This Kedarkantha trek will be starting from Sankri which is the base camp where you will be staying in a guest house / homestay. You will be picked up from Dehradun and will be dropped at Dehradun via Mussoorie on the last day. Three days stay will be in a tent on Double sharing and two days stay will be in Homestay. You will be trekking through Juda-ka-talab, Kedarkantha base camp, Kedarkantha peak, Hargaon and then back again to Sankri, the starting point.
On your way to Kedarkantha you will be able to learn about the lifestyle of local people and witness some alluring beauty of nature with thrilling and adventurous paths formed due to a thick sheet of snow. Kedarkantha peak will provide you the magnificent view of mighty Himalayan ranges and their beauty gets enhanced during the time of sunrise, when the orange rays of sun strikes the snow.
All in all it will be an adventurous trek trail which will connect you with nature in the most beautiful way. Kedarkantha is a mountain peak that is located at an elevation of 12,500 feets in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Kedarkantha is a Himalayan mountain peak which is located within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. Juda ka talab is one of the most prominent place that is visited during Kedarkantha trek as per the legends it is said that Lord Shiva once meditated at Kedarkantha and a drop from Shiva's hair fall on ground to form this lake and since then it is named as Juda-ka-talab. From Kedarkantha you can have the view of 13 mountains of Himalayan Range, and can also have the panoramic view of Har Ki Dun.
Why go on Kedarkantha Trek?
Kedarkantha is one of the popular and perfect winter treks that can be enjoyed by Pro adventure lovers and also for new beginners. In the kedarkantha Trek you can witness beauty and adventure both in equal proportion. You will walk through some of the dense forest of oak trees with a thick sheet of snow on your path. During the winter months trackwhen the mountain peaks are covered with snow, the view gets enhanced and when the Ray of rising Sun falls on it, it appears so heavenly. If you opt to go on track during the winter months then you can explore the beauty of this place and can have the peace of mind as this place is not that crowded during this period of time.
Seasons for Kedarkantha Trek
Summer
During the summer months the day appears to be sunny and pleasant but the night remains cold so if you want to plan at this period of time then you need to carry some light woolens. the temperature during this period of time ranges from 18°C to 8°C.
Winter
During the winter season the area experiences heavy snowfall and the nights become extremely cold. The snowfall starts during the end of December month and ends till the mid February month. During this period of time the temperature ranges from 8°C to minus 5°C. During the winters month the track can be enjoyed best as it is less populated at that period of time so you can plan it during anytime from January to February month.
Monsoon
During the monsoon period the trek becomes quite risky and you need to watch out for rain and lightning. it is not advisable to opt for this trek during the monsoon season as there will be a major risk of life
Altitude : 12500 feet of Kedarkantha.
Durations : A complete trek can be done in a period of six days.
Temperature : Summer 5°C to 20°C, Monsoon 9°C to 27°C, Winter -3°C to -8°C.
Trek Distance : The distance of trek from Sankri to Kedarkantha is 20 km.
Trek Type: Easy to Moderate
How To Reach
By Rail
Dehradun railway station is the nearest railway station that is connected to the major cities of India like Delhi, Howrah, Lucknow, etc. From the railway station, you can hire local bus private vehicles for a taxi to reach Sankri which is the base camp for the trek.
By Road
There are many government buses, taxis, and that run from Delhi to the Dehradun bus stand. On reaching Dehradun you can take a local bus to Dehradun Railway station and from there you will be picked up in Tata Sumo or some similar category vehicle. The total distance between Dehradun and Sankri is around 200 km which can be covered in the time period of 10 hours.
By Air
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport located in Dehradun. From the airport, you can hire any local vehicle for a cab to reach Dehradun pick up point, then you will be picked up in Tata Sumo or similar vehicle.
Best Time Kedarkantha Trek
The best time to go on kedarkantha Trek is during the winter months from December month to April month. At this period of time the part will be covered with snow which makes it more adventurous and thrilling one. Even if you will track from sankri to Juda ka Talab you can witness snow on your way. During this period of time the sunrise appears heavenly at kedarkantha peak.
Points to be taken into consideration
You need to have a trekking stick without that you can't Move in the mountains.
Altitude sickness is a condition that can happen so if you experience any symptoms such as minor headaches, general discomfort or nausea then you can directly contact the trek leader. Each campsite is having stretches, oxygen cylinders, and other medical facilities.
