Kedarkantha, a mountain peak in Uttarakhand is famous for winter treks. One of the attractions within Govind National park, this peak is the most famous trekking spot.
The district of Uttarkashi is home to many tourists spot including 13 mountain peaks.
Altitude elevation: 12,500 ft
With the most amazing trail, Kedarkantha takes a trekker through various natural wonders. This place gives an experience of a lifetime. Easily accessible from other parts of the country Kedarkantha is a must-visit.
Embrace the white snow-peaked mountain ranges in winter and camp under the twinkling stars. To get the best of this place plan a trip in the months from December to April.
Never the less the trail or trekking is always a good option in any part of the year. Either summer or winter, this place is mesmerizing.
When in Uttrakhand, an interesting factor also includes the local people. Their culture, food, and all their lifestyle are unique on their own. The Sanskri village is the base camp of this trek and will give enough opportunity to explore the local.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Haridwar railway station
Nearest airport: Dehradun-Jollu Kant
Via road: Plan a drive till Dehradun, then it will take a 10hour drive to Sanskri village. Either private or public transport can be used to
reach Sanskri.
The government buses are available for Dehradun from Delhi itself. The buses take another 10 hours to reach the Sanskri village.
There is also the service of cabs available from the Dehradun bus stand for both ways at the beginning and the end of the trek.
About the Kedarkantha Trek
From the base village of Sanskri, the trek commences in the early morning. When in the village, one might meet many other trekkers going to other treks like Har ki Dun.
When starting the trek, one will go through the immense silence of the dense forest and the zigzag routes through the mountain. The sunrise from that height will amaze the trekkers as the sun changes the color of the valley every minute.
The rejuvenating view of the sky kissing mountain peaks, meadows, valleys, and ponds will make this trek the top among other treks in India.
From the elevation of 6,400 ft, the trekking from Sanskri village also goes through the popular lake known as Juda Ka Talab.
The flora and fauna habitation in the Juda ka Talab will accompany the trekker and it is proved to be a very nice place to set a camp. From this lake around 4km of dry leaves, wooden logs are some of the natural pioneers in the forest.
The second base camp of Kedarkantha is the second stop in this trek. At the end of the forest, a huge meadow is a spot for this base camp where one experiences the coldest night.
From this base camp, the difficulty of the trek begins starting from the uphill climbing for at least 6 km. But at the top, the view is just jaw-dropping, as long as can the eye see it is just snow-peaked mountain ranges.
Plan for 6 to 5 days and set camp at the top of the Kedarkantha peak to embrace the star grazing sky. Under the open sky, start a bonfire or cook some easy meals to enjoy the chilly nights in Uttarakhand.
From the top of the peak, one can capture the view of some of the known peaks of Uttarakhand like Bandarpoonch, Kalang, Group of Gangotri peaks, Yamunotri, Swargohini, and Dhauladhar ranges.
Things to carry
- Track pants
- Woolen clothes for the night
- Water bottle
- Flashlights
- Trekking pole
- Trekking boots
- Toiletries
- Towels and blankets
- Sleeping bag
- Camera and extra batteries
- Ready-made food packages
- Gloves and socks
- First-aid kit
- Medicines for caution
- Face creams or lotion
- Inner wears
Tips before starting the trek
- Climate update is very necessary. Either heavy rainfall or snowfall can interrupt the trekking.
- A complete health check-up must be done.
- Do not plan to consume any kind of drugs.
- Do not exploit nature and the people living like locals.
- For security purposes, do not trek at night and seek help from the guides.
- Always have an extra piece of clothes, toiletries, and medicines.
