Kedarkantha Trek

Trekking to Kedarkantha from April to June is considered the best time, and December to March is also an ideal time for the Kedarkantha trek.

The Kedarkantha Trek is a 5-day, 4-night trek. The trek begins from Sankri Village, marking it as the starting point of the Kedarkantha Trek.

Kedarkantha is situated at a height of 12,500 feet (3,810 meters), encircled by the awe-inspiring natural beauty.

The Kedarkantha Trek is an easy-to-moderate-level trek that turns out to be a manageable trek suitable for beginners.

In the daytime, the temperature at Kedarkantha ranges between 7°C and 14°C, whereas the weather at night is colder with a minimum temperature drop to 4°C.

The Kedarkantha trek (Sankri Village) from Delhi has a distance of around 440 kilometres, which takes around 11–12 hours to reach.

In the Kedarkantha Trek, snow can be seen from December to mid-April. Get a heavenly sight of the snow-capped mountains, frozen Juda ka Talab, and scenic pearl white landscapes—a wonderful treat to your eyes while on the Kedarkantha Trek. 

The Kedarkantha Trek is famous for the peaks of the Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Kala Naag, Pangarchulla, Har Ki Dun, and frozen Juda ka Talab, a visual delight on the Kedarkantha Trek. The Kedarkantha Trek is one of the most popular winter treks, where hikers come for the spectacular views of the snow. 

Kedarkantha Trek is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India, surrounded by the Garhwal Himalayas. 

Sankri Village marks the starting point of the Kedarkantha Trek. Sankri Village is 200 km from Dehradun, with a duration of 7 hours. 

Due to Kedarkantha’s remote location, the mobile networks are quite limited and weak. As trekkers will not get enough network coverage, it is suggested that they contact their dear ones whenever they get strong or basic signals before the Kedarkantha Trek. 

Kedarkantha is an easy-to-moderate-level trek, which makes it an appropriate trek for beginners or first-timers. 

Either in a homestay or a guesthouse, stay in Sankri Village. Hikers will be staying with an optimum level of comfort and hygiene in the camps, also while on the Kedarkantha Trek. 

A fitness regime that includes stretching, brisk walking for at least 45 minutes, jogging, and exercising is necessary to get one’s body ready for the Kedarkanth trek.

Kedarkantha Trek is safe for hikers, although this high-altitude trek needs some precautions to take, like maintaining a proper fitness level, following the trek leader’s instructions at every step, wearing proper gear and clothing, and carrying all essentials, which makes your trekking experience a safer and amazing one.

Kedarkantha’s total Trek distance is around 21 kilometres round trip, from Sankri Village to Kedarkantha Peak and back to Sankri Village.

Dehradun railway station is the nearest to the Kedarkantha Trek. It is roughly 190-200 kilometres distant from the Sankri basecamp, the starting point of the Kedarkantha Trek.

Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to the Kedarkantha Trek. The airport is 30 kilometres from Dehradun. Jolly Grant Airport is approximately 220 kilometres from Sankri Village, which takes around 8-9 hours.

Age: Participants should be at least 9 years old to take on the Kedarkantha Trek and must be accompanied by their guardians or parents. The maximum age limit is 60. If you’re over 60, consult your doctor before participating in this trek.

Fitness Endurance: 

• Individuals must be able to run 4 kilometres in around 30 minutes to be a decent fit for this trek.
• To improve your fitness level, start with stretching (to avoid any muscle pain or strain) and move on to exercising vigorously daily for about an hour.
• Climbing stairs, jogging, lunges, squats, cycling, and push-ups are some of the suggested fitness regimes that you should follow to boost your stamina and experience the lifetime experience without struggling physically or mentally.

It becomes extremely necessary to carry essential items while on the Kedarkantha Trek, which are as follows-

• Any of the mentioned government identity proof cards, such as the Aadhar card, driver’s license, voter ID, or passport. (for identification purposes).
• Trekking essentials include a good backpack (waterproof) to carry all your essentials. Also, a rain cover or raincoat, a water bottle to stay hydrated, and water purification tablets to ensure safe drinking.
• Clothing: a fleece T-shirt, an inner fleece pant, a waterproof and down jacket, thermal wear, a pair of warm gloves, a quick dry towel, hiking boots, a pair of warm socks, UV-protected shades, and a cap.
• Shoes: Good-branded trekking shoes will be a great option that will provide a great grip on uneven or slippery surfaces, which regular shoes lack. Trekking shoes from a good brand will protect you from strains or bruises. Quechua is one of the best brands that you can go for.
• Toiletries: One must carry a small pack of toothpaste, a face wash, a toothbrush, napkins, paper soap, hand sanitizers, sunscreen with good SPF, moisturisers, a hot water bag, and lip balms (to avoid any cracks or dryness).
• Instant Energy: For instant energy while on the Kedarkantha trek, kindly carry chocolate bars, dry fruits, and some snacks for instant energy.
• Medication: ensure carrying pain relief balms or sprays for immediate relief from spasms, sprains, and joint pain. Additionally, antiseptic solutions to heal a wound, along with bandages, anti-allergic tablets, and pain relief tablets.

Miscellaneous: a route map, a flash torch (for better visibility in the dark), a power bank, a stick, and a camera or a drone to capture breathtaking natural beauty. Stay updated with the weather conditions to prepare accordingly.

For the Kedarkantha trek, one needs to follow the mentioned route from Delhi: You can either reach by car, by bus, or by train.

 By Car:

• Delhi- Sankri (440 km), via NH44 and NH5, which is a 12–14-hour journey depending on the traffic and road conditions.

By Bus:

• To Sankri: There are many private and government-operated buses available from Delhi to Sankri, which is an overnight 10–12-hour journey.

By Train:

• To Dehradun: Book a train from Delhi to Dehradun. The journey takes nearly 7-8 hours. Among various other options, you can opt for the Dehradun Express and the Nanda Devi Express.
• From Dehradun to Sankri: After arriving at Dehradun, hire a shared taxi or a private vehicle to the Kedarkantha base camp (Sankri), with a 10- to 12-hour drive.