Kedarkantha Trek

The temperature for the Kedarkantha trek in winter is between 8 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius. However, the nighttime temperature can drop to even -10 degrees Celsius. During the winters, the Kedarkantha trek is a delight, as you will see snow everywhere. The entire landscape is white, which feels extremely magical. This makes Kedarkantha a good trek to head to in winter. 

The summit climb is adventurous too, making trekking to Kedarkantha in the winter a magical experience. You trek through dense forest covered with white snow, where you can go camping on clear mounds of snow.

The temperature during the day in the spring months is between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius and drops to 5 degrees Celsius. If you want to enjoy the last winter snow, this is the best time to come here because the lower campsites are under the spring charm, blooming with flowers. However, the upper reaches of the trek to Kedarkantha Peak still have a bit of snow. However, the springtime makes the grassland and rhododendrons look beautiful, with little snow in March. But in April, there is no snow, and you can see the stunning landscape alive with flowers and greenery.

The daytime temperature in summers is between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. It drops between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius at night. At night, it can still get a bit cold, so you need two warm layers. The summers, especially May, are marked with bright sun in the early morning hours. In the evenings, it is a bit cold, which can give you respite from heat and is not even as cold as the other months. In June, you will experience occasional rainfall, and monsoon starts in July. So, the trek will turn lush green, but it is not advisable to trek in the summer season. Summers are actually a good time to trek if you love solitude because most trekkers head to other high-altitude treks in summers.

The daytime temperature in Kedarkantha during autumn is between 10 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius. The temperature at night drops to -5 degrees Celsius. If you want to trek in the snow, then this is not the right time for you. Autumn is the post monsoon season, and you will find the trek beautiful, lush green, and livelier in September. The forests and meadows come alive during this month and even in October. From the peak, you can enjoy the upper Himalayan views in the best manner. 

In the month of November, the trek feels colder as you can feel the winter setting in, but the views are still beautiful.

The Kedarkantha trek from Delhi package starts with INR 6300. The base package is INR 6,000, but you will have to pay INR 300 extra if you choose transportation from Delhi to Dehradun. You will complete the trek in five nights and six days. 

If you wish to head to the Kedarkantha trek from Delhi, you have three ways. These include:

By Air:

• The nearest airport to Dehradun is Jolly Grant airport. From Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport, you can fly to Dehradun anytime, as there are many flights available regularly. 

By Rail

• Trains are an age-old Indian method of travel, and many trains are running from Delhi to Dehradun. It is an overnight journey, and the two trains you can take are:
• Nanda Devi Express leaving Delhi at 11:50 pm and arriving at 5:40 am.
• Dehradun Express leaving Delhi at 9:10 pm and arriving at 5:00 am. 

By Road

• By road, the trek to Kedarkantha from Delhi is 450 km. The bus is the best way to reach Kedarkantha from Delhi ISBT.
• From here, you can take a bus to Dehradun, covering a distance of 265 km. In two days, you can reach from Delhi to Sankri. 
• From Sankri base camp, you can trek to another 20 km and reach Kedarkantha.

For a thrilling adventure in the Himalayas, the Kedarkantha trek from Dehradun is the ideal adventure. The trek package from Dehradun starts in the city, heading to Sankri village, and ends at Dehradun only in 5 nights and 6 days. The price for the trek package from Dehradun to Kedarkantha trek is INR 6,000.  

Here is how to reach Dehradun for heading to the Kedarkantha trek in winters.

• By Air: If you want to fly to Dehradun, Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the best possible destination. From the airport, hiring a taxi or taking a public bus to Sankri, 190 km away, is possible. 
• By Road: From Dehradun, a scenic road drive will take you to Sankri via bus or road, the trek’s starting point. The charming villages make this a beautiful experience.
• By Train: The most popular way to reach Dehradun is by taking a train to Dehradun railway station. From there, it is best to travel to Sankri via a road in about 6-7 hours.

Rishikesh, the sacred city of India, is known for its Ganga aarti and being an adventure capital of India. From Rishikesh, you will first have to travel to Dehradun, and then the journey to Sankri and Kedarkantha begins. The trek will be 5 nights and 6 days from Dehradun, excluding the travel to and from Rishikesh.

