Juda ka talab lake is situated at the altitude of 9100 ft above sea level in Himalayas situated between Sankri Village and Kedarkantha trek summit. Himalayas hide within themselves some beautiful lakes in it and juda ka talab is one such beautiful lake in Garhwal Himalayas.
It is being believed that Lord Shiva once opened his locks of hair and then water dropped from his hair and formed this lake. The lake is completely frozen during winters where you can walk on frozen water. It is altogether a different experience.
Best time to visit:
Winter is the best time to experience the beauty of the lake. Snow covers the entire trail starting from December to the last week of April. Trekking in winter is a bit risky due to unpredictable and harsh weather conditions and you need to take thermals and large piles of clothes to protect yourself from the winds of winter.
Generally, for trekkers like us who do not have snow experience with winters, we prefer visiting in winters. But the locals suggest all the trekkers visit the Garhwal Himalayas during summer. The beauty of Garhwal Himalayas is entirely different during summers. In the summer you can experience the green meadows with several flowers around the trail. The beauty is altogether different from the winter experience.
Experience:
The only way to reach this beautiful lake is only trekking through Govind Wildlife sanctuary where you can experience rich flora and fauna. You would be able to take in the sights of beautiful views of mountain peaks like Swargarohini, Banderpooch, Rangalana, Kalanag peaks. Trek to Juda ka talab is 4kms which generally takes 4hrs to reach from Sankri. Sankri is last motorable road to kedarkantha trek. You need not be worried about the trek because all the way to Juda ka talab it offers you stunning sights. Entire trail is surrounded by the thick tall oak trees and beautiful meadows.
Additionally, if you are lucky enough, you can find langoors, boars and other wildlife.
There is camping option available in Juda ka talab location offered by many private organizations. Please find the travel agency with good ratings and reviews and proceed. Sleeping under a twinkly night you are able to experience a dense band of stars of the Milky way. That is another beautiful experience.
How to reach Juda Ka talab:
From Dehradun it will take around 12 hours to reach sankri. If you have booked through any trekking agency, they will arrange a taxi or bus on your behalf. The journey is very long but you will get required food items on your way.
From Sankri Village, Juda Ka talab lake is a 4 hours trek. Either you can stay at juda ka talab to stay in only tents or you can come back to Sankri village.
Temperatures during the nighttime dropped below 2 degrees during the winter. Please pack your clothes accordingly. Sankri village has small shopping for trekkers where you can take required gear for the trek. Bargaining works here.
Don’t forget to eat maggi and omelet while doing the trek. You will experience one of the best tastes of maggi here because of its beautiful nature and cool climate.
Juda ka talab is one part of kedarkantha trek, if you are fit enough, I highly recommend you to do the entire kedarkantha trek. An experience which you cannot afford to miss.
It is our duty to protect the beauty of the Himalayas. Try not to take any polythene bags. Please don’t dump any garbage or plastic in the Himalayas.
