Kedarkantha (not to be confused with Kedarnath Temple) is a mountain peak of the Himalayas located at Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Sankri village of Uttarkashi district. The elevation of the peak is about 3,800 m. (12,500 ft.) and is well known among the trekkers as the Best Winter Trek in India.
The Kedarkantha receives heavy snowfall during the winter season and is an easy to moderate difficulty trek which makes it popular among both beginners & intermediate level trekkers.
If you start from Dehradun, the Kedarkantha trek takes around 6-7 days to reach the summit & back to Dehradun. From Sankri to Sankri it takes about 4 days. December to April is the best time to embark upon this beautiful journey as it will allow you to experience the breathtaking beauty of the mighty Himalayas completely covered with white snow.
Juda Ka Talab, a lake located at an elevation of 2,700 m above sea level is the first stop and a major attraction of the trek. It is believed that the lake was formed when a drop of water fell from Lord Shiva’s hair while he twisted his locks and that’s how it got its name. The lake remains completely frozen during the winters as the temperature drops below sub zero.
During the journey, you will find yourself surrounded by the towering Himalayas and forests of Deodar and Oak trees. If you admire a walk in nature, the Kedarkantha Trek is a perfect opportunity for you to relax and unwind in the lap of mother nature.
The trek begins with a 210 Km ride from Dehradun to Sankri (a small village located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India). Sankri is located at an altitude of about 2,000 m above sea level. The drive will take you through the dense forests of Deodar & Oak trees which remain covered with snow during the winter season.
The first destination for the trekkers when they leave from Sankri for its peak is the famous Juda Ka Talab. The lake is located in a clearing surrounded by forest which makes it a perfect camping spot for the trekkers on this route. It is a 4 Km trek from Sankri to Juda ka Talab which remains frozen during the winter season.
Located another 4 Km away from the Juda Ka Talab is the Kedarkantha Base Camp and it takes about 2 - 3 hours to reach there. The trek route will take you across a dense forest of pine & oak trees and steep ridges.
This is a bit challenging part of the trail, the 6 Km long trail will take about 5 - 6 hours to scale. It is important to start early in the morning in order to enjoy the magical sunrise from the Kedarkantha top. From the Kedarkantha Peak, you will get a complete 360 degrees view of the surrounding peaks which include Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag & others. After spending some time at the peak, the trekkers head back to the base camp for overnight stay.
Retracing your steps back on the same route, crossing the pine forest, today you will head back to Sankri. The descending trail makes it easier and quicker to walk back as compared to climbing up. Overnight stay will be at Sankri.
On the last day of the Kedarkantha Trek, you will be driving back to Dehradun from Sankri through the same beautiful forest. 210 Km drive takes about 7 hours and you will reach Dehradun by evening so make sta/travel arrangements accordingly.
Although the Kedarkantha trek is one of the few Himalayan treks that remains accessible to the trekkers throughout the year, winter is considered to be the best time to visit this trek. It is not advised to visit this trek during the months of July & August due to the heavy monsoon rainfall in the state of Uttarakhand.
Every season offers a different adventure because the terrain changes drastically with seasons. This can make the trek easier or more difficult in a particular season.
Winters
The best time to visit Kedarkantha trek is during the winter season. The snowfall starts from mid November upto February. The winters in Kedarkantha are characterised by snowfall, cold days & even colder nights.
The temperature during the daytime varies from 8 - 10 degrees celsius and expect nights to drop below sub zero. Sometimes, during the peak winter seasons, the temperatures can hit a maximum low of -7 degrees celsius.
This should not pose a problem to you if you have the right gear and proper layering of clothes. This will enable you to enjoy the cold weather of Kedarkantha without any problems. Heavy snow can sometimes block the trek route so if you are planning to visit during the peak winter season, it might take more time to complete the trek.
Summers
The summer trek at Kedarkantha is characterised by warm, bright & sunny sunny days with temperature ranging from 16 - 23 degrees celsius which drops to about 5 - 7 degrees during the night. This is a good time to visit this for those who don’t like trekking in cold temperatures.
