Kedarkantha 2023 : Uttarakhand Thrill Adventure

Kedarkantha trek in December, given to understanding that it’s the most beautiful winter trek amongst those in Uttarakhand. It was a Usual Saturday Morning. I woke up with unusual excitement and butterflies in my stomach once the morning blues left my consciousness. It was time to pack my bags and head to Mumbai Airport. We were four friends from Mumbai who signed up for the So like pro trekkers with our trekking bags on our backs, we headed to the Airport to catch a connecting flight to Dehradun via Delhi. It takes about 4.5 hours to reach Dehradun Airport from Mumbai. Our scheduled pick-up for heading towards Sankri was not until the next morning. So leaving the hustle and bustle of the city we decided to spend the rest of the day and the following night in the wonderful town of Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is about 30 mins drive from Dehradun Airport. A beautiful serene and quaint town surrounded by Yoga and Meditation centers everywhere, and a German Bakery on almost every corner of the block. We walked down to The Laxman Jhula which was just about 20 mins from our Guest house and were fortunate to get a chance to witness the Ganga Aarti.

After taking the blessing of the divine we headed towards the Guest house to catch up on our sleep. Early the next morning we began our adventure towards Kedarkantha. The first stop was Sankri which is about a 7-8 hour drive from Dehradun and Hrishikesh (Rishikesh). The winding roads running through lush Pine forests, rivers like Yamuna and Tons flowing alongside, and fresh mountain breeze brushing your skin is an experience from Nature’s Masterpieces. Sankri is a Paradise for Trekkers. This village has picturesque views, markets, and homestay options which gives an experience and insight into the Garhwali
culture. Sankri is also the last entry road point to Govind Balabh Pant Wildlife Sanctuary.

We started our accent from Sankri the next early morning. The hike was pretty easy and the climb was going to be for 5-6 hours to Kedarkantha Meadow campsite. The journey from the Pine and Oak Forest encounters a few interesting interactions with the locals. You will come across shepherds grazing their sheep, females from nearby villages carrying Hay for their daily activities, and children hopping around. The locals will more than welcome a small talk to enlighten you about their culture and lifestyle. This trail at the point has some interesting tea stops and some small bridges crossing over freshwater streams. For someone who never tried to drink the fresh mineral-rich water of the mountains has really not tasted Nature in its purest form

You will cross a small lake called Juda Talab en route to the campsite at Kedarkantha Meadows has an unending skyline and spectacular Sunset views. As the Sun dives deeper away from the sight, the sky changes colors from stunning yellows to oranges and crimson reds at times. It’s wonderful to watch nature paint an interesting live canvas right in front of your eyes. As the evening advances towards moonlit darkness, the weather starts to drop considerably during winter. We could experience a hail storm and snowfall during December month. The night temperatures were close to freezing,
however, our sleeping bags did a great job of keeping us warm inside our tents.

To Kedarkantha Peak

The next morning was the climb we most awaited. The finale to Kedarkantha Peak which is at an altitude of 3810 m. The literal meaning of the word Kedarkantha is “Shiva’s Throat”. On the Peak, while it snows, your inner child emerges and the play is on. You can slide, throw snowballs, and once tired just simply sit and gaze at the mesmerizing Himalayas that surround you with what seems like an infinite lineup of snowclad mountain peaks creating an illusionary experience of being on the clouds. It seems so surreal that your
heart will not want to get back from here. Having soaked in the glory of this peak we proceed to decent to our campsite. It’s time to treat your belly with some warm freshly made Khichdi as your mind still lingers in the memory of the experience you just had making you long for more.

“ The Himalayas call me. The more time I spend in their lap the more I long to be here when I am not “ – Meenakshi Chauhan