To reach Kedarkantha from Rishikesh, you only have the option of road travel. For this, you can either:

• Take a Bus: However, only one bus is available, and it takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to cover the distance, which is approximately 46 km.
• Take a Car: From Dehradun to Rishikesh, you can rent or drive your own car. It is a short drive with a scenic route to keep you company. You will drive through the NH 7 highway amidst beautiful mountains and views of forests, mountains, and the Song River Bank. It is one of the best views of your life as you drive along the rejuvenating riverside.

• It is not a route often taken and is full of beautiful scenery and vistas. The trek starts from Kotagaon, basecamp for this amazing winter hike. After driving from Dehradun to Kotagaon, you head from:
• Kotagaon to Khujaai has a trek distance of 5.3 km, which you complete in 5 hours. 
• From Khujaai, head to Bhoja Dhadi, covering a trek distance of 3 km and in 3.5 hours.
• From Bhoja Dhadi, you trek to Khujaai, exploring the stunning Kedarkantha summit. The total trek distance is 9 km, and the duration is 7-8 hours. 
• Next, you descend from Khujaai back to Kotagain; the trek duration is 5.3 km, and you complete this in 4-5 hours.
• The last leg of the route is driving back to Dehradun from Kotagaon, 200 km in 10–11 hours.

• Gaichawan Route is a small and quaint village. The trek route starts by driving from Dehradun to Gaichawan Gaon, a 195 km journey completing in 10–11 hours. 
• From Gaichawan Gaon, you trek to Julota, covering 5.5 km in 4-5 hours. 
• From Julota, you will trek to the stunning Pukhrola, trekking for 3 km in 3-4 hours.
• From Pukhrola, you will trek to Akhoti Thach, covering a trail of 8 km in 6-7 hours. 
• From Akhoti Thach, it is time to descend back to Gaichawan Gaon, trekking 7.2 km in 5-6 hours. 
• From Gaichawan Gaon, you drive 195 km to Dehradun, covering the distance in 10–11 hours.

• The most famous route to Kedarkantha Trek is the Sankri base camp, the starting point of many treks in Uttarakhand. After you drive from Dehradun to Sankri, you will:
• Heading from the Sankri village, you will head to the base camp, covering 20 km in trek.
• From Sankri base camp, it is time to trek to Juda da tal, the frozen lake, in 4-5 hours, trekking for 4 km.
• From Juda-da-Tal, you trek 4 km towards Kedarkantha base camp, a beautiful campsite.
• At 4 am in the morning, you will trek for 6 km to reach the Kedakarntha summit. The beautiful views will mesmerize you.
• You head to Sankri from Hargaon camp and back to Dehradun.

Kedarkantha trek in winters is connected to many cities like Delhi or Rishikesh via road. It is one of the better ways to travel to Kedarkantha. Here is a distance chart between cities and Kedarkantha trek summit. From all these cities, the distance is not much, making the trek doable. 

Destination Wise Distance Guide

• Sankri - 11.5 kms

• Delhi - 452 kms

• Rishikesh - 242 kms

• Haridwar - 250 kms

• Mori - 33 kms

• Har ki Dun Trek - 38 kms

• Chakrata - 143 kms

• Mussoorie - 165 kms

• Dehradun - 208 kms

• Jolly Grant Airport - 225 kms

• Dhanaulti - 192 kms

• Mussoorie - 165 kms

The Kedarkantha peak height is 3,810 meters (12,500 ft) and is one of the most magnificent peaks in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The views and the height make it a beautiful trek for beginners. The trek to Kedarkantha starts from Sankri. From Sankri, the height of the trek is 1800 meters (6,000 feet), providing serene views of the mountains. The next stop is Juda Ka Talab, a frozen river. Kedarkantha trek height from here is 1,110 meters (3,641 ft). It is also an ideal camping ground for all trekkers. As you reach Kedarkantha, the open, beautiful area for camping is situated at a height of 3430 meters (11,250 feet). Lastly, Kedarkantha’s summit height from the base camp is 380 meters (1,246 feet).

The Kedarkantha trek is known as an easy to moderate trek because its ascent is gradual and the trail is well-defined and evened out. But the trek is 5-6 days long, and the total height you reach is 14,000 ft. One of the best parts about this trek is that it has easy and multiple exit points. Thus, it is considered an easy to moderate trek. Let’s discuss this in detail.

