Regarding Gaumukh - Tapovan trek....

travel joy

As everyone else said,going to Tapovan(even Gomukh)in November is a real bad idea ..and being a first time trekker, that too travelling solo, its better if u drop the idea..
November is not at all a month god for high altitude trekking. If u really want to go in November, better choose some easy low altitude trail..

nilanjan_lahiri

Shall it be feasible, if we start from Kolkata, somewhere around first week of October ???

The trip has been stretched to 11 days......

Also, please suggest about the appropriate shoe.


Thanks in advance,
Nilanjan...

roy_supratim05

hi,

We are also starting on first week of October, 3rd Oct. First we will go to Gangotri - Bhujbasa - Tapovan - Nandanvan - Bhujbasa - Gangotri and after one or two day rest at Gangotri we will start again for Gangotri - Bhujkharak - Kedarkharak - Kedartal - Bhujkharak - Gangotri. Expecting snow in Kedartal, coz it will be 15th or 16th Oct. Before 15th there is no chance of snow fall, but no one can predict mountain weather .

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nilanjan_lahiri

Any idea what can be the approx jeep fare from Hardwar/Rishikesh to Gangotri ?? Also, what about the rate of guide ??

Please elucidate on this...

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arjunm

Dear Nilanjan

Last year in October, we booked a Sumo from Haridwar to Uttarkashi for Rs 2,700. The rates will be more or less the same this year too. You can get a Sumo from any of the travel agents right outside Haridwar station. And you need to haggle a bit too!

You are not likely to get a Sumo all the way to Gangotri.

From Uttarkashi to Gangotri, the usual charge is Rs 1,500 per Sumo. But, tell you what, go by bus on this stretch. It is pretty interesting, and a lot cheaper.

Arjun

nilanjan_lahiri

Thanks Arjunji,
And what about the guide rate ??

Somewhere around 300/- per day ??

dooms

Hey you also have the option of going for shared taxis. Natraj taxi stand in Rishikesh if i remember correctly. That way you dont have to pay for the entire vehicle. It'll be a little cramped up but its better than a bus journey.

arjunm

Dear Nilanjan

Guides are a bit expensive this side of town. Rs 350 - 400. Porters Rs 175 -- 225.

Tip: First get your porters organised. Take them from Uttarkashi, it is worth paying their bus fare up to Gangotri (plenty available at near the bus stand. The Nepali ones create least trouble). After you've finalised your porters, then get your guide organised. If you do it the other way around, you are going to get swindled. Usually the guide will take a commission on the porters pay. He'll tell you the porters cost Rs 250, and he'll pocket the balance. Sad for the porters who do all the hard work.

Contact Guide: Buddhi Goswai 09758118757. He'll ask you for more, but you can negotiate him to the range I told you. Hold a take it or leave it stance.

Arjun

nilanjan_lahiri

Thanks once again,
Another suggestion I would like to get is, do we need to carry stove, kerosene oil, etc. to cook food ?? If no, then from where we would be getting the food ??

Also, I don't think porter would be needed as its a team of 5 and only 3 ruck sacks would be there...

Thanks all the way !!!!

arjunm

Dear Nilanjan

Could you give me an idea of your trek plan before I comment on your questions?

Arjun

nilanjan_lahiri

Sure,
Here it is :-

Day 1 Date:5th Oct Friday

Starting from Howrah at 16.55 hrs by Rajdhani via Gaya (train 2301) up.

Day 2 Date 6th Oct Saturday

Arriving Delhi at 10 hrs. Delhi to Kashmirigate by Bus or auto, Kashmirigate to Hrishikesh by Bus (203 km). Reaching at 19.00 hrs (approx)time 6 hrs, we have to book tickets for Gangotri. STAY

Day 3 Date 7th Oct Sunday

Hrishikesh to Gangotri by Bus. Approx time 8-9 hrs. Reaching Gangotri at evening. STAY

Day 4 Date 8th Oct Monday

Gangotri to Bhojbasa 14 km trekking at Staying in Tent.

Day 5 Date 9th Oct Tuesday

Bhojbasa-Gomukh –Tapovan approx 10 km trekking. Staying in Tent.

Day 6 Date 10th Oct Wednesday

Returning from Tapovan to Gangotri approx 24 km staying in Gangotri.

Day 7 Date 11th Oct Thursday

Returning Gangotri to Haridwar and STAY.

Day 8 Date 12th Oct Friday

Stay at Haridwar.

Day 9 Date 13th Oct Saturday

Boarding train Doon Express at 10.00 pm from Hardwar to Howrah

Day 11 Date 15th Oct Monday

Back to Kolkata at schedule time 7.00 am.

Please comment on it...

arjunm

Dear Nilanjan

I find your schedule a bit flawed. So let me point them out one at a time.

If you are getting to Delhi by train, why on earth are you going to Rishikesh by bus. Just take the Jan Shatabdi to Haridwar (it leaves at 3.30 in the afternoon) from New Delhi. This way you can save time plus avail telescopic fare on your train ticket and save money.

Rishikesh to Gangotri by bus? Hmm, there is a bus service in the morning, but it is such a tedious journey that you feel like hell at the end of it. More than enjoying the scenery you want to get off the bus as soon as you can.

Rather, take a bus to Uttarkashi (and that takes 8 hours min) and stay overnight. Visit NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering -- lovely location), take some tent, sleeping bags, jackets on hire from there and you are ready for any trekking. Also, no need to fix any guide (your route is fairly straightforward). Next day early morning, take a bus to Gangotri (90+ kms, 4 hours beautiful journey). You'll reach Gangotri by lunch time. Have a nice meal, fix a porter who knows the route well and start your trek.

Camp at Chirbasa. Lovely camp site amongst Bhoj trees. It is slightly below the trail to Gaumukh and 1 km ahead of Chirbasa Dhaba joints and Co.

Start early the next day and don't camp at Bhojbasa, but camp at Gaumukh. You have a nice lovely flat camp site just 1 km before the glacier. With the Bhagirathi sisters and Shivling towering over you, this is an ideal spot for camping. You'll get the peace and tranquility minus the ashram crowd.

Next day climb up to Tapovan (there are going to be many trekkers with guides going, just follow them). Spend time there. Visit Neela Taal and make your way back to Gaumukh camp site. This will save you from two things. Extreme cold at Tapovan, plus any possible altitude sickness.

Following day, straight march to Gangotri.

The only problem that I see in my plan is food. Your porter will be able to arrange for a stove and some pots and pans for you. You get these easily on hire at Gangotri. Your porter will double up as cook and it should not be much of a prob.

Arjun

ks_bluechip

Arjun ... Great advise and a practical plan ! .... I wish I had known this before my visit to Gaumukh. Chirbasa did seem like a nice forested place ... are there decent places to stay there apart from Dhaba/own-tent options? is there GMVN there? Though I stayed at Uttarkashi 2 nights (while going and coming) ... I missed seeing NIM. Also the train option to Haridwar, I could have done taht one way at least.... KS

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nilanjan_lahiri

Thanks a lot Arjunda !!!!

We really never thought of it in that fashion.

However, we don't have any idea/experience in pitching a tent.... so we are planning to drop the idea of carrying any tent. Is there any Ashram/GMVN in Chirbasa ?? OR, shall NIM guide us how to pitch the tent, in case we hire one ??

VSK Sharma

Hi,
Well good advise has been given by arjunm. The porter whom you are going to hire will be able to pitch the tent also. However, if you are camping for the first time be careful about the cold as the place you are visiting gets really cold. If you want to avoid the camping part then may be plan to visit Tapovan from Bhojbasa and return back to Bhojbasa for night.

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