Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

gaumukh tapovan cover

Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is a 46 Km hike that takes 6 - 8 days and takes you to an altitude of 14,640 ft. (4,463 m). Gaumukh is a popular trekking destination and people from all over the world visit this location for its beauty and spiritual appeal. The trek lies in the state of Uttarakhand in India and begins at the pilgrim town of Gangotri.

This is a moderate difficulty trek and will take you through the Gangotri National Park amidst the towering Himalayan mountains and can be attempted by beginners if the preparation is well. Gaumukh is one of the best high altitude meadows in India.

On the trail, you will find yourself crossing meadows, streams, cascading waterfalls, pine forests, mesmerizing Himalayan views all along the way. The nights offer a sky full of stars, ideal for astrophotography.

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Short Itinerary

Day 1

Dehradun to Gangotri

On the first day of the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek, we will be driving to Gangotri via Uttarkashi district from Dehradun. The 258 Km drive will take 10 hours and we will be passing through Mussoorie, offering scenic views of the outer Himalayas.

Another 4-hour drive from Uttarkashi will take you to the pilgrim destination at Gangotri. You can attend the evening aarti at the Gangotri Temple and go for any last-minute shopping for the trek.

camping at gaumukh tapovan trek trekker at gaumukh trail trekkers hiking from gangotri to chirbasa

Day 2

Gangotri to Chirbasa

Post breakfast, we will start our trek across the Bhagirathi River on a well-defined trail to Chirbasa. You will find yourself walking in the shade of a towering mountain across the forests. Trekking for about 10 Km from Gangotri we will reach our destination for today at 11,630 ft. Overnight stay will be in camps alongside the river.

exotic view of gangotri national park gangotri to chirbasa trail trekker at bhojbasa

Day 3

Chirbasa to Bhojbasa to Gaumukh

On the third day of the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek, we will start walking towards the source of the Holy River Ganga. Today’s trail will offer you magnificent views of Bhagirathi peaks & Mout Shivling. After resting at Bhojbasa for some time we will push further towards Gaumukh. After trekking for about a couple of kilometres from Bhojbasa we will reach our destination at Gaumakh - The Source of the Holy Ganga. Overnight stay at camps.

Chandra Parbat II as viewd from gangotri trekkers hiking at gangotri national park gaumukh glacier

Day 4

Gaumukh to Tapovan to Chirbasa

After having early breakfast in the morning we will start towards Tapovan. Today is the longest day of the trek and we will be traversing about 14 Km from Guamukh to Chirbasa. A 5 Km trek from Gaumukh will take you to the Gangotri Glacier and you will be able to view a panoramic view of the majestic peaks of Mount Shivling (6,543 m.), Mount Meru (6,630 m.), Kedar Dome (6,808 m.), Mount Sudarshan (6,507 m.) & Bhagirathi I, II & III. After spending some time at Gomukh, we will trek back to our campsite at Chirbasa.

an evening at gangotri national park gomukh glacier gangotri trekking on snow trail gaumukh trek

Day 5

Chirbasa to Gangotri

After having our breakfast we will trek 9 Km. back to Gangotri. Overnight stay in a guest house.

heavy snowfall at gaumukh trail magnificent view from tapovan snow covered trail at gangotri national park

Day 6

Gangotri to Dehradun

A 258 km ride on the final day will take you back to Dehradun and will take around 10 hours. You are expected to arrive at Dehradun by evening, make your further travel plans accordingly.

Trekking Tips

  • Carry an insulated water bottle so that you can have access to hot water throughout the year.
  • Don’t pack heavily for the trek, only carry necessary items and clothes (2-3 layers of light clothing)
  • There is no network availability after Gangotri, make sure to call your loved ones before you reach there.

Best Time to Visit Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

May to June (Summers) & September - October (Autumn)are the best months to visit Gaumukh Tapovan Trek. You can easily find snow even during the summers. The trail remains covered with snow and you will get a chance to cross rivers on naturally built snow bridges. You will see the Bhagirathi river flowing with full might as the snow melts and feeds the river. As the monsoon reaches the valley during June, the heavy rain makes the trail slippery and prone to landslides.

During autumn, you will be able to see more colours in the valley, with some vegetation growing after the monsoon season. October brings in heavy snowfall in the area which makes this trek untenable.

Difficulty level of Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is rated as a moderate difficulty trek, it takes you to a maximum altitude of 14,000 ft. The high altitude of the trek makes it a moderate difficulty trek. Even the starting point of the trek is at Gangotri which is located at an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level. Apart from this, the trail is straightforward and this trek can also be attempted by first-timers with preparation.

How Safe is Gumukh Tapovan Trek

This is a very safe trek, every year thousands of pilgrims visit this place to visit the source of the holy Ganga and they complete the trek without any problem but you need to be physically fit in order to complete this trek because of the high altitude.

gaumukh tapovan trek cover 2

What to Carry on Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

This is a brief list of things that you should carry on the trek to make the experience more memorable and much more comfortable - 

  • Woollen clothes like sweaters, thermals, pairs of gloves, caps, mufflers, socks.
  • Heavy and complete three to five clothing layers are minimal during Winter as the weather might get unpredictable. Light woollen is enough for summer trips.
  • Windproof jacket
  • Hiking shoes, Snow boots, sandals or slippers
  • Walking stick or a trekking pole
  • Accessories like sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen lotions, lip balm, headlamp, torch with extra batteries.
  • Toiletries: Sanitizer, tissues, liquid soaps, paste and toothbrush
  • Medicines: Diamox for altitude sickness, essential medicines for headache, stomach upset, and regular medication if you are taking any, band-aids, volini spray, and anything else.
  • Power bank
  • Raincoat, extra shirts/t-shirts, and trekking pants
  • Identity card and photocopies.
  • Insulated water bottle
  • Woollen fleece jackets
  • Few poly bags to keep any wet clothes. 
  • Energy bars, biscuits, chocolates, dry fruits to munch, and ORS or Glucose to not drain energy.
  • Camera with extra memory cards, batteries, chargers.

 

Network & Connectivity

Good connectivity of all major service providers like Airtel, BSNL & Jio is available, however, beyond Gangotri, network connectivity is almost non-existent.

ATM

The last ATM is available at Uttarkashi, make sure to withdraw any cash you might need before Gangotri.