In the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, lies Kedarkantha – a mountain dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also considered to be a popular trekking destination. From December to April, Kedarkantha is covered in a blanket of snow. However, even during this period, many trekkers tend to scale its height. It’s a paradise for beginners as well as experienced trekkers.
Kedarkantha trek height is around 12,500 ft, but trekkers have to only climb uphill for 6,000 ft to reach the summit. The trek route begins from Sankri, which stands at a height of 6,500 ft and is located at a distance of 10 km from Kedarkantha peak. If you are planning to trek this mountainous terrain for the first time, then you should be aware of the difficulties you may face and the factors you must consider before going.
What’s Kedarkantha Trek Height?
To begin with, Kedarkantha stands at a height of 12,500 ft within the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. However, height is only partly responsible, when calculating difficulty levels. Although the entire Kedarkantha trek route is made up of gradual ascends and descends, you may have to face some steep climbs. You will also have to depend on torch lights during dark hours. The last 100 ft or so can be strenuous. It is challenging, but also enjoyable. Since the trek difficulty level is easy to moderate, anyone can go on this trek.
As mentioned earlier, the trekking trail starts from Sankri (6,500 ft), goes past Juda Ka Talab (9,000 ft), followed by Kedarkantha base camp (11,250 ft), and then onwards to the summit (12,500 ft). The entire trail that leads to Kedarkantha base camp is easy to cover and has mostly soft ascends. From the closest base camp to the summit, you may have to put a bit more effort. However, even then it is doable. Do keep in mind that the difficulty level of the trek may increase during the winter months.
Things You Must Be Careful About
While the actual Kedarkantha trek distance is only 6,000 ft, there are a few things that you must keep in mind. There are some stretches on the trek that are quite easy to climb, as the ascends are gradual. Those shouldn’t cause much trouble. However, you must undergo some acclimatization and warm up to ensure that your body gets used to the uphill climb. Things will be pretty easy till you reach Juda Ka Talab and settle at the famous Lohassu base camp.
From Juda Ka Talab, the climb would become steeper, and if you’re travelling during winters, there will be snow. However, you will not face any major problems because of the soft underfoot conditions. The climb from Kedarkantha base camp to the summit will be strenuous. This would be the last leg of the trek, with sharp ascends. Nonetheless, most people are able to complete the journey, so you shouldn’t be too worried.
Some Information About Health
While Kedarkantha trekking is considered to be easy, you should be in good health to undertake the trek. Anyone above the age of five and under the age of sixty-five can go on this trek. Your vital parameters like blood pressure and pulse should be normal, and you must have some stamina. It is a good idea to try brisk walking prior to the trek. If these basic things are taken care of properly, then the daunting Kedarkantha trek height will not be problematic.
If you plan to go on Kedarkantha trek, you should consider various options like weather, difficulty level, distance, along with the trek height. Since it is an easy to moderate trek, you can go and scale the heights, even if you’re just a beginner. If you’re looking for more information about Kedarkantha or want to discuss your requirements, please click here.
Complete Kedarkantha Trek Guide
Choosing Kedarkantha Trek Organizers
Kedarkantha Weather in January
Kedarkantha Weather in February
Kedarkantha Weather in September
Kedarkantha Weather in October
Kedarkantha Weather in November