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A Journey to the Source of River Ganga
Gaumukh Tapovan is one of the most rewarding treks you will ever do.
There are summit views and there are ‘big’ summit views. On the Gaumukh Tapovan trek, you don’t just see the best views of Mt Shivling. You see Mt Shivling right from the base to its summit. And if you don’t know about Mt Shivling, it’s one of the most beautiful looking mountains in our country. No wonder the mountain has been featured in our gold calendar every year since it was published.
But wait. Not only Mt Shivling, you see the Bhagirathi sisters from top to bottom. Sometimes we feel the Bhagirathi sisters are even grander than Mt Shivling because the three of them form a massif, which dominates the landscape.
Then why do more people not do the trek you ask?
Unfortunately, the popularity of other treks brought the Gaumukh Tapovan trek down from its grace. It’s almost like a new generation movie star replaced an older star. It sounds silly, but that’s what happened to the Gaumukh Tapovan trek. Treks like Roopkund, Rupin Pass and the Hampta Pass gained popularity. And Gaumukh Tapovan fell in popularity.
As is the mentality of most trekkers, if they find one trek attractive, they just rush towards the new offering. It is a mistake.
Before we begin, here are some quick facts about the Gaumukh Tapovan trek:
Gaumukh Trek is a 46 km trek hiked over 6 days (8 days including the drive to and from the trek,) in the Greater Himalayas. It lies in the state of Uttarakhand and begins and ends at the pilgrim town of Gangotri.
The trail snakes through the Greater Himalayas within the confines of Gangotri National Park. It is a moderate-difficult trek (more on this ahead on this page) that can be attempted by beginners if you prepare well.
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Additional information
| Travel Mode | Tempo Traveler |
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| Occupacy | Triple |
Day 1 : Drive from Dehradun to Gangotri (241 Kms, 8 Hrs)
- The group will assemble at the pickup point in Dehradun at 6:30 AM.
- Afterwards, we’ll drive towards Gangotri. The long drive consists of scenic views of the Himalayas in the backdrop.
- Upon reaching Gangotri, we’ll check in to our designated hotels and spend the day at leisure exploring the local market.
- Dinner followed by an overnight stay in Gangotri.
Note: The pickup point is Dehradun Railway Station.
Day 2 : Acclimatization day in Gangotri
- After breakfast, the travelers are advised to go for local sightseeing and visit the Gangotri temple as well as other significant places in Gangotri such as Bhagirath Shila and Pandava Gufa.
- In the evening, dinner will be served followed by an overnight stay in Gangotri.
Note: This day spent in Gangotri is for acclimatization purposes.
Day 3 : Trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa (9 Kms, 6 Hrs)
- After breakfast, we will start our trekking journey. The Bhagirathi river along with pine trees line your trekking trail. The gradual ascents make the stretch of the trek relatively easier.
- After traversing through the trails of Gangotri National Park, the majestic Sudarshan peak will come into view signifying your arrival at the Chirbasa Campsite.
- This is perhaps the most beautiful campsite, with the Bhagirathi river flowing through the mountains accompanied by lush green canopies.
- In the evening, dinner will be served followed by an overnight stay in the camps.
Day 4 : Trek from Chirbasa to Bhojbasa (5 Kms, 3 Hrs)
- After waking up to the incredible view of the mountains and having breakfast, we’ll head towards our next campsite.
- The gradual ascent along with wider trails make this stretch quite easier. Birch trees will soon come into view which are in abundance throughout the valley and are also the reason why the campsite is called Bhojbasa.
- Upon reaching the campsite, we will spend the rest of the day at leisure.
- In the evening, dinner will be served followed by an overnight stay in the camps.
Day 5 : Trek from Bhojbasa to Gaumukh via Tapovan (9 Kms, 7 Hrs)
- After breakfast, we will prepare ourselves for the longest day of our trekking journey. Although the trek to Gaumukh is fairly easy, it is a steep trek with limited water resources.
- Gaumukh is the end of the Gangotri glacier which is the originating point of the holy river Ganga. The trail to Gaumukh is lined with boulders and hence caution is advised.
- After Gaumukh, we’d be heading towards Tapovan which is popular among sages who seek spirituality. It also offers a panoramic view of Mt. Shivling which is considered to be one of the most sacred mountains.
- Upon reaching Tapovan, we’ll check into the campsite. Dinner followed by overnight stay in Tapovan.
Day 6 : Trek from Tapovan to Bhojbasa (9 Kms, 6 Hrs)
- After breakfast, we will check out of our campsite and start our descent.
- Tracing our steps back through the dirt trails and sedimentation of glaciers, we’ll make our way to Bhojbasa.
- Upon reaching the campsite in Bhojbasa, we’ll spend the day at leisure.
- Dinner followed by an overnight stay in camps.
Day 7 : Trek from Bhojbasa to Gangotri (14 Kms, 8 Hrs)
- Post breakfast, we will check out of the campsite and start our descent towards Gangotri. The stream of Bhagirathi will yet again accompany you as you make your way back.
- Upon reaching Gangotri, we will check into our designated hotels. The rest of the day is at leisure.
- Dinner followed by overnight stay in Gangotri.
Day 8 : Drive from Gangotri to Dehradun (241 Kms, 8 Hrs)
- After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and start our return journey to Dehradun.
- Upon reaching Dehradun, the group will dissemble and part ways.
- Trek Ends.
Where is the Gaumukh glacier?
The Gaumukh Glacier is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and is the source of the Bhagirathi river which along with the Alaknanda river forms the holy river Ganga in the Devprayag region of Uttarakhand.
What is the length of the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek?
The trek stretches up to an expanse of 46 Kilometers of land starting from Gangotri and ending with Tapovan. The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek requires 6 days to complete trek and an additional 2 days to drive to the basecamp.
What is the highest altitude that we achieve during the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek?
The Gaumukh Tapovan trek takes you to a staggering altitude of 14,203ft. Gangotri itself is situated at an altitude of 10,050ft. The high altitude is the reason the trek demands proper acclimatization.
How difficult is the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek?
The Gaumukh Tapovan trek falls under the difficult category as the trail consists of walking on rocky sedimentations, traversing across river crossings, being cautious of loose rocks falling from above and more. It is also a high altitude trek that takes you to an elevation of more than 14,000ft. That being said the Gaumukh Tapovan trek is done by many pilgrims who visit Gangotri which means that though it is not entirely impossible to do this trek, it is better to do this trek with extreme caution.
How far is Tapovan from Gaumukh?
At an altitude of 14,650 ft, Tapovan is a high altitude alpine meadow that allows the trekkers to get a panoramic view of the entire valley. Tapovan is situated approx 5 km away from Gaumukh and requires a steep trek for people to reach there.
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