One of the finest summits climb for beginners, this location has gained a lot of popularity. Kedarkantha is a mountain peak situated in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand in India. It is at an elevation of about 12,500 feet and a total of 13 peaks of the Himalayas can be viewed from its peak. The trek begins from a small village called Sankri which can be reached easily by car from Dehradun.
The climb to Kedarkantha can usually be completed in 3 to 4 days. The first day is a beautiful climb from Sankri till a lake known as Juda Ka Talab which is the first campsite. The locals there say that once upon a time Lord Shiva meditated at Kedarkantha. Its name ‘Juda-ka-Talab’ tells us that it is the lake formed by the droplet fallen from Shiva’s Hair. It is a magnificent lake along which the tents are set up and a warm campfire is lit to stay for the first night.
Next morning, we set out to the base camp for the peak. Through a short steep jungle path and crossing small meadows and corridors outlined by trees, collecting tiny strawberries on the way we reach our base camp which is a large meadow with small yellow flowers growing all around, giving it an extremely serene look. A gushing sound of a waterfall can be heard beside the campsite. Spending the rest of the day here gets us rested for our summit climb the next day.
Much before dawn in the chilly weather, so as to catch the glorious sunrise, we walk through steep patches till we reach a little meadow where goats and cattle can be seen happily grazing. After some more tedious climbing, finally, we reach the summit where we spend some time looking at the breath-taking view.
Climbing down is just like rushing down a slope, easier for most people than climbing up. We can either spend the night at the base camp if the walk has exhausted us or continue to the bottom.
Although this is more of a winter trek through layers of snow, not everyone can bear the icy temperatures, so there is also a summer trek which is equally scenic and is a wonderful one. It’s absolutely a must-visit destination which truly represents just how beautiful our country is.
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