Kedarkantha is an easy trek highly recommended for those who are planning their first trek & want it to be snow laden.This is one of the few treks which are open for the entire year. The ideal season to do this trek however is from dec end to march when the trail is completely snow clad. Camping over snow by the lake, 360 degree view of some of the highest peaks like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Black Peak are some of the major attractions of this trek. Lying in Govind Wild life Sanctuary and National Park in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the region is home to rich flora & fauna.
| 1 | Difficulty Level | Easy. No prior experience of trekking required. |
| 2 | Max. Altitude | 12500 Ft. |
| 3 | Season | Dec end - March |
| 4 | What is included in the fee | Meals during the trek Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any Tents, Sleeping bags, mats Safety Equipment Trek guide, cook, helpers, porters & mules for carrying common luggage Services of a Certified Trek Leader |
| 5 | What is not included in the fee | Meals during road journeys Carriage of Personal Bags during the trek Any kind of Insurance Any expense of personal nature Any expense not specified in the inclusion list. |
| 6 | Trek Pictures |                        |
GST @ 5% is applicable on the fee.
Report in Sankri by late afternoon. Check into Guest House. Rooms will be on sharing basis.Dinner on this day is included.
Today’s trek is to Juda Ka Taal. After a short walk of 10 mins on the road towards Taluka there is a small trail going up in the thick pine forest. There are small huts nearby. If in doubt ask the locals for right directions. During winters entire trail is covered with snow. So it is advisable to have mini spikes or very good grip shoes for this trail. The climb is a little steep in the beginning and will remain so till you reach Juda Ka Taal. Juda Taal is a small pond surrounded by pine forest all around. If you go there in winters you will find it frozen. Juda-Taal is a beautiful campsite and one can reach Juda Taal by lunch time. It takes around 3-4 hours to reach Juda-Tall from Sankri.
The trail to Kedarkantha Base Camp is little steeper than the one you encountered yesterday. After about an hour of steep climb the forest gives way to a small meadow which during winters is a breath taking site. It is a point where the view opens up and you can have a 180 Degree view of some of Himalayan peaks like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Black Peak. This is another place to take a short break and imbibe the beauty. It takes another 1 or 2 hours to reach the base camp of Kedarkantha. It is again very beautiful campsite where you can see all those glistening peaks when you sit near your camp in the evening.
Today’s summit day and we will start early in the morning before break of dawn. Whenever you go for a summit always try to make it to the summit before sunrise. The view from the summit is mesmerizing when you see those rays of rising sun kissing the mountain and those peaks changing color every passing second. Once you get over this amazing show of light and colours, try to acquaint yourself with a little knowledge of peaks all around you. There is a 360 deg view of snow clad mountains. You can see Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kinner Kailash mountain ranges from here. It’s place where once can spend endless hours but after spending a couple of hours there it’s time to head back to the camp for the night. Tonight’s campsite is Hargaon.
Today is the final day of the trek and it’s time to head back home. After breakfast we will start our descent to Sankri. The descent is pretty steep and one needs to take extra care in winters as those steep slopes becomes very slippery. It will take around 4 hours to descend down to Sankri from Hargaon. Trip ends once we reach Sankri. For those who have booked the return transport upto Dehradun with us , the vehicle will leave immediate after we arrive in Sankri. If you are booking Dehradun- Delhi transport on the same night it is advisable that you book bus or train around 11 in the night.
This trek is ideal for both beginners and experienced trekkers. For a novice, it is a great start to enter into the world of trekking. It can get a bit rigorous for the first timers. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain a good physical stamina and read extensively.
Any experienced trekker would love to go on this trek for the love of its views and trekking.
This trek is apt for the first-timers. Those coming for the first time should prepare and read extensively about the trek. A basic knowledge of how to use a sleeping bag, toilet tents, sleeping tents, and mountain mannerisms will help.
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Here is your checklist for this trek. Make sure you pack all these items for a comfortable trekking experience.
The base camp of Kedarkantha Trek is Taluka which is a 10-minute walk from Sankri. Sankri is a small village in Uttarakhand which is a base camp for Uttrakhand treks. It is 180 km from Dehradun. There are public buses and shared jeeps running between Dehradun and Sankri. You can also take a shared taxi that will cost you around INR 600.
Dehradun is easily accessible through road, rail, and air transport.
By Road
There are no direct buses to Sankri from Delhi. There You can take overnight UKRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Dehradun. The distance from Delhi to Dehradun is about 247 km. You can also hire a taxi or outstation cab from Delhi to Dehradun.
By Rail
The nearest railway station to Sankri is 187 km away in Dehradun. There are a number of trains running between Delhi and Dehradun like Dehradun Express, Mussoorie Express, Nanda Devi Express. It is advisable to make your train bookings a month in advance.
By Air
The nearest airport from Sankri is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is 213 km away from Sankri. You can reach Dehradun from New Delhi by flight.
There are a number of places to visit in Dehradun and Mussoorie. Sahastradhara, a ‘thousand fold water spring’ is a famous tourist spot in Dehradun. The waters of the spring are believed to have medicinal properties. Robber’s Cave or Guchhi Pani is a famous picnic spot for fun-loving enthusiasts. Visit the holy Tapkeshwar Temple on the bank of Asan River which is believed have one of the oldest Shivling.
Enjoy the splash at much touted Kempty Falls in Mussoorie. The highest place in Mussoorie, Lal Tibba is where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. Admire the Kumaon and Garhwal Art & Culture at SOHAM Heritage and Art Centre.
There is no mobile reception after Sankri.
