Comprehensive Guide To Kedarkantha Trek

Kedarkantha Trek is located in the Sankri village of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand. It is a beginner-friendly trek and lasts up to 5-6 days. The trek begins from Sankri, taking you to the highest altitude of 12,000 ft at the Kedarkantha Summit. It takes 3 – 4 days to cover the distance of 20 km while following the hiking difficulty of moderate level.

The trek route ends at the same point at Sankri with a loop circuit. There are various starting points for the trek and starting from Sankri via Juda ka Talab is one of the most popular and easiest routes. The distance from Sankri to Kedarkantha trek is 10 km, and the total distance for the Kedarkantha trek to the summit and return is 20 km. However, starting from Gaichwan village and Kotgaon, the trek distances are a little bit different. These routes are less frequented and steeper as compared with the Sankri route, which we will discuss later in this blog.

The routes are packed with mesmerizing views of the Himalayas and the beautiful lake of Juda Ka Talab, amazing campsites of Hargaon, Khujaai, and Bhoja Dhadi. The stunning clearings of Kedarkantha Basecamp, and many more attractions along the way.

The trail lies within the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, enriched with diverse flora and fauna. It is surrounded by dense forests of towering pine, rhododendrons, and deodar trees, which turn white during the winter, creating a heavenly snowscape.

Along this path, you will be able to spot the majestic views of Bandarpoonch, Black Peak (Kala Naag), the Gangotri Range, and Swargarohini.

The trails are well-marked and have multiple exit points. So, you don’t have to worry about getting lost here. However, due to the steepness of the terrain, any false step can lead to a disaster. Hence, it is really important to walk carefully on the trail.

In this blog, we will provide insights into the altitude, distance, elevation, and trek routes available that you can choose for the Kedarkantha Trek, which can be helpful to get an overview of the physical fitness required for the trek, terrain sections, hiking difficulty of the trek and to understand the essence of precautions and skills for a Himalayan trek which vary accordingly to the height and distance of a trail.

The starting point of this trek is Dehradun; from here you will have to reach Sankri. If you are traveling from Delhi, you can reach Dehradun in multiple ways. The distance from Delhi to Sankri is 450 km, and from Dehradun, it is 210 km. You can travel from Delhi to Dehradun via the following ways:

• By Bus: You can find multiple direct buses from Delhi to Dehradun from Kashmiri Gate, Delhi. The distance is about 265 km, and it will take you up to 7-8 hours to reach the location.
• By Train: There are two overnight trains from Delhi to Dehradun: Nandadevi Express and Dehradun Express. It will take you about 6-7 hours to reach Dehradun by train.
• By Flight: There are direct flights from Delhi to Dehradun, which will drop you at the location within one hour.

Once you reach Dehradun, you can simply hire a cab to Sankri. It is a drive from Dehradun covering a distance of approximately 200 km within 7 to 8 hrs. This drive will take almost the entire day to reach the Sankri, once you get there, book a homestay in Sankri or proceed with your Kedarkantha Trek package provider.

Read: Treks from Sankri

After entering the Sankri region, start the ascent to Kedarkantha Peak using any of the three major routes available for the Kedarkantha trek, as mentioned below:

The altitude of Sankri is 6397 feet. You will start walking from this point and the path will pass through the dense forest, the lake of Juda ka Talab, and the small meadows of Kedarkantha Basecamp. Pine and oak trees mostly surround it. This route is most frequented and popular due to its easy accessibility, gradual ascents, and best views of surrounding the trail.

Sankri-Juda ka Talab-Kedarkantha Basecamp-Kedarkantha Summit-Juda ka talab-Sankri

The first campsite is Juda Ka Talab on this route, which is located at an altitude of 9000 feet. It will take you 3-4 hours to reach the campsite and after completing the hiking to get there, you can enjoy the surroundings of the lake in the remaining time.

On the second day, you will start your journey to the Kedarkantha Basecamp which is located at an altitude of 11,250 ft. It is an approximately 3 km long trail that takes you up to 4-5 hours to reach here and this is the viewpoint where you will be able to spot the Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Ranglana, and Black Peak (Kala Nag).

On day three, you will walk from Kedarkantha base to Summit. The third day is the hardest as you will have to walk at an altitude of 12500 feet. On the top of the peak you will find the majestic views of Rupin and other peaks. Along with this, there is also a shrine of Lord Ganesha and a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Now, you will travel back to the juda ka talab and finally to the Sankri base camp.

On this route, you will proceed forward via Kotgaon instead of Sankri. Kotgaon stands at an altitude of 6400 feet. The trek starts from Kotgaon to Khujaai and the distance for this hiking is approximately 5.3 km, reaching an altitude of 9,460 feet.

