Kedarkantha trek Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is known as the land of gods and a perfect spot for adventure seekers also. One of the most thrilling experiences one can have in Uttarakhand is Kedarkantha trek.
Kedarkantha trek Uttarakhand’s Spiritual side with Adventures also.
Uttarakhand is located in the lap of the Indian Himalayas and also referred to as the “ Devboomi” of India which means “Land of the Gods.” It’s a place for both spiritual and natural experiences. Uttarakhand shows his spiritual side by being the origin of the holiest rivers Ganga and Yamuna, also a lot of ancient temples, sacred shrines and natural experiences by dense forests, snow capped peaks, lakes, rivers, streams.
Kedarkantha trek - The Jewel trek of Uttarakhand
Kedarkantha trek is located in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, at a distance of 20km from Sankri village at an altitude of 12,500ft above the sea level. Kedarkantha trek difficulty level is moderate in winter that’s why it is the most lovable and beginner friendly trek. From the Kedarkantha trek summit the views are spectacular with Mt. Swargarohini, the Bandarpoonch massif, Mount Kalanag and the Gangotri massif lining the horizon.
Reasons to choose Kedarkantha trek
You might have heard everywhere that Kedarkantha is the best trek for beginners and also all the first time trekkers should choose Kedarkantha but no one tells you why Kedarkantha is so famous and what’s so special about it. It’s not about the beauty, it's not about the scenery or about the thrill.
Real summit trek
Many beginner friendly treks in India don’t take you to the real summit. But Kedarkantha trek takes you up to 12,500ft, you’ll be on top of the summit with uninterrupted 360° panoramic views of the famous Himalayan peaks and all are covered in snow.
Juda Ka Talab
Juda Ka Talab is a campsite with lots of myths and stories and has a mystical story. Ancestors believe that this high altitude lake was formed when Lord Shiva once untied his hair and a drop of water fell from their hair and formed this Juda Ka Talab. This lake freezes completely during winter and the campsite looks like it came straight out of a dreamland.
Silent Forest trails
Once we start trekking and leave Sankri, our mobile signal will disappear and you will truly disconnect from the world. The quiet pine and oak forests are broken only by the sound of chirping of birds and crunching of snow. It is like meditating while walking.
Diverse Landscapes in a single trek
From dense alpine forests and frozen lakes to wide open snow meadows and rocky summit climbs, you will experience multiple landscapes in just 5-6 days - more than many longer treks offer.
Almost open for whole year
Kedarkantha trek is open for year round except monsoon season. Kedarkantha is known as a Winter trek but each season offers a completely different experience. Each season has its own speciality.
Is Offloading Available in Uttarakhand?
Uttarakhand is definitely a very famous tourist spot and where there is a tourist spot there are off loading available for carrying your backpack, so that you can trek hands free. Offloading is helpful for people who have serious medical issues and physical limitations. But it is important for everyone to think about the long term impact of offloading on the local communities also.
We should avoid Offloading - know why?
Many trekkers, even those who are fully capable of carrying their own backpacks, opt for offloading just for comfort. This creates a demand for porters and mules, which on the surface may seem like a good thing for local employment. However, the reality is a bit different:
Local youth begin to think that carrying bags is a profitable, easy career. Instead of pursuing education or skill development, many young locals stick to bag carrying jobs, thinking this is their only way to earn money from tourism.
Offloading limits their growth. People there get stuck in labour jobs like offloading, the less they focus on becoming trek leaders, guides, or entrepreneurs in the tourism industry - roles that offer long term financial stability and personal growth.
Porters often carry multiple heavy bags under harsh weather conditions, and not all of them are fairly compensated.
Best Time to Visit Kedarkantha trek Uttarakhand
It is true that Kedarkantha trek is available for all the seasons and the kedarkantha trek difficulty is also manageable by beginners. But if someone asks us in which season they should be on Kedarkantha trek we always recommend the Winter season because in winter it feels like we are in a snow globe. In winter the skies are crystal clear in the morning and at night the starry sky looks so unreal. No pollution, no humidity, just stars in the sky which nowadays we are not able to see cities.
Campsites during Winter Season
Sankri
Starting from the Sankri village from where it all begins with wooden homes and with super friendly locals. The wooden homes are super cute, cozy, and warm. Sankri is also the Base village for not only Kedarkantha trek but for more treks also. A perfect place from where all the treks can start with super comfort and the most important the coziest place where we can end our trek also.
Juda Ka Talab
Juda Ka Talab is one of the coolest campsites in winter because at the time of winter the lake freezes into thick ice surrounded by pine forests and at night camping at that campsite near huge ice is so cold. In the morning as the sun rises and as the first rays of the sun fall on the snow, the snow shines so brightly that it looks like a shining pearl.
Kedarkantha Base Camp
Base Camp is near the summit and is buried under the fresh snow. From Kedarkantha Base Camp we will witness the most famous Himalayan peaks Swargrohini and Bandarpoonch .
Hargaon
On our descent back after the summit we will stay at Hargaon for one night and Hargaon village is kind of a small village from a fairy tale. Snowy rooftop, frosty pine trees and cold crisp air. It's a quiet, peaceful and very heart warming village.