Beyond any words, Kedar Kantha is one of the famous trekking destinations in Garwhal Himalayas. The 26km long trek goes through small hamlets, lush green meadows and ashtonishing beauty of Himalayas. The trek trail takes you through different varieties of flora – fauna and wildlife of that region. Kedar Kantha trek is situated in Uttarkashi district under “Govind Wildlife Sanctuary”. Kedar Kantha Trek makes one of the most preferred winter treks because one walks through exquisitely beautiful forests and finds oneself surrounded by ice capped mountains.
Location: Kedar Kantha lies in the state of Uttarakhand, bordering Himachal Pradesh. KedarKantha peak is in Uttarkashi district under “Govind Wild Life Sanctuary” in Uttaranchal.
Duration of Trek: 10-11 Days
Trek Distance: 26kms
Altitude: 12000 Ft
Best time to visit: January to June and September to December
Temperature: Summer 15 to 30°C, Winter 0 to 24°C
How to reach:
By Air:
Nearest Airport to Mussoorie is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradoon which is 60kms from Mussoorie.
By Road: AC/Non-AC buses both private or public run from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradoon and other parts of north Indi to Mussoorie
By Rail: Dehradoon Railway Station is the nearest airport which is 60kms away from Mussoorie.
Trek Route:
Kedar Kantha Trek starts from Sankri which is 6400 ft. The route to the trek is as follows:
Sankari (6400 ft) to Juda-Ka-Talab (9100 ft) : Trek takes 5 hours approx. and the distance covered is 4kms.
From Juda-Ka-Talab (9100 ft) to Kedarkantha Base (11,250ft). The trek takes approximately 5 hours and is a 4kms long stretch.
From Kedarkantha Base head towards Kedarkantha meadows which is 11250ft to Kedarkantha Peak this is the final destination and is at 12500 ft. Reaching the Kedarkantha Trek get the 360 view of the snow clad Uttrakhand Mountains and enjoy the serene beauty of the place. One can see Gangotri and the Yamunotri range from the summit. If you have a guide, ask him to show you Chanshil Pass and Kinner Kailash Ranges too.
Descend back from the trek via Hargaon and then Sankri.
Places to see:
Before coming to the trek or after the trek make a point to visit Mussoorie and visit the famous Yamuna Bridge and Kempty Falls. When at Kedarkantha take out time to visit places such as the Forest Research Institute, The Indian Military Academy, Malsi Deer Park, Robber’s cave, or a simple Dekko of the Paltan Bazaar!
Travel Tips:
- Purola is the Last ATM and Naitwar is the Last Phone Connection.
- The trek is not for the novice trekkers; one has to be physically fit to be able to complete this trek.
- Take good trekking shoes for the trek as being winter and leaves on the grounds it might be slippery.
- Lot of warm clothes, jackets and wind shelters
- Sun glasses to protect from UV rays
- Carry LED torch with extra batteries
- Carry your personal medicine kit and first aid kit.
