By Well, if you’re striving for peace and adventure then you truly are about to find one. Away from the chaos of the hustling world, the calmness is firmly spread at the Kedarkantha. It stands to be one of the most celebrated mountains of Uttarakhand that has gained immense popularity for its exquisite trekking experiences. Being here makes you feel closest to nature and also allows you to explore your inner magic widely.
The most alive I’ve ever felt is between the mountains. It answers every call I make, making me heard & accepted the loudest possible.
So get ready to feel closest to nature through the lens of our dear traveller, Yagyansh. The 22-year passionate traveller is a Software Engineer from Jaipur who’s on a mission to explore the best of the world through his camera!
Jaipur – Uttarakhand
Yagyansh’s 10 day trip along with his friends to Kedarkantha trek (06 days) and Rishikesh (04 days) began from Jaipur. He took an overnight bus from Jaipur to Dehradun and reached the pick-up spot the next morning. The further travelling was carried forward by India Hikes (trek organizers). They managed to pick trekkers from Dehradun (pick-up spot) and then headed towards the base camp, Gaichawan Gaon.
The team reached the base camp around 3 or 4 in the evening. Upon reaching they were asked to relax. After sharing some refreshments the entire group was briefed about the further journey.
The following day the entire group, accompanied by India Hikes, headed towards conquering the Kedarkantha summit. To give you an idea, Yagyansh says it took about 2 and a half days to ascend towards the final point while it took nearly 1 and a half days to descend back to the original spot.
The trek to Kedarkantha begins!
On the first day of the trek, they accomplished to cover 6 km. Jhaltola, a small village in Uttarakhand, where Yagyansh and team made their halt, witnessed an extreme surreal spread of an orangish evening where the sun was about to wave goodbye. The team captured its ethereal beauty and were completely left in awe.
Yagyansh seemed to be quite impressed by the way India Hikes hosted everything. From introducing Bio Toilets to collecting trash during the progression of trekking, they made sure the travel was an eco-friendly one. The team also arranged 4 different trash storages for waste management. The initiative was worthwhile and needed to be accepted and accelerated, by all means, says Yagyansh.
Fun, Adventure, Nature & Me
Day 02 demanded to cover a trek of about 3 km which took them about 4-5 hours to cover. While trekking there was already heavy snow and the potential risk of frostbite which took everyone aback!
They reached the spot around lunchtime. Upon reaching Yagyansh along with other team members participated in a fun and interactive activity. The first part of the activity was to go to a nearby calm spot and feel the snow and its presence. The second activity was about finding a tree that had a resemblance to you and your life. The third was followed by spotting different types of birds in the forest and the last activity was about writing a note to your future self, talking about the hardships you overcame.
Later they retreated to their tents for the night. Yagyansh took some photographs and as the moon was at its lowest that day, he managed to capture some unrealistic photos. The trek continued forward at 5 am. It was a little dark at the time, so the entire group had their headlamps on. The final destination was reached at 8:54 in the morning. The view was surreal and beyond their expectations.
Kedarkantha to the base camp
Yagyansh celebrated his accomplishment and was lost at the beauty in front of him. After spending an hour or so, at around 10:00 am the team began the downhill journey.
It took nearly 1 and a half-day to reach the base camp. They decided to stay there for the night and continued the descent the following day. Yagyansh and his friends chose Rishikesh as their drop point, which marked the beginning of another exciting journey.
Upon reaching the main city they checked in their hostel and planned their way to explore the holy Rishikesh. For the first day at Rishikesh, they planned to stroll around exploring the magnificent spread of the traditionally celebrated place. However, the next day was followed by indulging in River Rafting. After sharing some adventurous moments in the water, Yagyansh and his friends set out to explore some exhilarating cafes in the town.
Living my best in Rishikesh
The experience at Rishikesh flourished, even more, when Yagyansh attended the Ganga aarti and captured its magical moments through his camera. The other days went checking out nearby places and cafes.
Yagyansh is all for the food, experiences, places and other moments he lived in between the trips. Furthermore, for local transportation, he advises renting a scooter or car as per your preference to enjoy the trip at ease.
Overview of the trip:-
- Trip:- Jaipur – Kedarkantha – Rishikesh
- Mode of Transportation:- Bus
- Approximate Budget:- INR 20,000/- (10 days) (per person)
- Transport:- INR 5,000/-
- India Hikes charges:- INR 10,000/-
- Accommodation:- INR 650 – 700/-
For more photos and videos, check out his Instagram page @whybee99 and his amazing youtube channel.
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Keep Travelling! Keep Exploring!
