Kedarkantha is a mountain peak of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. Its elevation is 12,500 ft (3,800 m). Kedarkantha is located within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarkashi district.

A trek to the peak of Kedarkantha usually starts from Sankri, a small village, and takes four days to complete.


Sunrise view from Kedarkantha summit
Legends
There are several myths around Kedarkantha and Juda ka Talab, a high altitude lake.

One legend has it that Lord Shiva sat at the summit to meditate but was disturbed by a bull running below. He instead went to Kedarnath, a town in Uttarakhand, to meditate.

Another local myth relates to the Pandavas, who went to the Himalayas to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. He hid from Bheem and disguised himself as a bull. But Bheem recognised him and went after him. So Shiva hid underground. When he rushed out of his hiding place, he let his body parts get divided, and each part fell at a different place. His throat fell on the Kedarkantha, thus earning the peak its name- transliteration- “the throat of Lord Shiva”.

A legend recounts that the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva to pardon them for their sins on the advice of Lord Krishna. They had killed their kin during the Mahabharata. Shiva was angry with them for their conduct and avoided them by taking the form of a bull and leaving for the Garhwal region. The Pandavas sighted Shiva grazing as a bull in the hills of Guptakashi and tried to grab its tail and legs forcibly. The bull disappeared into the ground and later reappeared as Lord Shiva at five places- the hump at Kedarnath, the legs at Tungnath, its face at Rudranath, its stomach at Madhyamaheswar and its hair at Kalpeshwar.

Kedarkantha trek is a popular winter trek among seasonal trekkers and beginners. It is a week-long trek in Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand. Situated at an altitude about 3810 meters above sea level, this thrilling summit offers a mind-blowing view of the majestic Himalayan peaks decorated across the skyline.

Some of the most prominent peaks visible are Bandarpoonch, Black peak, Swargarohini, Yamunotri, and Gangotri ranges.

One of many reasons why the Kedarkantha trek is popular is its rewarding summit climb. The trek is fairly steep right from the base camp. As you start walking towards the summit early in the morning, the birds and the Himalayan crowns wish you good luck. The glorious view keeps company as you climb up the hill.

The world seems to be a magical place to live in. The trek gives an overall thrilling and once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.

The trek begins from Sankri village. One has to cover a distance of about 20 km over a span of 5 to 6 days. Due to the limited distance to be covered each day, this is comparatively easier and suitable for beginners. Sankri village is a common starting point for almost all the treks in Uttarakhand.

The trail runs through beautiful, enchanting forests. You would come across rich flora and fauna. Maple and oak trees are fairly common in this area, you might also see some Rhododendron species. As you climb higher towards the summit, you will experience dense oak and pine forests. Keep your eyes open for Chir pine, black eagle, golden eagle, you might just get lucky.

Kedarkantha trek gets more challenging and is best enjoyed during the winters. The freezing temperatures, snow, and gushing winds make the winters tough here. For your safety, perfect trekking gears are the most important thing. Keep on reading the article to know more about the gears required for the Kedarkantha trek.

AREA Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand
DURATION 5 days & 4 nights
BEST SEASON December to February (Rest you can decide)
GRADE easy to moderate trek
ALTITUDE 12,500 ft.
TOTAL LENGTH 20 km

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