29/10/2021
Kedarkantha Trek is one of the most famous winter treks in India. The trek starts from a village called Sankri in the Uttarkashi district and gains the maximum height of 12,500 feet (3,800 m) at the Kedarkantha Peak. There are other routes that can connect you to the Kedarkantha Peak, like an eastern ridge, western ridge, and Phulara ridge. But, the villages connected to these areas are not much explored so most of the trekkers use the Sankri route.
Being a winter trek, the Kedarkantha Trek receives heavy snowfall and is one of the best treks for beginners. It is not a short trek, it takes around 6-7 days to the summit and back (if you are starting from Dehradun). Kedarkantha trek is located in the range of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and the best time to visit is from December to April.
As soon as you arrive at Sankri, you start to capture the wonderful views of the mountains and the diverse flora & fauna of the area. With these amazing imagery in mind, you move forward to Juda ka Talab from Sanakri and you see clearings in the middle of the forest, multiple colors, meadow, and sun rays shining down the lovely forest will make you mesmerized and amazed.
A stunning view of snow capped ranges like Har ki dun from Juda ka Talab will make you feel lost in the beauty of nature. In winters, Juda ka Talab is completely frozen due to a minimum temperature of -7 degrees, and this lake is also known as a frozen lake of India.
Finally going from base camp Juda ka Talab to Kedarkantha peak is one of the best feelings in the world. To witness the beauty of the sun rising from the peak can bring joy to your mundane life. This is just magical to see such a splendid view that strikes you at once.
In addition, you can explore more at the Sankri village while we stop there for a few hours. On your way to the Sankri village, you can also visit a village called Lakhamandal. Based on ancient beliefs, this village keeps a mythological history of Mahabharata. According to this belief, the fifth brother of Pandava named Sahadeva visited this place and buried lakhs of Shivling under the range of this village and much more.
In order to reach Kedarkantha trek from Delhi, you need to travel to Dehradun and catch the bus to Sankri from Dehradun Railway Station.