Kedarkantha Trek - Part 2

While resting and entertaining ourselves at Kotgaon we were informed that the entire trek is not possible and we can only go till Juda ka Talab which is the first night camp on the way to the Kedarkantha peak. We came back to our stay and prepared for the next day hike. Next morning our blood pressure and oxygen was measured before giving us a go ahead and we packed our lunch for the day trek.

Juda ka Talab, Kedarkantha

The trek to Juda ka Talab is steep but beautiful. There are stretches of Deodar and sound of running water all the way to the camp. On the way we halted at a tea stall, the owner of which was famous for playing flute. He entertained us while we munched some of his snacks. We covered the 3 kilometers and 3k ft in less than 3 hours.

Night Camping @ Juda ka Talab

The camps were enticing, surrounded by tall tress and beside the lake. We would have loved to stay here and take the next day journey to Kedarkantha. We took our lunch here and admired the beauty of twin lakes at 9k ft before starting downwards. We had to reach Sankri before dark as the downward journey get treacherous by the night.

Kedarkantha Trek - Part 1

• There was no internet in 2021 in Sankri. Jio had limited service here.
• If you can reach Sankri on your own, you will save one full day of commute. Also you may have options of trekking groups and destinations to choose from at the last minute.
• Sankri is base to some of the most famous treks in Northern India - Kedarkantha, Har Ki Doon, Swargarohini, Ruinsara Tal to name a few. Accommodation and food is not for those who seek luxury, be prepared for that.
• Kedarkantha is a winter trek and two of the three nights are in tents. At a modest height of 12k ft and 3 days of trek, Kedarkantha is the definition of a beginner’s trek.

Sankri is a trekker’s heaven. The entire village is tuned to make sure the trekkers who turn up round the year have as comfortable stay as possible - their livelihood depends on it. Most of the trekkers come from Dehradun which is the closest railway station / airport from here. Generally trekking companies arrange buses which take a whole day to reach this place.

Local Temple @ Sankri Village

Haridwar

• Half day for Haridwar is enough. Move to Rishikesh or Dehradun for night stay.
• Store your luggage at one of the hotel lobbies that offer this service at nominal charges.
• Brahm Kund is shallow and crowded, better take a dip on the other side of Hari ki Pauri.

Although I have been to Haridwar so many times, this was the firs time in conscious memory that we truly explored the holy city. Earlier it was a matter of taking a dip and then moving to either Rishikesh or Dehradun. This time we had the whole day and we decided to cover some major attractions around the city.

Brahm Kund @ Hari ki Pauri, Haridwar

The holy dip at Haridwar is kind of mandatory and an exhilarating experience whatever time of year it is. Our train ticket was for Dehradun but we alighted at Haridwar at 11 in the morning and checked in our luggage at one of the numerous hotels which offer this facility at nominal charges. 

Holy dip at Hari ki Pauri

Hari ki Pauri which is the main ghat of Ganges is few kilometers away from the railway station. We took an e-rickshaw and reached there by 12 noon. In november the Ganges is cold but under the warm sun we took many dips near the Brahm Kund. We were hungry now and settled at one of the famous restaurants adjacent to Hari ki Pauri for lunch.

Udan Khatola to Mansa Devi Temple

Next we took the Udan Khatola (a ropeway) to Mansa Devi temple. The ride throws top view of Haridwar which is very different from the bustling city that you visit. Mansa Devi Complex was crowded and had every kind of restaurant at top as well. We spent an hour here and came back.

Monekys @ Mansa Devi, Haridwar is visible in the background

It was 4PM. We decided to wait for the aarti before moving for Dehradun. We settled at the famous Mohan Puri Wala for tea and snacks. At around 5 the crowd started gathering opposite the main bank. It was a massive crowd. We were late and had to settle at the back. The aarti was not as great as at Dashmesh Ghat Varanasi but we enjoyed it.

Crowd gathered for Ganga Aarti

It was time to head towards Dehradun where our hotel rooms were booked. We picked our luggage and took a rickety bus. Thanks to amazing road between Haridwar and Dehradun, we were at our destination in no time.