KEDARKANTHA TREK | Winter Trek of India

The exotic and thrilling Kedarkantha Trek starts from Dehradun city. The trekkers for the trip should reach Dehradun on the day before the trip or before 6am of the given arrival date. The trekkers will be received by the authorized personnel from Dehradun at 6:30am for further journey to Sankri. Sankri is at a distance of 220 kms. It’s a long beautiful scenic drive on a Tata Sumo or a similar vehicle providing absolute comfort to the trekkers so that they can enjoy the beauty of the route. The journey will be long one and takes about evening to reach the destination. In the midst you can enjoy the lunch break at the local eateries. The last 22 kms to Sankri will be more exciting since it travels through Govind National Park which is famous for its avid plethora of flora of this region. The expected time to reach Sankri is 5 pm but since some of the roads are a little bumpy and rough, it can take a little longer. However on reaching the destination one can check in to the prior bookedhotel and our representative will help with the check-in formalities. After refreshments, the evening is free for leisure. You can enjoy indoors or can set out to explore the beautiful Sankri village where there are local shops and small markets selling daily goods and a number of few local dhabas. The network is quite unpredictable here so getting the phone network can be a little difficult. However the scenic beauty of the setting sun on the Greater Himalayas from Sankri is an unforgettable sight to witness. You can have dinner at the hotel premises or eat at the dhabas having local flavors and experience the cuisine of the area. Then night stay at the hotel

The trekking trail starts from Sankri. After breakfast at the hotel we start our journey straight towards Juda Ka Talab which is based at an altitude of 9100 feet. It is a 4km trek and the approximate time for reaching is around 5 hours. The journey starts with moving out of Sankri village through an extension called Sor. Once the village is crossed and the road takes a wide curve and climbs sharply. Moving along the stream, the road moves towards Kedarkantha. The initial climb would be of several bridges through dense forest and thick cover of maple and pine leaves. It’s an exquisite and mesmerizing view. The trail is wide and one can hear the sound of running streams but may not be seen until much further. Amidst crunching the dried maple and oak leaves on the way up you can also view Himalayan Langurs swinging from one branch to another. Though they are somewhat a shy animal it’s difficult to have a full view of them as they move quickly. Apart from this, boars, martens and hares can also be heard or spotted in this area. This view is quite different in the summer months when the luscious meadows remain green with hilly flowers. After crossing a few streams and further through the trail and through dense oaks you can reach the beautiful spot of Juda Ka Talab which has an enchanting beauty. Jadu Ka talab is a beautiful view of giant lake on the left and thick pine and oak forests on the right. It is located in the lap of Mother Nature and an ideal campsite location to spend a beautiful evening. You can engage in activities like photography or nature walk to explore the area. At night, a campfire can be lit and you can enjoy warm drinks under the stars. The night sky however is a treat to your eyes with bright and twinkling stars creating a magnificent view which is definitely the real beauty of nature. Then you can peacefully sleep in your tents surrounded by the beautiful Mother Nature.

The thrilling journey continues from Juda - ka - Talab to the Kedarkantha base which lies at an altitude of 11, 250 feet. The distance from Jadu Ka Talab to the base camp is about 4kms and with a moderate speed it will take about 2.5 hours to reach the base camp. After having the morning breakfast the next day, you will set out for the trail forward. The trek will be through dense forests of pine and oak trees only and steep ridges and more dense areas. In this trail you will come across many shepherd huts in open meadows which are delightful to witness. At the height of about 10,400 feet one can see traces of snow in and around the track (during winter months). With windy roads and dry oak forests, stretched meadows and through lanes around the shepherd huts your trek continues to the Kedarkantha Base. In the midst you can take a long break and get an enthralling view of the spectacular beauty of the area. After reaching the Kedarkantha Base you can witness the fascinating sights of arc shaped ranges of snow covered mountains formed of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Ranglana. After reaching the base, set up the tent in the selected location which is open so you can enjoy a clear view of the twinkling night sky. But it is advised to remain in close groups rather than being alone or far away from the group. The evening sky is mesmerizing with glowing stars. As the night grows the sight becomes more and more charming and maybe you even get the chance to witness an Orion in the sky. The altitude will also have cold waves of snow so make sure you keep enough woolen clothes with you. You will sleep overnight in the tent.

