Gaumukh – Tapovan Trek with Complete Details, Oct 2019

Highest Altitude – 4463 mtr (Tapovan)

● Gaumukh :- It is snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi River, one of the primary headstreams of the Ganges River. The place is situated at a height of 4255m in Gangotri National Park of Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand.

● Tapovan :- It is located on an altitude of 4463m above sea level. Tapovan is base camp for Shivlinga peak in Gangotri National Park. One can also have a nice view of Bhagirathi peaks from Tapovan Meadow

● How to Reach :-

Day 1 :-Haridwar to Gangotri – 290 Km – Road

Day 2 :-Gangotri to Bhojwasa – 14 Km – Trek

Day 3:- Bhojwasa to Tapovan – 9 Km – Trek

Day 4:- Tapovan to Gangotri – 23 Km – Trek

Day 5:- Gangotri to Haridwar – 290 Km – Road

Gaumukh Tapovan trek

● Permissions :-

* Only 150 persons are allowed per day to enter into the Gangotri National Park.

* We arranged our permissions from Gangotri itself through our agency instead of Uttarkashi

* For Gaumukh, permission is mandatory but Guide is not mandatory

* For Tapovan, Permission & Guide from registered agency are mandatory.

Photo of Gaumukh Tapovan trek, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India by The Himalayan Boy

● Charges :-

* For permission to enter into Gangotri National Park, Rs 150/- per person for two day & Rs 50/- per day extra

* Stay at Bhojwasa for Rs 400/- per person per night in GMVN Guest House without Food.

* Stay at Tapovan for Rs 850/- per person per night in Ashram with food.

This story is about a journey to foot land of towering Mt. Shivling called Tapovan and source of most sacred river of India called River Ganga originating Gaumukh Glacier.

DAY 1 :- Haridware to Gangotri – 290 Km (By Road)

We were three friends from Delhi and reached Haridware early in the morning around 3 am. We got fresh in the public toilet at the Bus Stand and went to the Ganga Ghat to take the blessing. After that we had our breakfast nearby bus stand then we found that there is no direct bus to Gangotri that day from Haridware and we had to wait around 2 hrs for one Bus going till Uttarkashi which around 100 Km away from Gangotri. But we wanted to reach Gangotri on same day, hence we left Haridware around 7.30am in a Bus going till Uttarkashi. After this long and tiring journey we reached Uttarkashi around 3 pm. From there we decided to go further from Uttarkashi to Gangotri in private taxi with two new travellers, which charged all of us around Rs2500/- . It took around 4 hrs from Uttarkashi to Gangotri after which we reached Gangotri in the evening around 7.30 pm then we took single room there for three of us for Rs 500/- + Rs 50/- for each hot water bucket. Then for the trek from Gangotri to Gangotri we had a talk with our organiser and our Guide who informed us about all the details of the trek and the formalities for Permissions (We gave our Aadhaar Card photocopies). Then after we had our dinner and went to sleep.

DAY 2 :– Gangotri to Bhojwasa – 14 Km (Trek)

Next morning we woke up around 5 am in the morning and got ready till 7 am and after breakfast we left with our guide from Gangotri to reach Bhojwasa through 14 Km trek. after 2km walk from Gangotri there was a Forest Check Point of Gangotri National Park they checked our bags took all the necessary charges. Then next stop over we found after 9 Km trek i.e. Chirbasa which has few food Stall where we had our lunch. Next after 2.5 Km we found 1Km long stone falling zone where we were advised by our Guide to be extra careful and not to stop in between. After that around 4 pm we reached to the Bhojwasa. In Bhojwasa we found accomodation and food in Lal baba Aashram with just Rs 400/- per person per night with food. In Bhojwasa we met a 70 year old German Man with whom we had hours of discussion about climate change and its impact around the world. After the end of the discussion we had our dinner at around 7.30pm which was quite good then we went to bed as it was getting extremely cold outside.

DAY 3 :- Bhojwasa to Tapovan – 9 Km (Trek)

Then next morning we got ready by 7.30am and left Bhojwasa to reach Tapovan. From Bhojwasa we used trolley to cross the river as it was the only safe option there at that time so that there was a long queue for single trolley to cross the river. After one hour we got our turn to use the trolley then we reached the other side. After a few kilometers we reached nearby Gaumukh from where we took right turn upward direction to reach Tapovan first and cover Gaumukh on return. From there is a 1 Km complete uphill hike which was the most difficult part of the entire trek as it was making us highly out of breath many times. After 5 hrs of trek from Bhojwasa we reached Tapovan and witnessed the mesmerizing beauty of the place. In Tapovan we stayed in Mauni Baba Aashram which cost us around 850/- per person per night with food. From Tapovan we were looking at Mt Shivling , Mt Meru, Chaukhamba, Bhagirathi Peaks, Entire Gaumukh Glacier and many more peaks. As the time was passing by and evening started making it much colder than in sunshine so we went to bed to save us from extremely cold winds. Around 7.30pm Baba Ji provided us food then we directly went to sleep as we were all very tired and there was no energy to take any more photos of surroundings.

DAY 4 :– Tapovan to Gangotri – 23 Km (Trek)

Next morning we got ready till 7am then took some photos of awesome morning but it was not only about the scenery but it was about the awesome feeling or experience within us which was making everything so special like incredible moment. It was a very special moment for all of us. After taking all the photos and having a chat with fellow travellers we decided to come back till Gangotri in same day which seemed difficult but felt possible. After that we descended from difficult part of the trek to Gaumukh Glacier snout from where river Bhagirathi originating (Later become river Ganga). We sat for a while near to it, took the blessing and move further. So after taking a lunch at Bhojwasa around in the afternoon at 12.10pm we reached directly to Gangotri at 8pm at night on the same day.

DAY 5 :- Gangotri to Rishikesh to Delhi (By Road)

Next day back to Delhi with the help of direct shared cab from Gangotri to Rishikesh in Rs 500/- per person then Bus to Delhi from Rishikesh Bus Stand.