Kedarkantha, regarded as being one of India’s top wintertime hikes, is one of the few Himalayan expeditions that is feasible often in the winter. The Kedarkantha trip creates a different opportunity to journey over snowy routes and then get a taste of lifestyle in the himalayas perhaps in the middle of winter. It is ideal for beginners wishing to continue their journey into the Himalayas or even seasoned hikers seeking a brief break.
The Kedarkantha trek provides an ideal combination of difficulty, thrill, and magnificent vistas, with lush oak and pine woods, wide-open lush forests, peaceful rivers, a couple of picturesque campgrounds, and incredible views of towering Peaks of the himalayas.
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All You Need to Know about the trek at a Glance
- Moderate Complexity (Suitable for Beginners)
- The Kedarkantha Path features dense wood and oak woodlands, open pastures, and cold weather in the winter.
- Uttarakhand is the location.
- Sankri is the campsite (200 kms from Dehradun)
- Kedarkantha’s elevation ranges from 6,000 feet at Sankri to 12,500 feet at Kedarkantha Highpoint.
- The Kedarkantha Hike is 25 kilometers long (Approx)
- Total time of the Kedarkantha Hike: 4 days (Sankri – Sankri)
- Kedarkantha Trekking Season: December to April
The Kedarkantha journey starts in the small community of Sankri, Uttarakhand, at an altitude of 6,000 feet. The Kedarkantha journey took one via closely packed coniferous trees and oak tree forest areas, frozen lakes, and snow covered paths more toward the Kedarkantha high point at an altitude of 12,500 feet, with spectacular perspectives of winter weather highs just about the entire way.
This trip requires appropriate mountaineering trekking shoes. One amongst the finest shoes that is recommended is the Forclaz 500.
Kindly return to Sankri with all of your garbage. Let us work together to maintain those peaks pristine for subsequent generations.
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Usually, travel companies cost between INR 6,000 and INR 9,000 for a four-day journey from Sankri which includes the Kedarkantha Trek and return to Sankri.
Mythological facts about the place
Kedarkantha, like most of the other places in Uttarakhand, is splattered with classical mythology citations. The most famous citation to the location actually comes from the Mahabharata, that also asserts Kedarkantha being the location in which Lord Shiva through his bull alter ego took shelter from the Pandavas as well as started praying in the valley before fleeing to Kedarnath after already about to be disturbed by that of the local residents. The Trishul of Lord Shiva, which stands atop the mountain, is also intended to safeguard the valley and its inhabitants.
Best Time to do the Trek
Even though the Kedarkantha trip may be performed at any time of the year, it is just one of those Himalayan hikes which can be undertaken in the wintertime, therefore it is better accomplished from December as well as the end of April to provide hikers the chance not only to see the magnificent vistas but to also climb on the sparkling ice. The Kedarkantha trip is really not that difficult and so excellent for even first, as it has just the proper dusting of snow and therefore is free of dramatic changes in temperature.
The options of accommodation during the trek
Sankri is a small hamlet with only just a few guesthouses and homestays and very few motels for lodging. Homestays are a much more cost-effective choice that provide a real glimpse into the Himalayan manner of living. Nevertheless, advance scheduling is required even during cold months of December to March, because this is the town’s busiest hiking period. Please keep in mind that Sankri will not have any ATM machines or banks, so bring enough cash with you until you arrive.
If you intend to camp alone, you’ll need to bring all of your very own camping equipment, such as shelters, sleeping bags, and covers. Sankri can indeed lease out the same thing.
With the exception of Sankri, there are still no homestays along the Kedarkantha route, so you’ll have to depend just on the route’s preexisting campgrounds or camp through your own. If you’re hiking with a group or purchasing a hiking package which includes lodging, you wo n’t need to bother about that because you’ll be sleeping in their chosen campgrounds all along the way.
Meal and food options for the trek
Except for Sankri, there are only a few tea shops alongside the path that serve some basic meals such as Maggi and munchies. Nonetheless, the likelihood of their being accessible is unpredictable, and therefore must not be depended upon totally. The simplest way to do this is to purchase a hiking package that includes both meals and lodging. Those planning a solo expedition will need to bring all of the necessary materials, as well as a transportable burner and gasoline.