Quick answer: Sankri is a village at 1,950 m (6,400 ft), the start and end of the 5-day Kedarkantha trek in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. It is about 200 km (8–9 hours) by road from Dehradun. Only Jio works consistently there, Purola has the last reliable ATM, and trekkers spend Day 1 in a guesthouse.
Where is Sankri, and how high is it?
Sankri is the road head for Kedarkantha. The trek page places the trek in Uttarkashi district, rising from the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, and describes the drive up from Dehradun along the Tons River gorge, past Purola and Mori, where the temperature drops noticeably. The cab stops at Sankri, and the walking starts from the village on Day 2.
The trail begins at Sankri, 1,950 m. The summit is at 3,810 m (12,500 ft), so the trek gains about 1,860 m over three days. The full journey from Delhi or Dehradun, with the shared cab and bus options, is in how to reach Kedarkantha and Sankri; this page covers the village itself.
| Sankri fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Height | 1,950 m / 6,400 ft |
| From Dehradun | About 200 km, 8–9 hours by road |
| Last reliable ATM | Purola, before Sankri |
| Mobile signal | Last place with signal; only Jio works consistently |
| Nights in Sankri | One: Day 1, in a guesthouse |
| First camp | Juda Ka Talab, 2,773 m / 9,100 ft, 4 km away |
| Summit | Kedarkantha, 3,810 m / 12,500 ft |
What is Sankri like as a village?
The trek page calls Sankri "a compact Himalayan village that serves as the base camp for the Kedarkantha trek", and names its traditional wooden architecture, local cuisine and mountain hospitality. Local guesthouses and teahouses cluster around a central area, and mules carry supplies up from there. Its advice for the evening you arrive: "Sankri itself is a place worth pausing to absorb."
The trek from Sankri rises into the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, and the Wildlife Institute of India's page on Govind National Park names that landscape an area of importance for snow leopard conservation. On our trek, the national park entry permits and forest checkpost fees are arranged by Trekkaro and included in the fee. Sankri is also the jumping-off point for several other Uttarakhand trails; where Kedarkantha is lists the ones that use the same road.
Is there an ATM and mobile network in Sankri?
Sankri is the last place with mobile signal on the route, and only Jio works consistently. There is no signal on the trail after the village, so make your important calls before you leave and tell your family you will be out of reach until Day 5. There is no charging on the trail either; carry a power bank.
Purola has the last reliable ATM before Sankri. Withdraw enough in Dehradun to be safe and carry small notes, because cards are not accepted on the trail. Cash covers your ₹1,000 cab share each way, paid directly to the driver.
Pack your personal kit before you leave home. You do not need to rent shoes, a jacket or poles: Free Trekking Gear (Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters and microspikes) comes against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit plus a ₹200 washing charge, and the gear check is on Day 1.
The Kedarkantha trek costs ₹9,000 per person + 5% GST (₹9,450); with the ₹1,000-each-way cab the all-in cost is ₹11,450, and the trek page shows EMI from ₹463 a month.
Where do you stay in Sankri?
Day 1 is a night in a Sankri guesthouse, on a triple-sharing basis. Dinner that night is the first included meal, and meals run until Day 5 breakfast, all pure vegetarian. Days 2 to 4 are spent in tents at Juda Ka Talab and the higher campsite, shared by three trekkers, with sleeping bags rated to -20°C.
The cab reaches Sankri by late afternoon on Day 1, which the trek page lists as arrival and acclimatisation at 1,950 m. On Day 2 you walk 4 km to Juda Ka Talab in 4–5 hours, climbing from 6,400 ft to 9,100 ft through towering pine forest, and on Day 5 you come back down the same 4 km in 3–4 hours. The trek concludes at Sankri, where trekkers share summit photos and collect their completion certificates.
Luggage you do not need on the trail can stay in Trekkaro's store in Sankri free of charge until you return. Jewellery, laptops, pen drives, wallets, cash and documents stay with you, and the stored bag is kept at your own risk.
How cold does it get on the trek from Sankri?
On the trek as a whole, winter (December to February) brings days of -2°C to 8°C and nights of -15°C to -10°C; spring (March and April) days of 5°C to 15°C and nights of -6°C to -2°C; autumn (September to November) days of 5°C to 18°C and nights of -8°C to -2°C. The trek page gives no separate figure for the village. The Kedarkantha season runs from September to April, with deep snow on the trek from December to February and residual snow on the upper trail in March and April.
Before you travel, check the latest forecast on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun page.
See Kedarkantha Trek dates and book | Kedarkantha trek cost | Kedarkantha trek itinerary
Frequently asked questions
How high is Sankri village?
Sankri is at 1,950 m (6,400 ft). The Kedarkantha summit is about 1,860 m higher, at 3,810 m.
Is there mobile network in Sankri?
Yes, Sankri is the last place with signal on the Kedarkantha route, and only Jio works consistently. There is no signal on the trail after the village.
Is there an ATM in Sankri?
The last reliable ATM is at Purola, before Sankri. Withdraw enough cash in Dehradun and carry small notes, because cards are not accepted on the trail.
Can I store extra luggage during the Kedarkantha trek?
Yes. Bags you do not need on the trail can stay in Trekkaro's store in Sankri free of charge. Keep valuables and documents with you.
How far is Sankri from Dehradun?
Sankri is about 200 km from Dehradun by road, a drive of 8–9 hours each way. The shared cab costs ₹1,000 per person each way, paid to the driver.
