Kedarkantha Trek: Reasons to do Once in Our Lifetime
Overview
Uttarakhand has the aura in its air that soothes every tourist who sets foot on its soil. Perfectly nestled at the foothills of Himalayas and being the birthplace of Ganga, the state could also be the place where you can begin your first ever trek in your life. The state is blessed with surreal looking Bugyals, waterfalls, mountain ranges and treks.
Situated in the Govid Wildlife Sanctuary, Kedarkantha is one among the many treks in the Singtur ranges. The base village is Sankri which is a base for many other treks in the region along with Kedarkantha. There are few reasons why Kedarkantha is more popular than most of the treks in Uttarakhand and why you should go for the same.
Winter Trek
The winters across India vary from each other and every region experiences different ways of winters. The northern Himalayan states enjoy heavy snowfalls and low temperature when compared to the rest of the country. The trek trail is easy and often families with children go for the adventure. This could be your first snowfall experience in the Himalayas or the very first trek of your life. Make some special memories with the people you love admiring the view as you reach the summit. The experience of reaching the summit after all the efforts you put into it is rewarding. Share this experience with your friends that will deepen your bond.
Short Distance
Majority of the treks in the Himalayas are presumed to be a week long or so. Defying this stereotype, Kedarkantha is a merely 4 day trek. The camping experiences during the winters are a bit challenging yet mesmerizing. The four days are packed with hiking, meals, awesome views, and stunning camp stays. The Sankri village is approximately 196 kms from Dehradun which takes 6 hours to reach. You will be done with your trek and return to Dehradun within a week and off to your home. Since the stay is short, you will experience just the right amount of snow and the freezing temperatures before it starts to get problematic.
Easy Trek
A lot of budding trekkers around the country dream of trekking in the Himalayas. The snow covered slopes and trails, forests and low temperatures often are misleading thinking it may be a challenging trek to complete. Admitting the treks in the Himalayas are drastically different to what we see in other parts of India, but with proper preparations and a guide, budding trekkers also possess the capability to complete the trek and experience the breathtaking view.
Affordable
Since it is a short distance trek, the expenses are naturally less and affordable. Usually the trekker population is young and often college students from surrounding areas. It is quite convenient for the students who aren’t employed yet to go on such treks. The per person costs 6000 onwards which is a doable budget including meals, transport and guide. Often the trips are canceled during the planning stage as the budget gets too high or extravagant. The passion for trekking should be fueled regularly and being an affordable trek really helps pave the way.
Explore New place
Kedarkantha receives a lot of trekkers from all around the country. It is natural that everyone comes from a different background, culture, outlook. Trekking to Kedarkantha gives you a perspective about life and diversity of India. Experience the pahadi village lifestyle as you travel and trek around the villages. Befriend the kind locals, share stories, drink chai and jam to some authentic local folk songs as the sky gets darker.
Not just a winter trek, Kedarkantha is equally scenic during the springs and autumn. The snow dries out and you can see the lush green slopes, flowery valleys and clear blue skies. The colors pop out during spring, the summit views of neighboring peaks of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Jaonti, Gangotri are clearer than ever. The Juda Ka Talab freezes during the winters which is surrounded by tall pine trees making it a dapper place to camp.
The Kedarkantha trek is bound to make some drastic changes in your life or your mindset after you get back home. The quiet valley, the abundant nature in front of you really works as a detoxifying aspect freeing you from all the worries and stress you had in your daily life. Take a break in the Himalayas and breathe in the purest air of the mountains. Kedarkantha is waiting for you and so is pahadi chai!