One of the Finest Summit Climbs in Winters
Kedarkantha (not to be confused with the popular Temple Kedarnath) is a 6-day long trek in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand (6 when including the travel days from Dehradun to the base camp and back). Kedarkantha is easily one of the most popular treks in India — popular amongst seasoned trekkers and beginners alike during the winter season.
There are many reasons why it is a very popular trek to do in the Indian Himalayas. The most important of them is this — the summit climb.
The summit climb of Kedarkantha is a very rewarding one. Right from the base camp of the trek, the summit looms large. As you start your trek in the early hours of the morning and steadily climb up the steep slope of snow, the world opens up around you.
The climb is not easy. The entire stretch is steadily steep. As you get closer to the summit, it gets tricky as well. But the big mountains of the upper Himalayas keep you company until you finally reach the summit.
As you stretch yourself and take in the views of the Himalayas from the summit, you feel a strong sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. This is an unparalleled feeling.
Very few treks offer the same adventure, making it popular among beginners for its finest summit climb.
Outside the summit, the trek is also unique for its beautiful clearings. Very rarely you will find stunning clearings on a trek that makes way for some rest spots and beautiful campsites. This trek is filled with clearings on all the different routes. What’s more, the clearings are just at the right locations, giving you beautiful vantage points to appreciate the trek and its views.
The third biggest reason this trek is unique is its beautiful forests. All three routes have beautiful diverse forests that will immerse you. If you are not careful, you will get lost in them (in a good way).
Ever since Indiahikes explored and opened up Kedarkantha as a winter trek in 2011, many other organisers have followed suit. Having explored and trekked this route
Kedarkantha Temperature and Trek Preparation in Winter
Kedarkantha over a period of time has become a favorite trekking destination for first-time trekkers, especially in winter months.
It has become a classic snow trek if done from December to February as you will find a lot of snow during these 3 months.
There is a thrill and sense of achievement of going for the summit at 3800 meters on the last day of Kedarkantha trek. Once on top, Kedarkantha offers 360 Degree views of snow-clad peaks of Himachal and Uttarakhand. You will get the views of peaks like Bandarpunch, Swargarohini, & Black Peak.
Where does the Kedarkantha Trek start from?
Sankri – is the base village or starting point of Kedarkantha trek. Sankri is very beautiful and you can spend a couple of days in this small village doing nothing. The trail goes through Govind Wildlife sanctuary and hence there are chances of spotting a variety of endemic and exotic species.
What is the Kedarkantha Temperature during winter?
Kedarkantha temperature during winter ranges from 13-18 degree Celcius during the day to as low as -7 degrees Celcius during the night. After sundown, the cold wind starts and Kedarkantha temperature drops dramatically. During the months of January and February, Kedarkantha is generally covered with snow and you would realize that the Kedarkantha weather is chilling cold even during the day. It is recommended to have woolen clothes with proper layering to deal with cold Kedarkantha temperature in winter.
Is it safe to do the Kedarkantha trek in winter?
Yes. It is absolutely safe to do the Kedarkantha trek in winter provided you have proper trekking gears and warm clothing with you to deal with the cold weather.
How do I dress up for the cold kedarkantha temperature?
For the upper part of the body, dress up in at least four layers such as :
- Good thermal as the base layer.
- Fleece jacket, as the second layer
- Down jacket as the third layer
- Wind Jacket as the fourth layer to withstand cold winds after sundown.
- Poncho to protect and cover yourself fully in case of snow or rain. yourself.
For the lower part of the body, you will need only 2 layers.
The first layer will be a thermal pant with your trekking pants over it.
Cover your head with a good balaclava and neck gaiter/warmer.
Of course, good waterproof trekking shoes are a must along with trekking poles.
How difficult is the Kedarkantha trek for a first-timer?
Kedarkantha Trek is a perfect start for beginners. It is a 5-day easy trek in the region of Uttarakhand starting from the base village of Sankri. You will not have to walk more 4 km on the trail each day which is the optimum distance to cover for a novice trekker. The slopes on the trail are gentle in the beginning and get steeper as you gain altitude on the trek for the final summit.
What is the itinerary for Kedarkantka Trek?
Day 1: The trek begins from Sankri (6,400 ft)
Day 2: You will trek to Juda ka Tal (9,050 ft)
Day 3: You will reach Kedarknatha Base camp (11,200 ft)
Day 4: Climb to Kedarkantha Top at 12,500 ft. This is the maximum height you will achieve on the trek. Descend down to Hargaon Camp (8,900 ft)
Day 5: Back to Sankri
What is the fitness requirement for Kedarkantha Trek?
Kedrakantha trek does not require any special fitness preparation which is required for difficult treks like Kashmir Great Lakes Trek or Chadar Trek. However, every trek requires normal fitness stamina and this fitness is required for Kedarkantha trek as well.