The fourth day of the trek will be for reaching to the Kedarnath Peak. Today you need to hike an elevation from 11,250 feet to 12,500 feet. The plan will be to hike to the Kedarkantha peak and then again descend back till Hargaon camp which is based at 8900 feet. The total journey comprises 6kms altogether and will take about 7 hours when done at a moderate speed. Honestly it’ll be a long day but the feeling of reaching to the peak would be far greater than the challenges that lies ahead for you. The day begins quite early with breakfast and enjoying the sunrise from the Kedarkantha meadows. You can enjoy the first rays of the morning sun and gain as much energy as possible for the day ahead. The way to the top will be done through several trails but it is better to take the main trail as it keeps rising further at an even level. On the way, the trekkers need to again cover a few portions of oak forest but the journey through this route is much easier and faster. After climbing through the forest till the end , you can find the Kedarkantha peak closer to you. Towards the end of the trek it becomes a bit difficult and can be strenuous but the view that you’ll get after this tiring journey will be worth itall. At the top, there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and of Lord Ganesh too. The complete 360 view of the snow clad peaks of Uttarakhand is beyond beautiful. You can then relax at the top for some time and enjoy the enchanting beauty of nature and then descend towards base camp by noon. After reaching the camp, you can take a break for lunch and refreshments. Once relaxed, set out for coming down furthermore to Hargaon camp. Then the journey back through dense oak, pine and maple trees, shepherd huts and frozen streams.. On reaching the campsite set the tent and at the end of another thrilling day with dinner and overnight sleep in the tent. You can also set campfire and enjoy some great time with friends and fellow trekkers

Today you will descend further to Sankri which is from 8900 feet to 6400 feet. It will be 6 kms long trek which will take about 4 hours or more at a moderate speed. The first morning sun from Hargaon campsite will be beautiful. After breakfast, you can pack your bags to go further down througha well paved pathway, filled with small stones. Walking through rich dense pine forests you can view the sight of streams flowing. You can fill water here. Then down the trail comes a ridge from where it gives a beautiful view of Har ki Dun valley or the Valley of Gods. You can even explore the place and take photographs of the sight of the beautiful flora and fauna. Going furthermore through the dense forests one can see few signs of habitation and by evening you will reach Sankri. The last 2500 feet are filled with dense pine forests. On reaching the base capm, get back to the hotel and freshen up and get settled for the day. You can again go out exploring the village. You can buy some small handmade goods, wooden toys and wooden home décor items for friends and family. Get familiar with the locals and know more about their lifestyle. Life moves at a slow pace in Sankri which is a home to about 120 families. Potatoes, rice and apples are the main ingredients here and people live in wooden houses to protect from cold weather. The belief of people in religion is quite strong here and regular fairs are organized here with entertainment with folk songs and native dance. Dinner of local food or you can enjoy food at the hotel also. Then night stay at the hotel

The last day the trekkers need to travel back to Dehradun. A car will be provided for a trip back of 220 kms to the city. Start the day early in Sankri and then enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Pack your bags and take all the belongings and check out of the hotel by 8 am approximately. The distance takes about 10 hours to reach excluding the break times so the earlier one starts the better. The return will be through NH123, though there are other routes available through Mori Sankari Road or through NH72. However it’s advisable to take the initial NH123 route only as it is the shortest and has less traffic. Scenic beauty and lovely surroundings fill the roads back to Dehradun. Cherish the enchanting beauty of the area, the wide stretched landscapes and lush meadows. The trip is designed to fulfill the need of every kind of trekker, be it a beginner or experienced. You will reach Dehradun at around 7 pm in the evening. The visitors can be off boarded either at the railway station or at the airport as per their requirement. From there you can plan your journey back home taking with you all the beautiful and most enchanting and unforgettable memories.