Significance of the place:
Kedarkantha, literally meaning throat of lord shiva is believed to be a place where Lord shiva once meditated and sweat from his hair fell to form a small lake which thus is named Juda ka Talab.
There are total 13 Himalayan peaks visible from the mighty Kedarkantha peak lying at the height of 12,500fts in the Uttarakhand Himalayas.
The trek to kedarkantha:
The nearest well connected point to Sankri, which is the starting point of the trek, is Dehradun. The route to sankri from Dehradun is beautifully orchestrated by all the gifts nature can offer – vibe of a river flowing along, the mighty mountains engulfing you and gradually forests that gives the vibe of all the beauty the nature could hold.
On reaching Sankri, you see yourself surrounded by the mighty Himalayas all around, you already are excited to begin but a good rest on the day will kick start what is going to be the most memorable journey – trek to kedarkantha.
The trek starts in the morning after breakfast and the first day, our stop is reached by lunch where meals perfectly planned as per healthy and high nutritional value are served after which everyone is free to enjoy the nature and the peace it brings along. Since no phones would work, one interacts with nature and people and connects to the roots. If there is snow, you can add the tinge of snow to your playful mood and get lost in the world that is magical – under the sky of infinite stars that are finally visible, the deodar trees guarding you, mountains sending love and the fresh air holding your excitement.
After making some good memories and activities, this is the first night you would be sleeping in tents. Though it might get tough because of lack of the coziness of a mattress or the warmth of a heater but that experience has its own uniqueness, sleeping in the tents close to nature.
The next morning would be the day when you see the famous Juda ka Talab and trek to reach the base camp, the view on the back would be enchanting and perfect to capture those ideal mountain pictures that we all want. On reaching base camp, the energy is very high because we get very close to the peak and we know our summit is just a day away. Important is to take good rest and eat well on this day because it’s going to be a really long next day.
The Day – you start early morning as early as 3AM to reach the peak before sunrise and this is the most unique part of this trek – you trek in absolute darkness with headlights and trails formed by people with you to not realise that yes you’re there. The darkness makes this trek both easy and difficult. Easy because you won’t realise the tough paths you cross with ease and tough because you can’t stop much on this day unlike last 2 days. There is only one thing in mind- the Summit.
On reaching the summit, you might get signals in phone so take time to call whoever you wish to but don’t forget, you’re here for much more- to witness the beauty of the mountains from the top. Sit and let it sink, absorb the feeling that mountain and the climb. Look at those 13 peaks and feel the achievement you just kept in your pocket. The sense of accomplishment is a different feeling, you would feel like the luckiest person to be alive. After absorbing the positivity, we start going down to the base camp from a different route.
The down route is filled with thrill of sliding, sledging and the newly filled vibe of joy. After the climb this will be the cake walk. On reaching base camp, you would know that you’ve done something big but you’ll still be lost in the view you had from 12,500 fts.
Finally, you trek down to sankri and end the beautiful journey of kedarkantha with emotions much more than just a visit to the Himalayas. You’ve a part of Himalays in you once you leave it because this experience gets etched in the heart forever.
Things to consider on trekking Kedararkantha:
1. It is a winter trek because snow adds to the thrill and difficulty but it also makes it u doable at times so if you’re planning in time of heavy snowfall, be prepared for some extra effort ahead.
2. During summers, the trek is easier comparatively but it won’t change the routes or the view from the peak so the beauty of the summit and the experience of accomplishment is the same.
3. Have faith on yourself and believe that you can do it. Then, just go for it. I have seen fittest people giving up and clumsy people reaching the summit. It’s all in the head.
4. Come prepared for some minor changes in your routine or normal lifestyle. Have a tinge of mountain life added to your life for some days. However, don’t hesitate in whatsoever if faced with any problem because people out there taking you are much more experienced and specifically trained to look after you and others who are not accustomed to the normal mountain life.
5. Relax and breathe the vibe of mountains. Enjoy.
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