On your trek to Kedarkantha, you climb an altitude of 5,500–6,000 ft in just 3 days. The gradual ascent allows you to tackle certain steep sections that are well defined and easy to trek. Moreover, you only trek for 4 hours a day other than the summit. One of the best reasons this is a beginner-friendly trek is that it only takes you to a height of 12,500 ft. This ensures the trek is not demanding, making it an ideal trek. If you want to look at it from a safety point of view, the trek has many exits, so you are safe as you trek to Kedarkantha Peak. 

Uttarakhand is home to the beautiful Sankri Village. It is a route to Himalayan paradise for all trekkers. It is a scenic hamlet in Uttarkashi district and is a delight for all trekkers. It is the base camp for not just the Kedarkantha trek but many other treks too. This village offers beautiful views of the stunning Himalayan skyline. Also visible are the many mountain peaks, which you can graze at from a stunning distance. 

From Dehradun, you will take around 6-7 hours to reach Sankri, 200 km away. Here, you will enjoy not just the Himalayan valleys but also learn about the local culture of the locals.

Juda ka Talab is a beautiful lake situated at a high altitude of 2,700 meters. For the Kedarkantha winter trek, it acts as a camping ground. The lake is a perfect campsite, along with offering a beautiful view of the Himalayan landscape. During the winter season, the lake is completely frozen, and there is a beautiful story behind the formation of the lake. It is believed that Lord Shiva opened his hair a little and a droplet fell from it, forming this stunning lake. From Juda ka Talab to Sankri, you trek for 4 hours amidst a beautiful green forest laden with pine trees.

Kedarkantha base camp is only 3-4 hours away from the frozen lake, Juda ka Talab. Trekking for 4 km, it is the campsite for Kedarkantha trekkers on their second night. The basecamp is situated at a height of 11,250 ft, and the summit of Kedarkantha is 3 km away. It does involve a steep ascent, and you gain 1,250 feet of height. The campsite is massive and requires you to navigate a few steep stretches to get there. The trail section from the basecamp to the summit is steep and tests your physical endurance and strength.

It is a picturesque retreat situated in the beautiful landscapes of Uttarakhand, India. It is nestled in the lush greenery and towering hills, offering a peaceful escape from city life. It also has tents offering modern amenities with a mix of convenience and rustic charm. There are many activities you can try at the camp. These include nature walks, bonfires under the night sky, and bird watching. It is close to nature, which makes it a beautiful spot for adventure and nature lovers alike.

Valid ID cards 

The most important thing to take is a valid ID card and one or two photocopies of the same. 

Backpack

Carrying a sturdy backpack for your Kedarkantha trek is necessary. Something that can carry 60-70 liters of essential items. It should also be waterproof.

Trekking shoes

Carrying sturdy trekking shoes that are waterproof is necessary for a good trek. Do wear them before the trek to break into them to ensure you have a good trek.

Trekking poles

Another thing to carry for your Kedarkantha peak trek is trekking poles. It ensures your stability without straining your knees. They make your hikes easier.

Headlamp 

It is a necessary part of your camping gear and frees your hand while you cook or change clothes. Go with one that has night vision. 

Sunglasses and sunscreen

It is necessary to carry sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun cap with you to the trek to protect yourself from sun rays.

First-aid kit

It is also necessary to carry a first-aid kit, and it should have antiseptic creams, bandages, medical tape, disposable gloves, and more. You also need prescription medicines and other general medicines with you. 

Camping slippers 

It is also good to carry camping slippers, making your camping comfortable. Buy lightweight and quick-drying slippers.

Thermal Innerwear

Woolen thermals or synthetic inners trap body heat well, ensuring you are not sweaty. It helps you be warm and dry all day. Ensure you do not buy cotton thermals, as they will not soak up the sweat. 

Fleece Jackets

A fleece jacket gives you excellent insulation and warmth. It will trap air and dry quickly when it's wet, even though it is not wet. 

Trekking pants

Also, take trekking pants that are light-weight, quick-drying, and abrasion-resistant. Trekking pants makes it easier for you to move. 

Reusable cutlery

Also, carry a reusable fork, insulated mug, and spoon with yourself. It will ensure you do not litter or make the environment dirty. The cutlery should be durable as well. 

Biodegradable toiletries

Do carry travel-sized toiletries for bathing and sanitation. You will need sunscreen, small soaps, toothpaste tablets, and more for yourself.

Waterproof gloves

Gloves for the Kedarkantha trek in winter are necessary to protect yourself from the harsh and cold region. Ensure the gloves are waterproof as well.