Kedarkantha is a mountain peak of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. Its elevation is 12,500 ft. Kedarkantha is located within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarkashi district. The climb to the peak of Kedarkantha starts from a small village called as Sankri. There are a total of 13 peaks of the Himalayan range visible from the Kedarkantha peak. Kedarkantha is the best place in India to do hiking in Winter With falling winter snow it’s an attractive pictorial view and what’s more attractive, is the view of the Mighty Himalayas from the trails right to the top lying at the altitude of 3,810 meters. This trek is for those who love to do adventure.
The drive from Dehradun to Sankri is an enchanting hill drive of 8-9 hours stretching over 190 Km ride via Mussoorie, Damta, Naugaon, Purola, Mori and Naitwar. You will see the beautiful valleys and forest cover throughout the journey. Sankri is a little village within the Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand and the last road head to Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. Stay will be in Guest House/Home Stay/Camp on sharing basis. The trail will commence the next morning at 07:30 AM with light breakfast and a brief session of Kedarkantha trek by Trek The Adventures. The cab will be arranged at an additional cost from Dehradun Railway station to Sankri(One Way) at 7:00 AM. Cost of the cab – Rs. 5,500/- per vehicle.
Initially, the trek from Sankri village to Juda Ka Talab will give you altitude rise of about 2700 ft., this is about 4-5 hours of the trek through the dense forest trees and the thick carpet of maple and pine leaves all brown in color and witness the captivating beauty of nature. The trail goes through Saud village and which is a mild climb. Juda Ka Talab campsite will be surrounded by tall pine and oak trees and mountain slopes. Camp here for an overnight stay, Enjoy the serenity scattered around this place with evening sunset and glittering sunrise in the morning.
Today’s trail is short and again begins through dense forests of pine and oak trees only and through the steep ridge and much more dense areas, it takes 2-3 hours to reach the open highlands below the summit. This is one of the greatest stretches in this trek as the natural beauty is unbelievable and promises to depart behind an unforgettable reminiscence. As you move ahead into forest abruptly at the end forest trails you begin to see an extensive meadow stretching in front of mighty Dhauladhar Ranges. This camping site has tremendous picturesque views and is the main highlight of the trek. You can roam around this place without any difficulty and can soak all the fresh tidings of nature’s gift. Camp here for overnight stay.
It is a long day today, but the excitement of the journey and conquering the peak would be far greater and much more worthy in compared to the challenges that lay ahead for the visitors. The climb is steep however absolutely worthwhile and one with rewarding views. As soon as you move slowly dense forest trails surrounding by Pine trees start to disappear slowly. It takes about 2 hours to reach there. On the summit, you are surrounded by mountain valleys and ranges. Panoramic sights of mighty Himalayas range mixed with dark blue and white clouds scattered like a painting sketched by nature just for you. You will see the Dhauladhar range, Chainsheel Pass, Har ki Dun valley and Rupin valley. Swargarohini also comes into view along with Black Peak and Bandarpoonch. Some of the other peaks you see include Gangotri, Jaonti, Yamnotri, Jorkanden and Draupadi ka Danda. After spending some time on the top, you head back to the campsite, have lunch at a middle point of descending at the basecamp and head towards Hargaon. After a wonderful day, spend the night in tents.
Today is the last day of the trek and you will be heading towards Sankri from where it all started approximately 6 km long trail counting about 4 hours. After breakfast, we will descend thru a more marked well-paved path, laden with stones. A trail further leads to a ridge from where you get an awesome view of Har Ki Dun valley. After reaching Sankri by noon, get settled in for an overnight stay in guest house/camp/homestay. Roam around this quiet village and learn few words of the local language, this is appreciated and often results in getting more out of the experience.
Sign off from Sankri early in the morning, preferably before 07:00 AM since the journey takes 8-9 hours. The Cab will be arranged at an additional cost from Sankri to Dehradun Railway Station at 07:00 AM.
Beginners are more than welcome to go on this beautiful trek. This trek has the beautiful campsites in the Himalayas, where every site is unique in its own way and does not match the beauty with any other campsites in the journey. This summit is effortlessly accessible any time of the year and offers trekkers a different serene experience in different seasons.
In the end, the trail leaves you at the best point of rocky snow included summit from wherein trekkers are rewarded with remarkable 360° bird’s eye views of DhaulaDhar ranges and Godly peaks like Swargarohini, Banderpooch, and Black Peak. This might the best place for you to come.
Kedarkantha Trek is Beautiful and Pleasant for whole Year. Best time of year include December to April, Expect trekking on the snow in the mid of December. During winters, Kedarkantha covered in the thick blanket of snow best for skiers.