On the second day, you will walk from Khujaai to Bhoja Dhadi which takes you at the altitude of 10,700 feet. On third day, finally you will reach the summit of Kedarkantha.

Kotgaon- Khujaai- Bhoja Dhadi – Kedarkantha Summit – Khujaai – Kotgaon.

The Gaichwan Gaon situated 5,600 feet runs this route.

On the first day of the Gaichwan Trek route, you will reach the campsite of Julota (8,950 ft), and on the next day, the path continues towards the next campsite, Pukhrola (10,800 ft).

On the summit day of this trek, the route finally reaches the Kedarkantha Summit (12,500 ft), and then follows a descent to the previous campsite at Julota. The next day, the route concludes with a descending hike from Julota to Gaichwan village.

Among these trek routes to Kedarkantha Peak, the Sankri route is considered the best, and we mark it with stunning landscapes. It is a beautiful campsite where you can rest and gain energy for the rest of the journey.

The view from the top is worth all the wait. If you visit the snowcapped mountains during the winter, the experience will be breathtaking and the best decision of your life. So, grab your backpacking essentials and start preparing for the best winter trekking destination, Kedarkantha Trek.

Kedarkantha Trek stands at a height of 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) above sea level. The summit offers panoramic views of the majestic Himalayan peaks, including Swargarohini, Black Peka, and Bandarpunch.

Reaching at this highest altitude of the trek can cause altitude sickness which requires careful itinerary planning to reach such a high altitude of the peak. The best way to avoid this condition is to climb slowly and let your body adjust to the environment accordingly. This is why you should take at least 5 days to complete this trek and walk for only 3-4 km each day.

However, the altitude is ideal for beginners if it is planned to cover the entire trail within a minimum of 4 days.

“AMS, or acute mountain sickness, is a condition that occurs when you travel to high-altitude places, i.e., above 8000 feet. It happens in the low oxygen zone where the air pressure is low, and it starts affecting your body.”

The total trek distance of the Kedarkantha depends on the trekking route followed. If climbing for the route proceeds with the Sankri route (mentioned in detail in the above section) then from the Sankri village (1,950 meters) to Kedarkantha Summit the trail covers a total distance of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away. You can complete the trek route from Sankri to Kedarkantha Summit and back in 4 to 6 days. Number of duration for completing the trek route, depends on the fitness level of the trekkers, whether you are a beginner or experienced trekker.

The trail passes gradually through some of the key spots such as Juda ka Talab, Kedarkantha Base Camp, and Kedarkatha Summit with the distance and elevation gain as mentioned below-

From Sankri-Juda ka Talab – Kedarkantha Base Camp (3,429 meters),

Proceeding toward the summit from the Kedarkantha Basecamp, it involves a steep climb with an elevation gain of 1,250 feet (381 meters) and covers ascent with a 3 km long trail.

The most importantly, this is the only section on the entire trek route that can really test your physical and mental strength, also is the biggest factor that puts the trail of Kedarkantha into a moderately challenging category.

So, after reviewing some aspects of altitude, distance and trek route. it is understood that the Kedarkantha is a beginner-friendly trek but you must remember a few things before climbing. It is definitely not recommended for people who have asthma or breathing problems.

Moreover, even if you are healthy, have no such ongoing diseasein on your body, you can start preparing yourself at least a month before the trek.

How can you be sure if you are fit for this trek? Typically, if you are capable of running for at least 5 km daily within 30 minutes.

Always bear in mind that the higher level of physical fitness you have, the higher level of vibes you can feel, and you get some never-lasting memories of smilies, and deep connection with mother nature with no single shot of frustrated mind, and a face distorted by exhaustion.

~Shivam Chand

If you can’t finish 5 km run in 30 minutes, work on building up your strength. To climb the Kedarkantha Peak within that time frame yourself.

• Start running with 2 km running distance covering within 15 minutes and reduce the timing day by day. Try this for a week and then increase the running distance to 3 km and follow the same procedure again.
• Walk for at least 4 or 5 km daily with some weighted bags to build endurance for long-distance trail.
• Practice some breathing exercises to train your lungs for high altitude.
  Additionally, you should learn more about how to prepare yourself for a Himalayan Trek.

This blog has provided you with valuable information about the altitude, distance, and different trekking routes for the Kedarkantha Trek. If you find any suggestions for improvement or important points missed in the comment section, please share them.

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In Himalaya Shelter, we provide you with the option to customize your trekking experience. Whether you’re a solo traveller, a group of friends, or a family, you can opt for our personalized tailor-made trekking program. This customized trek will be exclusively designed for you, taking into account your specific requirements for transportation, accommodation, meals, and any other premium facilities you may need during the trek. No other participants will be added to your group. Choosing a customized trek will enable you to fully enjoy the trek with your loved ones.