If the weather conditions become unfavorable during the trek then the decision of trek guides and trek leader is final and you need to follow it.
If you are having any minor or major injuries during the trek then you can contact the trek leaders as they are certified wilderness First Aid responders, and there are stretchers on each campsite on which you can be taken to the nearest medical center.
Walkie talkie will be used for communicating from the camping sites to the base camp as there are no networks available in cellphones.
No tight on body-hugging clothes are allowed.
You need to wear light clothes which can dry easily.
Your body should be fully hydrated and you need to carry a water bottle along with you on the trek.
A pair of raincoats should be taken along on the trek.
You should have good Sports or trekking shoes.
While moving upward you should put down your heel first and while coming downwards you need to walk on your flat foot.
Any kind of meditation should only be taken after the Consultants.
Things to Carry
Full track pants.
Full sleeve T-shirts with a collar.
Waterproof Jacket with full sleeves.
Woolen inner wears.
Normal comfortable clothes.
Woolen muffler, scarf, and cap.
Raincoat or umbrella.
Backpack of 50 to 60 liters with a rain cover.
Energy bars and dry fruits.
Poncho.
Hand sanitizer and antibacterial powder.
Toothpaste and toothbrush.
Floaters and flip-flops.
Waterproof and woolen gloves.
A medical kit containing bandage, Crepe bandage, Crocin, combiflam, cotton, Betadine, moove, and other sprays.
Four pairs of sports socks.
Sports or trekking shoes.
100% UV protection sunglasses.
Lip and skincare balms.
Hot bag or water bottle or thermal flask.
Drinking water bottle.
Walking stick.
Head Torch or an LED light.
Lightweight towel.
thing that is not mentioned.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Que: How long do we need to walk for Kedarkantha trek on each day?
Ans: You need to walk for around 7 km each which will take from 5 to 7 hours. But the complete trek is done with proper halt so it doesn’t seem that difficult.
Que: Having Diamox is advisable?
Ans: no it is not advisable but if you still want to have them, then you should first consult your doctors.
Que: Where are the nearest hospitals located?
Ans: There is a Government Hospital and a Primary Health Centre which is located in Mori town of Uttarakhand.
Que: Where is the last ATM located?
Ans: The last ATM is located in Mori town which is having the SBI Bank with an ATM. At times you can find that the ATM machine is not working in that case you can withdraw your cash at withdrawal Centre or through cards.
Que: who will go along on the trek and who will lead?
Ans: There will be a trek leader who will be having a certified course degree for basic and advanced level of mountaineering. Other than him there will be a cook, porter, local guide, helper, and other persons.
Que: What is the maximum number of people in a group?
Ans: there is no limit for a customized trek group but for the fixed departure at least there should be 15 to 16 people in a single group to go ahead with the trekking plan.
Que: Is this trek safe for girls?
Ans: yes this trek is fully safe for the female trekkers as the male and female ratio is taken into consideration before starting the trek. Separate camps are provided to the group of girls so that they can be comfortable.
Que: If the bag is overloaded the can anyone help in carrying?
Ans: yes your extra luggage will be taken by Mule or Porter but for that, you need to book at least 15 days advance so that they can be arranged.
Que: Which networks are available on Kedarkantha Trek?
Ans: BSNL, Vodafone, Jio and Airtel sims have moderate to good network connectivity on the different locations of kedarkantha trek.
Que: What is the minimum age to go on this trek?
Ans: The minimum age required to go on any kind of trek is above the age of 10 years and should have a good fitness level.
Que: Is a tent shared among solo female travelers and male travelers?
Ans: No the tent will be shared with the same gender, the tent partner of the female traveler will be another female traveler and for males, it will be a male traveler.
Inclusions
Pickup and drop from Haridwar bus stand/railway station or Dehradun airport.
Proper accommodation in camp or guest house with attached washroom.
Accommodation on the basis of triple sharing.
Breakfast, evening snack and dinner all meals included.
Entry charge in the forest.
Fees of trek guide.
Safety gears and the first aid kit.
Any other tax.
Exclusions
Pickup from any part of India to Haridwar/Dehradun.
Any personal expenses.
Any other transportation taken during the trek.
Hotel in Dehradun.
Extra baggage charges.
Any extra cost occurs due to roadblock, landslide or any other natural calamity.