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Kedarkantha is considered to be one of India’s top winter walks and one of the rarest Himalayan walks still open in winter. Suitable for those looking for a fast getaway. The Kedarkantha trek offers an unparalleled experience of walking through snowy trails and having a glimpse of the mountains even during winters.
Kedarkantha offers the right blend of challenges, adventure, and spectacular vistas, with a track with thick oak and pine forests, wide-open green meadows, calm lakes, and panoramic campsites overlooking the beautiful Himalayan peaks. The Kedarkantha hike begins at 6000 feet above sea level from the picturesque town of Sankri, Uttarakhand. The Kedarkantha journey takes you via deep pine and oak woods and snowy paths to the Kedakantha summit. At an altitude of 12.500 feet with panoramic views of practically all the high peaks. The whole trip takes about 4 days from Sankri and back save for extra days from Dehradun and beyond.
History Related to Kedarkantha
Kedarkantha is no different as is the case with other destinations in Uttarakhand. In his bull Avatar, Kedarkantha was the most prominent reference to the region directly from the Mahabharata, where Lord Shiva took sanctuary in the Pandavas and he meditated in the valley but eventually retreated toward the town of Kedarnath after being disturbed by the local people. Trishul of Lord Shiva is also thought to safeguard the valley and its residents at its highest point. According to the tale of Kedarkantha, Lord Shiva sat down at the summit to contemplate, but a bull went down. So later he gave his meditation to Kedarnath, a town in Uttarakhand.
Pandavas
The Pandavas, who had been to the Himalayas for the blessings of Lord Shiva, have another local story. The Pandavas, who have come to the Himalayas to search for the blessings of Lord Shiva, are another local tale. He hid from Bheem, though, and dressed as a bull. But Bheem acknowledged him and followed him. Shiva hid in the subterranean, thus. He let his body pieces divide and each half dropped at a different location when he raced out from his hiding place. The Kedarkantha fell down his throat.
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Best Time to Visit Kedarkantha
Not many know that the winter snow begins in mid-December and runs until the third week in April on the Kedarkantha trail. You probably will meet snow just as you cross the mark of 10,000 feet, which lies between pine trees on the forest floor. It is probably a great blanket of snow around you in any direction when you enter the wilderness. It boasts the most beautiful Himalayan campsites. Not all treks can brag like Kedarkantha Trek of the splendor of their campground. The particular charm of each of its campsites. The camping Juda Ka Talab is located by large pine trees, on the open meadow of a snowy peak, and is surrounded by giant pine trees. During the spring, trekkers are invited to look at their panoramic vistas, raised by clear skies and rich green pinewoods.
Clearly, this is the greatest time to visit Kedarkantha in the summer. Spring and summer bring fresh life and the branches of the naked tree are re-storming into life. The long path through the trees and clearings retains parts of snow from the big winter snowfall. Autumn seems like nostalgia as lush woodlands change into dry leafy hues. In addition, snow-crowded pine forests, cooled lakes of the mountains and snowy pistes make your trekking trip the most enchanting ever. A clear, wintry day must be a remarkable experience when you look at the star-studded sky.
Weather Conditions at Kedarkantha
For a long time, Kedarkantha has been a preferred trekking place, especially in the winter months, for first-time trekkers. It’s become a traditional snow journey from December to February as throughout these 3 months you’ll discover a lot of snow. The last day of Kedarkantha Trekking is thrilling and successful, getting to the summit at 3800 meters. Once above, Kedarkantha gives a vista of the Himachal and Uttarakhand peaks with 360 degrees. Views of peaks such as Bandarpunch, Swargarohini, & Black Peak are provided. It will be perfectly safe if you have suitable walking gear and warm clothing to handle the cold weather. In winter you can perform the Kedarkantha trip.
