Complete Guide to Kedarkantha Trek
Kedarkantha Trek Highlights
- Experience the thrilling trek to the Kedarkantha trek for a surrounding view of the beautiful Garhwal Himalayan range.
- Enjoy the camp stays and have an immersive and unique experience with nature.
- Visit the beautiful Juda Ka Talab, learn about the mythological stories, and add a tranquil touch to this exhilarating adventure.
- View the sunrise from the summit as it casts a magical glow over the peaks.
- Spend a week in the majestic Himalayas as you walk amidst the snow-capped peaks and serene landscapes.
Kedarkantha Trekking Quick Facts
- Start and end point: Sankri village.
- Trek duration: 5 days and 4 nights.
- Kedarkantha trek distance- 20 km
- Trek height: 12,500 ft.
- Difficulty level- Easy to moderate.
- Temperature in the trek: Day- 8°C to 15°C. Night: -5°C to 3°C
- The Best season to do Kedarkantha Trek- is November to April.
- Nearest railway station- Dehradun.
- Nearest airport- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun.
Day-wise program
Your trek to Kedarkantha starts from Dehradun. You will meet our representative at the railway Dehradun station and at the Bus stand, who will take you to Sankri villages nestled in the Himalayan mountains. Enjoy the views while traveling via vehicle, take pictures of the beautiful pine trees, and marvel at the beauty of the rivers and waterfalls on the way. Reach Sankri village in the evening, and after check-in to the hotel, have dinner and stay overnight.
After a hearty breakfast, check out from the hotel, and start the trek from Sankri village to Juda Ka Talab. Along the walk, you can see many high-altitude suspension bridges, small streams, and small villages. Reach the lake that has a significant mythological significance to Mahadev (Lord Shiva) in the late afternoon. Check in to the designated camps, located 100 meters away from the lake, and stay overnight.
On this day, after breakfast, we check out from the campsite and begin the trek to the base camp. Immerse your senses in the beauty of the snow-covered path and the green patches along the way. Keep your camera or smartphone ready to take the picturesque path and the mighty Himalayan peaks of Ranglana, Kala Nag, Swargarohini, and Bandarpoonch. You will be walking through dense forest, and the trail includes steep climbs, so take each step slowly and steadily. Our trek guide will always be there to assist you. Enjoy the view of the breathtaking valleys throughout the trek to the campsite. Mark the end of the day at the site, have dinner, and stay overnight in the tents under the twinkling stars.
The final trekking day of the summit! This is the day you have been waiting for. This day starts after waking up early in the morning, around 2 am. Start on the trail, and as you proceed toward the destination, the filtered sunlight from Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kinnar Kailash ranges will welcome you. The trail is steep, so you must adhere to the instructions of the trek guides. After the summit, enjoy the breathtaking view of the sun rising on Kedarkantha. Take lots of photos. You can also send your prayers to Lord Shiva.
Afterward, descend back to the base camp, and from there trek back to Juda Ka Talab. The downward path is challenging for the icy slopes, so follow the instructions of our guide, and stay overnight at Juda Ka Talab.
The last day of the trek. After breakfast, check out from the campsite and we slowly descend back towards Sankri village. This is a 4 kilometers trek and will take 2 to 3 hours. After reaching Sankri, meet our representative who will drive you back to Dehradun. At the village, we bid farewell, and everyone can take home a basketful of wonderful memories of the trek.
Inclusions
- Transportation From Dehradun to Sankri and the entire tour.
- Accommodation at Sankri village in homestays and tents are available on a triple-sharing basis.
- Meals on the trek. Dinner and lunch for 5 days.
- High-quality camping gear like tents, zero-degree sleeping mats, toilet and dinner tents, and sleeping bags will be provided.
