Kedarkantha Trek

Day 1: Dehradun to Pantwari to Kathian Campsite

• Drive: 95 KM, Trek 6 KM
• Time Taken: 3 Hours (Drive), 2-3 Hours (Trek)

The journey begins early morning from Dehradun Railway Station. It takes around 3-4 hours to reach Pantwari village, which covers a total distance of 95 km. The drive is along Dehradun City and passes through local attractions like the clock tower, Rajpur Road, Dehradun Zoo, and the most scenic hill station “Mussoorie”.

If you have heard that Mussoorie is known as the “Queen of Hills” then it is just an introduction but apart from this “Mussoorie” has many hidden gems in the outskirts of the region such as Dalai Hills, Bhadraj Temple, Binog bird century and so on many more. After some time, the drive starts along the Yamuna River. Meanwhile, you can spot a local river Badrigaad which is also known as Aalgaad, merging into the Yamuna River. Pantwari village is the base camp of Nag Tibba trek and a small hamlet located in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand. There are many trails to reach Nag Tibba but the most used one is from Pantwari. We have to trek for 5-6 hours to reach Kathian campsite, which is 5 Km from Pantwari village. The trail has a lot of natural water sources, you can refill your water bottles at any of these spots. From the first water source, the trail is steep till we reach “THE GOAT VILLAGE”. It is a conceptually created idea to promote local business and resolve the migration problems in village areas. The trail is rather straight around the Goat village.

A little ahead of the Forest Checkpost, the trail turns to a steep ascent and a zigzag section. There are certain changes in the vegetation of the area. You cross Rhododendrons and silver oak trees on your way to Kathian. Locally, Rhododendron is also known as Burans, this tree shows a display of bright red flowers that bloom in the month of late March to April. Burans is also known as the state tree of Uttarakhand. In Himalayan regions, each part of Burans is used for different uses, The flower has been used in juices and chutneys since ancient times.

Finally, as we reach Kathian, tents can be seen pitched in a small open clearing. Camping on this ground is the highlight of this trek. This campsite is a paradise for the shutterbugs and is known for its mesmerizing sunset views.

In the spring season, one can spot many anemones and Irrigon flowers around the campsite area. At night have your dinner under the billion stars filled in the wide spreadsheet of the sky.

Day 2: Kathain to Nag Tibba Top to Pantwari and Back to Dehradun

• Trek: 14 KM, Drive 95 KM
• Time Taken: 6 Hours ( Trek), 3 Hours (Drive)

A morning call is given by our respective team leaders to wake you up and prepare for the final climb. After breakfast, we start the trek from the Kathian campsite to the Nag Tibba summit. The summit climb is around 3 hours away from our campsite, so all you need to carry is a water bottle in your Day bag for today’s journey. The trail does not have a water source nearby, so to be on a safer side carry an adequate amount of water to keep you hydrated. The trail continues through a dense silver oak and rhododendron forest cover.

During the crossover through the jungle trail, you can listen to the melodious chirps of birds that include Himalayan Greenfinch, flameback woodpecker, Red-vented bulbul, and many more. These birds are usually found in distinct parts of the Garhwal Himalayas. Blessed are the ones who get an opportunity to spot these birds. After 20-30 minutes, the forested path opens up to a clearing area which is often used as a grazing ground for cattle. Two government guesthouses can also be seen in this field which have been unoccupied for a long time.

This place also has a few temporary wooden shelters constructed by the Gujars. During the spring season, when the snow melts and the lush grasslands grow. The Gujar tribe migrates from various parts of Dehradun along with their families and cattle and makes a home in this delightful place for the next few months. This pasture land is a heaven for all the cattle as their routine is to just graze around for the whole day. The trail from here divides into two, one to Nag Devta Temple and another to the Nag Tibba Summit. Nag Devta Temple is just a few minutes away. This small temple is situated in the middle of the dense forest. There is no priest present in the temple, fewer times locals visit the temple to seek the blessing of Nag Devta.

Another trail which is not visible gradually ascends to Nag Tibba summit. The Nag Tibba top is an hour away from this point. With an uphill stretch, we trek around the dense jungle trail again. By the time we reach the summit, a jhandi on the top can be seen which is mostly offered with religious offerings.

The tibba puts forth a face-to-face view of the snow-capped Gharwal Himalayan peaks like Bandapunch, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Black Peak, Kedarkantha, and many more. If the journey runs according to the schedule, we spend some time surveying the Himalayan peaks in a proper sequence. Finally, as we descend back to our campsites and hot lunch will be served upon your arrival. It takes an hour to reach back to Khatian from the Nag Tibba top. After reaching Kathain, all trekkers will have lunch and then head down to Pantwari. We reach Pantwari by evening and from there drive for Dehradun with a heartful of memories.