The weather is slow, yet comfortable in Kedarkantha throughout March. The mean monthly temperatures vary from 5 to -5 degrees Celsius. So, before you start the walk, you must be ready to withstand the cold. During the adventure, you will trudge on snow and need good clothing to keep you warm. You must remember that the night will bring colder weather. Therefore, investing in thermals, special jackets, snow boots, and eyewear is vital.
Walking options
Kedarkantha may be regarded as one of the easiest walking options if you have pretty decent health. The hiking trail is rather comfortable. In the last 100 feet, you may have to exert a little effort. You can set up camp twice as you begin your trekking. Your first campsite, named Juda Ka Talab, is near a frozen lake. In Kedarkantha base camp the second half would be. After the second stop, the tough ascent starts. When you reach the peak, you’ll be rewarded with an amazing view of the Himalayas, which makes it a never-forgotten experience.
Camp Route
Dehradun is the entryway to Sankri and is well served by major cities, with Delhi being the nearest and most affordable choice. Leave Dehradun early in the morning (6 AM) and get to Sankri in the evening to enjoy the wonderful sunset in this charming, natural beauty hamlet. This allows you plenty of time to prepare for the last minute and recuperate before the next day’s adventure starts. If you miss the morning bus, the neighboring villages of Purola or Hanol also have bus connections. Busses and common taxis to Sankri can be reached from here.
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Juda Ka Talab campsite
The picturesque Juda Ka Talab campsite leads you along a 5-kilometer route from the base camp through verdant meadows and deep pine and oak woods. As their name suggests, Juda Ka Talab is a peaceful frozen lake, previously two lakes and now one. The 4-kilometer hike from Juda Ka Talab first opens up to a large vista of the mountains via thick pine forests and leads you to Kedarkantha Base Camp located at 11,150 feet above sea level. The snow-covered summits in the region like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag, and Ranglana can be seen from here.
Panoramic view
The panoramic view is also on offer. Also readily visible from here is the Kedarkantha summit. A Trishul to the sky, about 2 hours distant from the base camp, is a highway designated by the top of Kedarkantha which can be accessed via different ways. The hike before morning (from 3 am) should begin to capture the sunrise from above the peak (typically at approximately 7 am). It is advised to start.
While the trail starts with a gentle ascent as you approach the summit, with approximately 80 degree inclines on some sections the trail gets increasingly demanding. Sankri is a distant town with few hostels and a limited number of housing facilities. Homestays offer an easier choice while offering you a real Himalayan lifestyle experience. In addition to Sankri, the entire Kedarkantha Trail does not include all homestays, and you can rely on existing campsites on the path and or camp alone. You would not have to worry about the same as sleeping at their authorized campsites along the trail if you did hiking with any organization or selecting for a trekking paket containing accommodation.
Local Permits
Kedarkantha hiking permits are only provided, as an obligatory rule complied with by the Govind Vihar National Park authorities, if a local guide is accompanied by a forest registered office. You can also obtain permission from the forestry office in Sankri from your local guide. Recruit local guidance providing you with an intriguing look into the local culture and geography of the place, not only by making sure you are on the right way and helping you deal with emergencies and other doubts on the way. In the summer seasons, it is important to pre-book a local guide. You or your friends/family jointly plan this trip. There are many competent trek organizers who organize this group hike.
Himalayan High
You have sorted out all arrangements for your journey, you can just join your group and enjoy your experience. One such organizer is Himalayan High. Somewhere out there, nevertheless, there is also another race of people that don’t like traveling with groups that are properly structured like others. However, everyone needs fundamental arrangements to effectively finish each hike. This problem must therefore be resolved. Therefore, comprehensive step-by-step instruction is provided here to plan and organize the Kedarkantha Trek yourself.
Author Bio
Manpreet is an avid travel lover and loves to explore new territories while on the move. He believes that good places to visit should be spread more to the world so that everyone can take a glimpse of that and enjoy it.
Helpful guide and ideas that travelers can follow on their next travel plans. Thanks for it.