Kedarkantha Trek Overview
Kedarkantha trek (often confused with Kedarnath) is a popular trek among the first timers as well as seasoned trekkers. Kedarkantha is a 5-day trek in the Govind Pashuvihar National Park which is popular for a lot of reasons. The first reason being the rewarding experience of the summit climb. The summit looms large right from the base camp and as you start your journey towards the peak a whole new world reveals itself to you.
Kedarkantha is not particularly an easy climb, it is steep and the closer you get to the summit, the trickier the paths become. But once you complete it, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment is going to take over your senses. A trek to Kedarkantha is also going to leave you mesmerized with its dense lush forest. Kedarkantha trek being inside a wildlife sanctuary, the aspect of nature will render you speechless with its raw Western Himalayan beauty.
Short Itinerary for Kedarkantha Summit Trek
Day 1 - Dehradun to Sankri
Day 2 - Sankri to Juda ka Talab
Day 3 - Juda ka Talab to Base Camp
Day 4 - Base Camp to Kedarkantha Summit
Day 5 - Base Camp to Sankri
Day 6 - Sankri to Dehradun
Kedarkantha Trek Detailed Itinerary
Dehradun to Sankri
Distance: 187km
Duration: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 1950m
- Start your journey towards Sankri village from Dehradun, which would take you about 9-10 hours.
- Drive along Yamuna and Tons river, with pine forests surrounding your way and enjoy the beauty of nature at its best.
- After the breezy ride reach Sankri and check-in to your campsite.
- Overnight stay at Sankri.
Know Before You Go to Kedarkantha Trek
Kedarkantha is a very popular trek among first timers who are indulging in some serious trekking. It can be a good way to kickstart your trekking journey. Here are some tips for the first time trekkers :
- You can rent trekking poles, trekking shoes, and trekking bags in Sankri but be sure to check the availability before peak season.
- Keeping your phones fully charged and carrying an extra battery for your camera is advisable as electricity in snakri is quite an issue, the place faces frequent power cuts.
- Carry a flask to store warm water which you can drink during your trek .
- This cannot be stressed enough but do not overpack as doing so you will be bringing doom upon yourself.
- Stuff your things in a planned way so that things are easily accessible to you when you need them.
- As you enter Purola (halfway to Sankri), there will be no network so make sure you inform your loved ones.
- There are no ATMs after Mori so be sure to use the ATM in Dehradun itself.
- As you begin your trek, start with small steps and gradually increase your pace
- Keep quick foods like energy bar with you which will give you an instant boost.
- Do not forget to keep your headorce as you will be trekking 3 am in the morning.
Unsaid Things About Kedarkantha Trek
Trek inside a wildlife sanctuary : Kedarkantha is located in the Govind Pashuvihar Sanctuary and National Park, the area is filled with rich flora and fauna with biodiversity of Western Himalayas. In your trek to Kedarkanth you will be witnessing all three kinds of flora of Western Himalayas : Broadleaf forests, Subalpine conifer and Subalpine shrubs and bushes.
Religious and Cultural significance of Kedarkantha : According to mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva stayed here for a few days when he was hiding from a demon. All the three significant villages, Sankri, Kotgaon and Gaichwan have a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. In terms of culture we will see a heavy influence of the Kinnaur, the people over here dress and talk in a similar fashion like the Kinnauris.
FAQ's of Kedarkantha Trek
How long is the Kedarkantha Trek?
Kedarkantha trek is a 18 km long trek which takes 4 days from Sankri to complete the trek. On the first day you will cover 5 km which will take you around 4 hours approximately, on the second day you will cover 4 km over a span of 4 hours. On the third day you will trek from Juda ka talab to Base camp which is 4 kms.On the 4th day you will cover around 6 km which will take you 6-7 hours.
What is the height of Kedarkantha trek?
The height or altitude of Kedarkantha is 12500 ft, while Sankri is at an altitude of 6455 ft.
Can people over 58 years do Kedarkantha trek?
Yes, you can do the Kedarkantha trek if you are more than 58 years old. You have to present a treadmill test and you should be able to jog 5 km in 45mins.
Do I get network access on the Kedarkantha trek?
Getting a network on your Kedarkantha trek is difficult, however, you might get network on the summit and some few places on your route.
Is there an ATM on the Kedarkantha Trek?
The last ATM that you will find en route to your base camp is in Mori. At Mori you will find an SBI bank which has an ATM attached to it. But please keep in mind that the machine, most of the time, is devoid of any cash. In such a case you have to go to an SBI authorized cash withdrawal center where you will swipe your card and the person present at the servicing desh will give you acash. It is recommended that you avoid this hassle and carry vash with yourself from the very beginning. Purola is a good option as it has 3 functioning ATM’s.
Is there a cloakroom facility at Kedarkantha trek?
There is a cloakroom facility at the basecamp of Kedarkantha, where you can leave your things and as the trek ends, your belongings will be brought back to you. Please keep in mind that you should not leave any valuable things in the cloakroom.
Is offloading available at Kedarkantha?
Yes, offloading is available on Kedarkantha trekking. Your bags will be kept on the back of the mule while you walk the trail hassle-free.
Is there any risk of wild animals on the Kedarkantha trek?
There is no as such risk of wild animals in Kedarkantha trek, however, it is suggested that you remain vigilant because after all Kedarkantha is inside Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. It is recommended that you do not get estranged from your group for a long period of time.
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