Overview

If you want to go on a winter hike through the snow. The Great Himalayas encourages you to do the beautiful and popular Kedarkantha trek. It is situated in the western Garhwal region of Uttarkashi in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Kedarkantha’s interesting 25-day trek starts from Sankri base camp, a village in Uttarkashi district at 6,400 feet in Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. Kedarnath tempertaure in winter is always in minus 

How do I get to the Sankri Campsite for the Kedarkantha Trek?

The journey starts from Dehradun. The journey from Dehradun to Sankri town is about 198 km long and takes about 11–12 hours. There is a political bus going to Sankri that leaves between 5 and 7 a.m. If you miss the bus, don’t worry. You can connect by bus at Purola or Hanol and change to another bus to reach Sankri, or you can take a taxi. Alternatively, take a shared Jeep or taxi. 

If you don’t want to drive, you can take a taxi or drive to Sankri, which takes about eight hours. The car is refreshing, passing through beautiful villages, enjoying the green grass and snow-capped mountains on winding roads, and passing through pine and oak trees. The River of Tons flows beside you.

Length and Distance of the Kedarkantha Trek: The trek starts from Sankri, the base camp, at 6,400 feet and climbs to an altitude of 12,500 feet. The Kedarkantha Trek is a 25-kilometer trek through a scenic route to the top of the mountain. When you get to Sankri, you will start to see 360-degree panoramas.

What time of year is ideal for the Kedarkantha Trek?

Due to heavy rains, most of the trips are not available in the winter. However, Kedarkantha receives enough snow to allow you to ascend as high as 12,000 feet, making it the greatest winter hike.From mid-December to March, snow is possible. The best time to visit here is during the winter months, from December to April. Although you can visit it any month of the year, you will see it best in winter when it is covered with snow, creating a winter scene. It has beautiful parks like Juda, Talab, and Har Gaon, where you can camp and enjoy the snow.

The following is an itinerary for a short Kedarkantha trip.

Kedarkantha’s journey begins in the village of Sankri. Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri Base Camp The journey from Dehradun to the 6,400-foot-high Sankri Park is 187 kilometers. It usually takes 8–10 hours to reach there, and you will pass beautiful places to visit like Mussoorie and Naitwar on the way. Sankri and Juda Ka Talab in 2 days A 5 km climb from the camp to Judah to Talab at an altitude of 9,000 feet The journey takes about 5 hours and passes through green forests, pines, oaks, and maples. Workers can also drink water from the lake as soon as they reach Judah, like Talab. Judah to Talab at the site of Kedarkantha on the third day Start the trek very early in the morning to Kedarkantha Base Camp, located at 11,200 feet. It is now a 4-kilometer walk that takes 3 hours to complete, passing through pine and oak trees. 

Details

Kedarkantha Park to Kedarkantha Peak and Hargaon in 4 days Start your day before dawn to reach the summit before sunrise. The highest point is at 12,500 feet and takes about 2-3 hours to reach. Stop and admire the beauty of nature as soon as you see it. Return to Hargaon, which involves a trek of 6 kilometers at an altitude of 8,450 feet. Day 5: From Hargaon to Sankri Time to go home! The 6 km journey from Hargaon to Sankri village takes about 3–4 hours. After a short break, you can return to Dehradun from Sankri. If you want to spend another day in Sankri, go for it!

Advice for beginners on the trip:

• Plan your trip with a travel agency to ensure a comfortable stay in Sankri and a hassle-free travel experience.
• If you are driving, be sure to book your accommodation in Sankri in advance so that you have adequate parking and accommodations when you arrive.
• Trekking poles, backpacks, and hiking boots can be rented at Sankri, but availability is limited during the high season.
• Electricity can be a problem in Sankri due to frequent power outages.
• It is recommended to bring extra batteries or try charging your camera and phone.
• Take a canteen or water bottle so you can drink hot water throughout your trip. If you are feeling cold, bring a second pair of socks and a bag of hot water.
• You have great clothing because you can handle two short trips while blocking the baggage with heavy bags.
• You should dress appropriately for the season and avoid unnecessary things. However, 3–4 coats should be worn.