Kedarkantha Trek

Have you heard about the Kedarkantha trek? It is not the Kedarnath trek, though both sound similar. This is a winter special trek done in Uttarakhand and is very popular. The trek is done on the premise of the Govind wildlife sanctuary which is in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. This trek is comparatively easy because of the gradual ascents making it achievable for travellers who want to trek in the Himalayas for the first time.

The Kedarkantha peak stays deeply blanketed with thick snow during the months of November to April as it stands at a height of 12,500 feet. The Kedarkantha winter trek can be quite enjoyable and every adventurous person who likes to visit mountains would have fun on the trek. Staying at wonderful campsites is one of the major highlights of the trek, others being the having a three-sixty degree view of the mountains nearby, looking at pine forests covered with snow and of course standing atop one of the Himalayan peaks, one which can be trekked very easily to.

The Kedarkantha trek distance is a total of 23 kilometers. During the Kedarkantha trek, you will be able to have glimpses of marvellous peaks like the Swargarohini, Bandarpunch and Black Peak. The thrilling trek will energize you and make you feel rejuvenated.

Trekking on snow in Kedarkantha!

The Kedarkantha peak is an amazing ridge peak which is located on a mountain which is on the Tons river valley. The peak is easy to access and one can reach there any time of the year. The trek is through the Govind National Park and thus the wide range of flora and fauna adds to the appeal of this adventurous trek and makes it complete.

The Kedarkantha trek altitude is 3850 meter above sea level as the summit is at that height., which makes one feel victorious on reaching the summit. The summit offers a 360-degree view of some of Uttarakahnd’s peaks which lie on the Gangotri and Yamunotri ranges like the Swargarohini, Ranglana, Black Peak and Bandarpoonch. The Har ki Doon valley stretched below is also visible. You will be able to see the Himachal Pradesh ranges on the north-west side, extending till the Kinnaur ranges.  On your west, you will be able to see the Rupin Valley towards Himachal. Villages like Mori and Purola will be visible on the eastern side. If you love high altitudes and want to enjoy a trekking experience on snow, this trek is certainly recommended for you. It’s perfect for beginners.

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The vast landscape covered with snow, with the brown and green of the thick pine forests forming a beautiful contrast against all the white, the Juda ka talab lake which remains partially frozen lake and the entire panorama makes the trek a really special one for all tourists. Standing at the summit, you will feel like you are in a winter wonderland in a fairytale!

Kedarkantha Trek – A Perfect Backpacker’s Trek

The Kedarkanth trek is one of the best treks that should be done during the winter season in India. This is a royal Himalayan peak which is situated at Govind Wildlife Sanctuary at a height of 3812 meters above sea-level. This trek is equally favoured by novice and experienced trekkers. The summit climb is the most important reason for this climb to be so popular. The wonderful clearings that one gets to see during the trek makes it very unique too. Throughout the trek, you will come across clearings at such amazing locations that are going to stun all the trekkers with the magnificent views they offer being at vantage points. Even the forests are so uniquely beautiful that it adds to the popularity of the trek. There are three routes which can be taken while doing the Kedarkantha trek and all of them have forests which are not only spectacular but also different from each other. You will be immersed in their breath-taking glamour.

So do not waste any time if you want to do the first hike of your life and book your package now!

Right on God’s Trail – The Kedarkantha Trek

The very starting point of the trek – the Govind National Park, makes the trek an unforgettable one with its diverse flora and fauna. This treasure house has numerous birds, leopards, musk deer and bears.The slightly challenging but extremely beautiful trekking route makes this trek more special. The day time will be comfortably warm but the nighttime is going to chill you completely as the temperature is mostly known to remain sub-zero. But you will be forgetting all the challenges this trek had put forward when you see the view from the peak, at an altitude of 12500 feet or 3800 m.

As one of the winter treks that can be done in the Himalayas during winter in India, the Kedarkantha trek is a gem. The picture that is created by the snow falling in winter is very attractive, add to that the looking up at the mighty Himalayas  from right at the starting point of the trail and thinking that you will be climbing a peak located at an altitude of 12500 feet. If you have been dreaming of trekking on snowy mountains, this trek is your best bet. The amount of trekking experience that you have on high mountains doesn’t really matter so much. In fact, we would encourage novice trekkers to go for this beautiful trek.

The campsites that are present in the Himalayas on this trek route are so picturesque. Every campsite has some speciality. Every campsite competes with others in scenic values, all beautiful but dissimilar! Climbing the peak does not require a lot of effort, whichever season you opt to go for the trek on. Reaching the summit will be a serene experience. Near the finishing point of the trail, you will be at a place having rocky snow at the summit. You will be profusely rewarded with the unbelievable 360 degree view of the Dhauladhar ranges and the three heavenly peaks mentioned earlier.

The ideal time to go on this trek is between the months of December but as has been already said, the trek remains pleasant throughout the year. If you are planning to trek in December, it would be fair of you to expect that  you are going to trek on snow, especially if it’s mid-December. Skiers enjoy going to Kedarkantha during winter as it remains thickly blanketed with snow, making it suitable for skiing.

What about the availability of mobile networks and ATMs?

The last time you can see an ATM on this trek will be at Purola which falls before the basecamp at Sankri. Don’t forget to withdraw money here if you need to. Purola also is almost certainly going to be the last point where you will get a fully functional mobile signal. If you luckily use the Jio network, you will be able to catch it at Mori too. Mori is located about  two hours before the basecamp  but you will not get any other functional network there. So remember to do important calls from either of the points like to your loved ones to let them know that network is going to be an issue from there.

How will you reach?

By road – If you are coming from Delhi, there are buses regularly plying from ISBT Cashmere Gate to Dehradun. It is recommended that you take the government buses running between Delhi to Dehradun. There are private buses which run too and you will get all kinds of buses – Non-AC and AC semi-sleeper and sleeper. The buses generally drop travellers at the Dehradun ISBT. You have to go to the Dehradun railway station from there using app cabs or shared autos. The Uttarakhand government runs only one bus everyday which goes to Sankri from the railway station. The bus leaves the station area at 8 am and reaches Sankri by 6 in the evening.

By rail – The closest railway stations are the Dehradun and Rishikesh railway junctions. There are overnight trains to Dehradun from Delhi like the Nanda Devi Express (12205) which leaves Delhi at 23.50 and reaches Dehradun at 5.40 and the Dehradun Express (12687) which leaves Delhi at 21.10 and arrives at Dehradun at 5. There is also a connecting train between Haridwar and Dehradun.

By flight – The airport serving Dehradun city is the Jolly Grant airport which is located about 25 kms away from it. Everyday there are flights between Delhi and Dehradun. In fact, most of the country’s metro cities are connected to Dehradun via flights.