Monsoons
It is generally not advised to visit this trek during the monsoon season. The heavy rainfall makes the trail difficult to walk on and lightning poses another danger. If you really want to trek somewhere during the monsoons, there are a lot of other great treks that bloom during the rainy season.
This is an easy to moderate difficulty trek. The ascent is gradual but a bit steep as we reach closer to the peak. You will have to walk a maximum of 4 -5 Km per day to reach the maximum altitude of 12,500 ft. which makes it a perfect summit trek for beginners. Multiple entry as well as exit points makes the trek even more safe in case one of the routes has to shut down for some reason which is extremely rare.
In case there is heavy snowfall, it becomes a bit difficult to walk on the trail pushing the trek to moderate difficulty level requiring good trekking equipment like gators, walking stick and microspikes which makes it easier to walk on the snow ridden trail.
The Kedarkantha is a very safe trek with multiple exit points, moderate altitude at the peak, well marked trails & good camping spots. It gets a bit difficult near the summit but does not require any technical climbing skills or gear. The gradual ascent towards the peak reduces the chances of AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness) as you get plenty of time to acclimatize to the weather.
This is a brief list of things that you should carry on the trek to make the experience more memorable and much more comfortable -
If you are travelling with a trekking company, some of these things might be included in your package. Make sure to ask them what all equipment and extras they will provide you during the trek.
Mori
Government Hospital, Mori
Mori-Sankari Rd, Mautar, Uttarakhand 249128
Distance from Sankri - 21.4 Km
Time to Reach - Approximately 1 Hour
Barkot
Government Hospital Barkot
R644+VRG, Barkot, Uttarakhand 249141
Distance from Sankri - 82.3 Km
Time to Reach - Approximately 3 Hours
Swami Vivekanand Dharmarth Chikitsalay
R643+QXM, Barkot, Uttarakhand 249141
Distance from Sankri - 82 Km
Time to Reach - Approximately 3 Hours
Network & Connectivity
There is only limited connectivity available during the Kedarkantha Trek. Only some spots get good network connectivity. The best networks for this trek are BSNL & Jio.
ATMs
The last ATM before Sankri is an SBI ATM located in Mori but it remains void of cash a lot of times, in such situations you can swipe your card at and get cash from the authorized SBI Cash Withdrawal Center located Nearby.
However, it is recommended that you withdraw your cash at Dehradun, Mussoorie or Purola to avoid any last minute hassle.
Is Kedarkantha Trek Easy?
Kedarkantha trek is considered to be an easy to moderate difficulty trek and is highly recommended for beginners who want to experience a summit climb.The trail is easy but gets a bit difficult as you reach closer to the peak but it does not require any technical gear or climbing skills.
How much does Kedarkantha Trek Cost?
Different trekking companies provide different packages according to the facilities & pickup location they offer for this trek. Generally, it ranges from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 for Sankri to Sankri for 4 Nights. If you want the pickup and drop locations to be Dehradun, then an additional charge of Rs 1,500 - Rs 2,000 will be levied. If you decide to reach Sankri on your own by bus, then you would be able to save some amount on your travelling.
Which is the best time for Kedarkantha Trek?
Although the Kedarkantha Trek remains open for most part of the year, the winter season from October to February is the best time to visit this trek. If you want to experience snow then you can choose to go there from November end to mid March.
How long is the Kedarkantha Trek?
The trek takes 6 to 4 days to complete depending upon your starting point. It will take 4 days from Sankri to Sankri and 2 additional days for travelling if you are going from Dehradun to Dehradun. The trekking distance from Kedarkantha base camp to Peak is about 24 Km.
Can Kedarkantha Trek be done in one day?
Yes, it is absolutely possible to do Kedarkantha trek in one day but only if you are a seasoned trekker. It is difficult to do it in a single day during winters when this area receives heavy snowfall which makes it difficult to walk on the trail. But it is very much possible to do it in a single day during summers.