- Radio walkie-talkie for communication during the trek
- First Aid Kit with Oxygen Cylinders
- Forest permit charges
- Certificate after completing the trek
- Gaiters and crampons according to the conditions of snow
- Expert team of guides and trek leader
Exclusions
- Anything not detailed in the inclusion
- Personal Insurance
- Meals During transportation
- All personal expenses, optional tours, and extra meals
- Charges of porter and mules. Baggage offload charges per campsite are INR 450, and the bag weight must not be more than 10 kg.
- Accommodation in Dehradun
- Any expenses due to medical treatment before, during, and after the trek.
- Any cost of early return or accommodation that is not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Any expenses due to natural calamities like landslides, road blocking, or political strikes.
Kedarkantha is a well-known 6-day trek in Govid Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand, India. The unique thing about this trek is, that the peak season for this journey is in the winter months. Beginners and professional trekkers like to do the summit climb when everything is covered in snow.
Kedarkantha trek has a Hindu religious significance. According to Hindu mythology, the word “Kedar” is the name of Lord Shiva, and “Kantha” is his throat. One of the stories is related to Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers, who were looking for Mahadev’s blessings (Lord Shiva) to atone for their sins in the war. However, Lord Shiva transformed himself into a bull and fled. A struggle ensued and the bull’s body was split into five parts. The “Kantha” or throat fell in this area. The other mythological story is about the Juda Ka Talab. According to Mahabharata, Juda was a teacher of the Pandava brothers. During their exile, they named the talab or pond. These are just stories that are nice to listen to, which also makes the trek a significant one as well.
Another important thing about this trek is, that it can be done in any season. In the winter you will get beautiful snow lying around, with a clear sky. You can also embark on this journey in summertime to have a pleasant weather.
Kedarkantha is located at 3800 meters above sea level, and it offers a breathtaking trekking experience for all. Tall pine trees and snow-capped mountains are the specialty of this trek, making it a highly sought-after trek for nature lovers and trekkers.
The Kedarkantha trek starts from Sankri village, located 200 kilometers from Dehradun, and the distance from Delhi is 248 kilometers. After arriving at Sankri, the treks start the next morning.
If you are starting from Dehradun, take a direct bus to Sankri village from the bus station, bear the Dehradun railway station. You can board a bus from 7 am to 8 am and it takes 10 hours to reach the designated village. If you miss the morning bus, take a Hanol bus via Mussorie and get down to Mori. From there, take a private taxi to reach Sankri.
By Road: Dehradun is connected to the major northern cities of India. Bus services are frequent from Delhi to Dehradun. You can opt for AC Volvo, Deluxe, or Semi Deluxe buses based on your budget. You can get direct buses from Dehradun to Sankri, which will take 10 hours.
By Rail: If you are arriving in Dehradun from other places in the country, the train is the perfect way to travel. You can take a train from Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi. There are also overnight trains from Delhi to Dehradun.
Nandadevi Express–Train No: 12205. (Departure 11:50 pm, Arrival 5:40 pm)
Dehradun Express–Train No: 12687. (Departure 9:10 pm, Arrival 5:00 am)
At Hillway Travels, you will find the most cost-effective price for Kedarkantha trek. The price for one person is INR 6,500. The cost may differ depending on the seasons, but regardless of the time, you will always find an affordable rate. Furthermore, our reputation is based on the safe and enjoyable trips we offer to our guests.
Travel Tips
- To ensure a hassle-free and smooth journey, it’s best to plan the trek with an experienced company like Hillway Travels.
- Booking hotels beforehand will make the trip smooth.
- You can easily rent trekking shoes and trekking poles in Sankri.
- For a trek in the peak season, check the availability before making the final plans.
- Electricity can be an issue in Sankri, so it’s recommended to carry extra batteries and power banks.
- Carry a rucksack or a trekking backpack to organize your belongings. Refrain from carrying trolley bags.
- Take trains as the ride is more comfortable than bus travel.
- You will not find any ATMs after Mori. So, make sure to take out cash if required.
- Take small steps during the trekking.
