantha Base Camp to Kedarkantha peak and Hargaon Hargaon
The distance is approximately 6 kilometres. The duration is between 6 and 7 hours. The Altitude ranges from 12,500 feet to 8,900 feet. Kedarkantha summit Kedarkantha summit, marked with the Trishul that is pointing towards heaven, lies about 2 hours from base camp. It can be reached via several routes. It is suggested to begin the hike at 3 AM to witness the breathtaking sunrise at approximately 7 AM from the summit of the hill. Although the hike begins with a steady climb and as you move closer to the summit the trail gets more difficult with steep slopes of up to 80 degrees at some points.
Day 5: Hargaon to Sankri/Dehradun
It is 6 kilometres. The duration is four hours. It is a long hike. The altitude of 6,400 feet. The route that runs from Hargaon towards Sankri is well-trod along an asphalted stone path that is comparatively shorter due to its descent. There are also stunning panoramas of Har ki Dun valley along the route. After arriving back at Sankri You can opt to stay the rest of the day in Sankri and hike the stunning Himalayan village, or return to Dehradun on the same day, provided you have your transportation.