Famous for magical ranges, mighty rivers, snowy mountains, evergreen climate, lush greenery, and uncharted terrains, Kedarkantha is truly a mecca for mountaineers, trekkers, and thrill-seekers. Often known as the Route to ‘The Paradise of the Himalayas’ and the ‘Queen of Winter Treks’, it invites a large number of people every year, especially to witness the milky white snow!

Rituraj Singh is a 32-year-old Delhi resident who works in the IT sector and has a profound love for travel and adventure! He along with his 3 other friends set out on a journey with a single goal to reach the Kedarkantha Summit. 

Day 1: En route Sankri via Dehradun

He and his friends started the overnight journey from Delhi to Dehradun by train and arrived in the city by the next morning. Here they boarded the cab provided by Himalayan Trekkers till Sankri. A drive along pristine rivers and dense forest laced with pine trees is truly one to enjoy! Nestled in the Himalayan region, Sankri is a small village that is also a base camp for the Kedarkantha trek along with a lot of others. A cozy small town is filled with rich wooden architecture and a majestic view of the Himalayas. This can be your quiet and calm holiday place in the mountains or just a beginning of a big adventure. After a lip-smacking dinner, Rituraj and his friends stayed here for the night.

Day 2: Sankri – Juda Ka Talab

Starting the morning early, they had breakfast and started the hike to Juda ka Talab, the first day of their trek. Situated at an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level, it offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan landscapes. There is a little tale about this lake. It is said that once Lord Shiva opened his locks and a drop of water fell down his hair and formed this lake.  The beauty of visiting this lake in winter is that it is completely frozen.

After a good 4 hour hike, they made it to the next base camp and set up their tents. Enjoying the vast stretch of land under the starlit sky and cozy bonfire they called it a day.

Day 3: Juda Ka Talab – Base Camp to the Kedarkantha summit

Post breakfast, they resumed their trek and move ahead to the base camp to the Kedarkantha summit. The path lined with heavy snow and greenery that surrounds them was truly worth it. With a moderate speed, you can cover this 4-5 km distance in 2-3 hours. While on the trail you will pass through some dense forests, open meadows, and steep ridges. They finally made it to the base camp and started setting up their tents. The base camp has the most rewarding view of magnificent Himalayan snow-clad mountains. They marked the end of their wonderful day with a delicious meal and then retired in their tents for the night. 

Day 4: Base Camp – Kedarkantha summit

This is the day they’ve been working hard for. After a hefty breakfast, they started moving towards the top. Welcomed by filtered sun rays through the mountains it was an experience of a lifetime. However, unfortunately, there was a heavy snowfall a day before and in the morning, which blocked their further path. After a long struggle, they saw no point in moving ahead and with a heavy heart, they decided to return. 

Day 5: Return Journey to Sankri

Making their way back to Sankri, they decided to stay and visit nearby places and enjoy nature.
Taking a lot of pictures and making bagful of memories suddenly dawned upon them it was the last day of their adventurous trip. 

Day 6: Last Day

From Sankri they went back to Dehradun and left for home after. And just like that their trip to Kedarkantha was over.

To enjoy more amazing pictures and videos, check out Rituraj’s page @stories.everywhere.

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