- The trek is 25 kilometers through beautiful mountain roads, so it’s recommended to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and energy bars.
- The treks will start around 3 am, so bring a headlight.
- Backpack with rain cover- (50 to 60 liter)
- Day pack with rain cover- 20 – 30 liter
- Walking stick- Advisable
- Water Bottle / Hydration pack
- Small size tiffin/lunch box- 1
- Snacks Energy bars, dry fruits, electoral/ORS
- Personal Medical Kit
- T-shirt- 1 Full and 1 Half sleeves
- Fleece T-shirt- 2
- Wind stopper / Fleece jacket- 1
- Windproof Jacket- 1
- Trek Pant (Synthetic quick dry)- 1
- Wind stopper / Fleece Pants- 1
- Waterproof gloves- 1 Pair
- Fleece / woolen gloves- 1 Pair
- Poncho / waterproof jacket and pants- 1
- Down feather / Hollow jacket- 1
- Thermal inner (Upper and Lower)- 1 Pair
- Head torch- 1
- Woolen cap- 1
- Balaclava- 1
- Woollen socks- 3 pairs
- Gaiters- 1 Pair
- Microspikes- 1 Pair
- Wollen Buff / Neck-gaiters- 2
- Sunglasses- 1 with UV ray protection.
- Hiking shoes- 1 pair
- Cotton socks- 4 pairs
- Toothbrush and toothpaste- 1
- Toilet paper & Wipes- 1
- Hand sanitizer- 1
- screen- 1
- Moisturizer- 1
- Chapstick / Lip balm- 1
- Antibacterial powder- 1
- A small towel- 1
Kedarkantha Trek Difficulty Level:
The difficulty level is easy to moderate. The trek includes a climb from 6400 feet to 12500 feet, and the distance is over 25 kilometers. This makes it one of the easiest treks in Uttarakhand, and perfect for beginners.
Temperature and weather
The Kedarkantha trek usually takes place from December to April, so the temperature can stay from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. However, during the night it can drop down to -5 degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius. During the first two weeks of December, you may experience moderate snowfall, and by the end of the month, the entire area will be covered in white.
From January to February, the Kedarkantha area will be covered with heavy snow. The daytime will bless you with its warmth, but at night, the temperature will drop down to minus level.
From March to May, the daytime temperature will be 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, at night it can be -5 degrees Celsius. This period will be pleasant compared to the winter months.
Trekking permits
Traveling in a tour package doesn’t require a permit, as the responsible team handles the permits and accommodation for a hassle-free journey. However, if you are traveling alone or with a group, you can access the permit at the checkpoints available in Natwa, Purola, and Mori. The cost for each day will be approximately INR 50.
Accommodations are easy to find in Sankri. You can find lots of homestays there. However, in the peak season, which is from November to January, you may find it difficult to book a homestay. So, it’s recommended to book such places beforehand. In the off-season, you can book the hotels upon arrival. A few well-known hotels in this area are Himalayan Homestay, Hotel Orchid Inn, Swargarohini Hotel, Rawat Guest House, etc. When you are traveling with Hillway Travels, all the accommodations will be included in the package.
Some interesting facts about the Kedarkantha Trek
- It always offers a unique experience of reaching the summit of Kedarkantha.
- You will find a small shrine of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) on the summit of the mountain.
- This trek is perfect for nature lovers and trekkers due to its remote location and clear sky. You can experience the Milky Way from the top.
- It’s also ideal for birdwatching, as there are over 200 species of birds found in that area. You can see Himalayan Monals, Thrushes, and other songbirds.
A trek to Kedarkantha will allow you to experience the beauty of the Himalayas, and the magic doesn’t stop there. It gives you a lifelong memory. The adventure, the thrill of the road, and the stories you hear on the way to the summit and back will stay in your mind palace for a long time and when you return home, you will still be longing for those days spent in the mountains.
