Gangotri Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

Mistral

Hello there,

With three friends of mine, the beginning of June, I’m planning a short trek starting in Gangotri up to the Source’s of Gange and up.
I’d like to have some advices and informations in how to plan the trek up to there.
I think to spend about 4 days trek from Gangotri to Tapovan via Gaumukh.
As it will be at the beginning of June during pilgrimage month I was thinking that accomodations in a small guest house in Bhojbasa maybe are too busy and not quiet so we are planning to rent a tent with a couple of porters.
1. It’s easy to arrange this trek from Gangotri or it’s best to arrange in an agency in Rishikesh?
2. How much do we have to plan for daily cost for person?
3. Once on the trek it’s easy to find food on the way or we have also to provide our own food from Gangotri? The porters will provide their own food or do I arrange also for them?
4. The path from Gaumukh to Tapovan is very difficult or it’s quite easy to follow?
5. Which kind of shoes do we have to carry with us?

Any informations will be highly appreciated.
Thanks to all and happy travels!

Luca

RohSun

Hey!

I had just gone trekking to Tapovan via gaumukh bhojbasa cheerbasa et al.

It is quite easy to find guides and porters at Gangotri itself.We found a guide within minutes of reaching gangotri.If you want to save some money over there,you could stay in the Dandi ashram whihc gives free accomodation as well as food.However some gurudakshina would be appropriate.

The guides and porters arrange for their own food .

We had no problems in getting food at bhojbasa or Tapovan (courtesy the Ashrams and baba's).there is a government lodge in Bhojbasa as well as an ashram which has nice bedding,food etc.One day's stay in the ashram cost us 111/- per head inclding three meals a day and bedding,
We settled for the food but camped out as there are nice camping sites around Bhojbasa not too far off from the ashram.

On our way to Tapovan ,we bypassed Gaumukh and took a novel route.It wasnt all that steep but takes around 6 hours to get there.
If you go via gaumukh,it could get tricky bcause of the glacier and loose rocks here and there.The final stint is extremely steep (w came down to Bhojbasa via gaumukh...)

Any shoe which has good grip will do.

We went for a 3 day trek and it cost us 1500/- for a guide and porter.The guide charged us 50/- for carrying anybody's rucksack for a day.Food would cost extra.

Make sure you have good warm clothing as well as a decent poncho on hand.

Hope this helped.

I forgot to mention that while you travel upwards from gangotri to tapovan,you will come across a wildlife park of sorts.This is around 2-3 kms off gangotri.You would have to pay some entrance fee(not sure on the exact amount) to get any further.So dont be surprised when you are asked fr money over there(you get a receipt and stuff like that too)

__________________
Life begins on the far side of despair.

Mistral

Thanks for your helpful answer.
One more thing... We would like to rent also camping stuff like tents and mattress... Do you think we can arrange in Gangotri too or it's best to arrange in Rishikesh? (the fact is that we have not in plan to go back until Rishikesh as we'd like to proceed via Tehri to Baijinath and Binsar.

A smile from Italy.

__________________
The question is not what you look at but what you see
My photo gallery

RohSun

Ummm...I do not know if you can get tents in Gangotri.It should be available as many use it as base camp to tapovan.So ,if possible, get your tents before you reach Gangotri.

AvidTrekker

Italian Smile; arrange tent etc from Rishikesh. Gangotri has many ashrams and saadhus, but no commercial trekking agencies. Some saadhu may take pity on you and give you his blanket.... but I doubt that they have tents.

Rishikesh it is, Italiano!

__________________
The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Balmandir

Hi all!

I'm looking to do the Gangotri Trek to the source of the ganges mid September. My plan is to simply arrange what I can at gangotri upon arrival.

Has anyone done this recently, if so what kind of costs were involved? Guide, porters, food , accomodation etc.

Does anyone know if there is any shelter/food options in Tapovan if one does not have a tent?

