Kedarkantha

Kedarkantha is a 3,810-metre summit in Uttarakhand's Govind wildlife sanctuary, celebrated as one of India's finest winter snow treks. From the top a full circle of Garhwal Himalayan peaks unfolds, including Swargarohini, Bandarpunch and Black Peak, with the Har Ki Dun valley spread below.

Its popularity comes from a rare combination: reliable deep snow, a gentle gradient and a genuinely alpine summit that beginners can reach. Pine and oak forests give way to open snowfields, and the frozen clearing of Juda Ka Talab makes a storybook camp beneath the stars.

On the trail the trek runs about four to six days from the village of Sankri, gaining height through forest camps to a pre-dawn summit push over snow. Graded easy to moderate, it needs no technical skill in fair conditions, though in deep winter microspikes and gaiters help and the exposed final slope can be windblown and icy.

Practical notes: a forest entry permit is arranged through Sankri, and organised groups handle camping logistics since there are no lodges above the base village. December to April is the classic snow season, with the peak walkable in autumn too; roads to Sankri can close briefly after heavy storms, so build in a buffer day.