Kedarnath and Badrinath for an avid photographer in October, using Helicopter

We are traveling with my parents to Kedarnath and Badrinath from Oct 4-Oct 12 ... Here are some details about us

• 4 adults and One child: Me and my husband, my parents and my 4 year old son
• Husband is an avid photographer ( and a very good one, if I may say so )
• Mom has some mild asthma and so do I ...
• We have been there in the past when I was in college with my parents and my grandparents
• My father has a slight disability hence he cannot trek

Now here are my list of initial questions ... I have read a lot of the Kedarnath forums here and have gathered some information ... But have some more questions

1. October is a good time to visit for weather? We are planning it such so that we are in kedarnath on first or second day of Navratri on Oct 8/9 .. Does it get too crowded during Navratri??
2. We are planning to use the Pavan Hans helicopter service. Anyone have experience with that, good or bad and have some key tips to offer?
3. For staying, are the GMVN rest houses the best in the region?
4. Like I said my husband is an avid photographer, so please offer your best scenic spots
5. We are contemplating staying 2 nighst at Kedarnath to be able to do the Vasuki Tal trek one day. is that practical? Only me and husband will go and take a guide with us ... Any suggestion for a good guide? Also, for medium fitness level folks, how much time to go and come back?
6. How long is the hike for Gandhi Sarovar or Chorabari tal? Is it true that MAhatama's ashes were submerged here?
7. Enroute from Delhi, please advise on some key stopping points that are awesome scenic ... We are driving by personal car and driver and can take an extra day here or there
8. Already read about CHopta ... Where is that exactly ? Was not able to find it on the google maps ... The forum posts mentioned it is the Switzerland of Uttarakhand .. looking for more such suggestions

I know I have asked a lot of questions above ... If I can get some good answers , that will really make this a big success for us ... I have been wanting to go on this darshan for 9 years now ... So want to be able to do the darshan at peace and also some relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas ...

[*]October is a good time to visit for weather? We are planning it such so that we are in kedarnath on first or second day of Navratri on Oct 8/9 .. Does it get too crowded during Navratri??

1) Yes, one of the best times of the year. No crowd in October, you will have a great time.
[*]We are planning to use the Pavan Hans helicopter service. Anyone have experience with that, good or bad and have some key tips to offer?

2) No idea about pawan hans, never used it.
[*]For staying, are the GMVN rest houses the best in the region?

3) Yes.
[*]Like I said my husband is an avid photographer, so please offer your best scenic spots

4) All the spots are scenic, it’s a very personal thing that you will yourself judge over the trip.
[*]We are contemplating staying 2 nighst at Kedarnath to be able to do the Vasuki Tal trek one day. is that practical? Only me and husband will go and take a guide with us ... Any suggestion for a good guide? Also, for medium fitness level folks, how much time to go and come back?

5) Yes... no need of a guide though. The trek is not long, about eight Kms, but has continuous climb. Go slowly, enjoy and don’t bother about time as you have plenty of that.
[*]How long is the hike for Gandhi Sarovar or Chorabari tal? Is it true that MAhatama's ashes were submerged here?

6) Gandhi sarovar is about four Kms. Yes, the ashes were submerged here.
[*]Enroute from Delhi, please advise on some key stopping points that are awesome scenic ... We are driving by personal car and driver and can take an extra day here or there[*]Already read about CHopta ... Where is that exactly ? Was not able to find it on the google maps ... The forum posts mentioned it is the Switzerland of Uttarakhand .. looking for more such suggestions

7) Again, just stop at place your heart tells you to. You can spend one night at Chopta and do the Tungnath trek (short but difficult trek). It is on way from Kedarnath to Badrinath via Ukhimath. The whole route is awesome and you will love it.