Also any idea what the nightime temperatures are on the trek, ie. do I need a down coat, wooley hat etc.?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
Balmandir

AvidTrekker

Mid September will find Gangotri nights touching 3 to 4 deg Celsius. Days could be 23 to 28 degrees. Upto Gaumukh is a straightforward trek of two days upwards and one day return. Tapovan should not be done in mid-Sept if you are new to the Himalaya.

ddutta

Weather in Himalaya is allways unpredictable,anything can happen in the next moment. I went to Gaumukh 4years back in 1st week of October & the climate was very good. The night temp. is around 2 deg Celsius but days are pretty warm. It is 2days trek for Tapovan from Gangotri. Have to stay at Bhujbasa/Chirbasa(14kms from Gangotri) on first night. GMVN has tourist lodge in Bhujbasa ,which can be booked in advance (on line booking can be done too).Beside that there are other basic accomodation available at Bhujbasa(including tent).From Bhujbasa to Tapavan (8kms) trek via Gaumukh.No accomadation is available at Tapovan till date. You have to carry tent ,food , fuel with you. One/two Sadhus stay there (in a cave).Can ask/try for shelter!!!! .You have to arrange all thing you need(porter/ponny/tent/food/fuel) from Gangotri itself.If you want to trek upto Gaumukh then you dont have to carry anything. All the basic thing you need is available in Bhujbasa/Chirbasa.My suggestion dont think much , simply march ahead to your goal.You will find lot of people/tourist on your way.The general rule in Himalaya is (my personal experience) that "somebody will definately arrange /offer you some basic shelter & food " on these route in case of emergency.You dont have to stay outside under the open sky without any food. So GO FOR IT

old india hand

Balmandir

Thanks for your feedback folks, especially on temperatures and accomodation.

Cheers,
Balmandir

kaushiks

Hi, I am planning to leave tomorrow. Can we get a cook from Gangotri?.
We have a tent of our own. We don't have cooking arrangements and I just want to be sure we will find a guy who will have a stove and everything else needed for cooking. Or should I get such a cook from Rishikesh.

The related threads mention I can't get tents from Gangotri but we already have tents. So, please clarify. If so, I will get the cook from Uttarkashi or Rishikesh.
Thanks

Kaushik

Dr Funkenstein

Does anyone know if you can stay at Gaumukh overnight? In a dhaba or a chai shop or something nearby?

Only I'd like to be there to watch the sun come up.

__________________
Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Mistral

Hi Dr. Funkenstein and Kaushiks

I went last year for a short trekking up to Gaumukh.
We didn't have tents but we find a guy in Gangotri who take care of us and found a tent accomodation in Bhojbasa.

There it's also easy to get a simple meal. The path up to Bhojbasa and then Gaumukh it's quite easy. If you go up to Tapovan it will get more steep (I didn't went there this time). If you have a bit of time in Gangotri I think you can arrange everything you need.

I think you can get a cook in Gangotri but cannot assure as I didn't look for one, anyway as you will reach Gangotri a lot of guys will offer themselfs as guides, porters and so on. Not easy to choose.

If you have your own tent you can stay quite close to Gaumukh, but Bhojbasa isn't really too far (just a bit more than an hour easy walk) and you can find basic accomodation there. Advise you to check in Gangotri anyway according to weather conditions.
Last June (2004) the closest nice place to put tents in the neighbourhood of Gaumukh was taken by a soldier camp.

If you want I will look for contact of our guide but we really didn't tested him as we made a simple short walk. Anyway he was careful and kind toward us.

I wish you good weather and a lovely journey!

Dr Funkenstein

Thanks, Mistral.

I think I'll just get up early and do a quick hike up to Gaumukh from Bhojibash to catch the sunrise, then.

Thanks again for the info. Very helpful.

babuchand

are u thinking of capturing sunrise @ gomukh??? ii wont say its impossible but its very very difficult.....as u leave bhujbasa the path gradually ceases to exist and for the last 2km of a 4km trek u merely have to walk over the moraine bolders....dont try it at dark.

if u r desperate to catch the sunrise better stay at tapovan

Njoy