Kedartal Trek - A trek to an emerald, glacial lake of the Gangotri Region

 The most beautiful encounters that one can come across while trekking in Himalayas are the glacial lakes that lie in between the folds of various mighty mountains; it is the snow from these mountains that melt and form crystal clear water bodies which then reflect the surroundings and offer excellent, exquisite views of the valleys.

One of the most famous glacial lake treks to exist in India is the kedartal Trek. Kedartal trek is a moderately difficult grade trek with a decent itinerary spanning over 7 days. It is a unique ride it no wilderness with a slightly tricky trail. On the very first day of our expedition we were introduced to a ledge on a rock angled at approximately 60 degrees which set the mood for an upcoming adventurous journey. The stunning, panoramic views of Mt Gangotri, Mt Jogin, Mt Thalaysagar and Mt Bhrigupanth of the Greater Himalayas along with of course the views of the gorgeous and serene Kedartal itself are what attract trekkers from different parts of the country to this expedition.

The best time to visit Kedaratal is during the months of May, June, August, September and October. The trek to Kedartal begins at Gangotri which is easily reached from Dehradun. Gangotri which lies at an altitude of 10,055 ft serves as the base camp for this expedition; it has many homestays as well as other fascinating accomodations. It is a heavily crowded town with great religious significance. To sight streets bustling with pilgrims is an astonishing as well as surreal experience that is unique to Gangotri.

Since the kedartal Lake rests at an altitude of 15,500 ft, the itinerary of the expedition demands trekkers to stay back at the base camp in Gangotri for an additional day to acclimatize and adapt well to the immediate changes in their environment.

The first stop on the itinerary to Kedartal is Bhoj Kharak which lies at a distance of 8 kms from Gangotri. The trail between both the places is mostly unpathed with scree, rocks and even boulders on the route. It is within a few hours of trekking that the famous ledge also known as the “spider-wall” becomes known, this day. This ledge is a narrow trail on a rock angled at almost 60 degrees which is to be crossed to reach Bhoj Kharak, perched at an altitude of 12,772 ft.

We were expecting trekking in Himalayas to be daunting and the ledge on the very first day stood true to our expectations. It wasn’t extremely difficult to cross but indeed offered a never chilling experience.

The second stop on the itinerary to Kedartal is Kedar Kharak which is connected to Bhoj Kharak with a steep trail. The steep climb from Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Kharak is an electric experience which becomes merrier as lush green meadows and snow capped robust mountain peaks at a distance begin to become visible. Close to Kedar Kharak is a refreshing, gurgling stream which splashes and murmurs across the boulders in the near distance. It is an ideal site for camping as well as star gazing. The memories of camping at Kedar Kharak are etched in my heart. I remember us wholeheartedly enjoying our stay at Kedar Kharak; the night was starry and astoundingly awe-inspiring.

The trek from Kedar Kharak to Kedartal marks the most prominent, thrilling and nail-biting experience of the entire expedition. We used a few mountaineering skills to trek past the tricky trails and thoroughly enjoyed that action-filled drama. As we trekked upwards, the robust and mighty Mt Thalaysagar, Mt Meru, Mt Manda, Mt Bhrigupanth and Mt Gangotri in their timelessness glory unfolded before us which left us gasping for a moment. Upwards from here was the emerald Kedartal Lake which appeared as serene and soothing as possible. We froze in the moment for a split-second and relished its beauty for as long as our hearts desired. The Kedartal Lake or the Lake of Shiva in the simplest sense is aesthetic beauty to feast on; it is totally worth the hype as well as struggle. The remaining part of the itinerary of the expedition outlines the retracing of the trails to return to Gangotri to successfully bring the Kedartal Trekking expedition to an end.

All in all, the Kedartal Trek is a fun and thrilling expedition in the state of Uttrakhand that stretches over 37kms and leaps into the Himalayas. It offers the enthralling pleasure of trekking in Himalayas with relatively less struggle and hassle. So if you are a trekker looking to put your skills to test and interested in upping your game at trekking as well as relishing the enjoyment of trekking in Himalayas, the Kedartal Trek can serve as the perfect expedition.