Jitu bhai has given perfect answers for your questions vibhavsakshi... adding to them, do carry camping stuff if you wish to go camp at vasuki taal .
i understand Pavan hans helicopter services will not be in operations in october.
if your husband is a photographer then he will love to capture nature on each bend & turns but the views of snow covered peaks from Gandhi sarovar are awesome.
Chopta is a wonderful place to relax & enjoy Chaukhamba views ... yess it indeed is called switzerland of India

You can do Vasuki Tal as a day trek. It is a moderate trek and even with a leisure walk, it should not take more than 8 hours to and fro Kedarnath. Please start early- say 7.00 a.m. from Kedarnath and try the return trek from Vasuki Tal by noon as at a higher altitude, weather can be unpredictable. My suggestion is to take a guide for this trek as at some places the trek path is full of boulders/stones which are not well marked. You can get the guide from Kedarnath. Do take water bottles and packed lunch with you.

If interested, you may go through my blog http://sadanandsafar.blogspot.com/20...asuki-tal.html

Happy pilgrimage, trekking and photography .

Sadanand

Thanks a lot Jitu Bhai, Tilak ji and Sadanand ji for your responses ... this helps a lot ...

Jitu BHai, Vasuki Tal and Gandhi Sarovar are 8 kms and 4 kms respectively .. is that one way or return ?

The photos of Tungnath look real good to me so i am thinking of attempting to squeez that in as well ... How much time/ distance is it, if you can estimate for us?

Tilak ji .. we are not planning to camp at Vasuki ... Hubby and I will go with the guide and come back ... not planning to take parents and son .. Let them relax at kedarnath ...

Do you know for sure that Pavan Hans helicopter is not running in october?? My father called up GMVNL and they said that weather permitting it should be running ... So wanted to know that if you have a reliable source for that information, then we will have to double check with the Pavan Hans people ... Since my father has a disability, going by Palki for him might be the only other option but I would rather not take that risk ...

Sadanand ji .. Loved readin through your blog and looking at the photos .. thanks for posting ... we are definitely planning to take a guide and will not risk it ... thanks for confirmation that that is a good idea ...

Bumping .. hoping for some responses

Vasuki Tal and Gandhi Sarovar are 6 kms and 2 kms one way respectively.

It will be a good idea if you are able to squeez a day or two for Chopta-Tungnath. On the way, you can visit Ukhimath temple which is a winter seat for deities of Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar. The temple has a beautiful courtyard.

I have no idea about Helicopter services to Kedarnath. I guess apart from weather, passenger load factors may also be one of the reason for running the service. Since you are going to stay at Kedarnath for two days, helicopter service may not give you that flexibility.

Thanks for appreciating my blogs and pictures.

Sadanand

Hi, Vibhavsakshi
1.As you are proceeding from Rishikesh to Kaudiyala at shivpuri on the banks of the river Ganga visit the sage Vasishta's cave where he meditated for long long years.

2.During post monsoon period Helicopter services from Phata either Pawan Hans or other private operator would be decided on daily or even hourly basis depending on the whether conditions hence you may not get any satisfactory advance information on their operations.

3.During october as it is very cold in kedarnath you may find it difficult if you go in helicopter as you will not get acclimatized slowly where when you travel by ponies / Doli you will have time to get aclimatized.I dont think you should be feeling by your father going by palanquin to be risky as they are highly proffeshional.

4.While going to badinath please do visit Vridha badri at Animath 7kms before Joshimath & Yogabadri at Pandukeshwar.Both are few metres from the roadside hence no trekking.

5.If you are planning Gandhi sarovar(Chorabari) from kedarnath enquire about the water in the lake at GMVNL as when we went last early sept it had almost dried up.

6.We may bounce each other at some dhaba enroute as we are planning a trip in the same terrain between 1st to 8th Oct

October is relatively good season to visit Sri Kedarnath. Helicopter service is available during the months of May-June and September-October every year. Pawan Hans Helicopter operates its services from Phata, (near to Guptkashi) and they are quite dependable. GMVN have their guest houses at Guptkashi and Kedarnath. You can get all information from Sri C P Srivastava 9410620826, related to accommodation and Helicopter service, as he was quite helpful during my journey to Sri Kedarnath last year.

for Photography, there are several places in Uttarkhand, one place is Deoria Tal, which is located on Ukhimath-Gopeshwar road and just 5-7 kms before Chopta. Chopta may be visited after your visit to Sri Kedarnath.