Some guidance needed on visit to Gaumukh/Tapovan

biren

sourubh,
i am assuming you are not a hardcore trekking fan. which means you would want to enjoy leisurely the area.
if i am right,then:
harsil is one place (25 kms before gangotri) i would suggest you spend a day or two - doing nothing, soaking in the environment.
let me know if this interests u and i will give you more info.

the rest of the friends have really filled you in excellently... unless YOU are still feeling confused, i found their info to be great and detailed.
just one alternate to keep in mind - which comes from my experience (with my group of friends)

if u want to reach bhojbasa at all - from gangotri - be sure to leave gangotri early in the morning.
my friends who were doing trekking for the first time, took long to get out of gangotri and found the heat on the way so tiring that we had to do an unscheduled camping at chirbasa. if we had left early, we would have had more time, and saved the energy that was drained in the heat. (ofcourse, we went in end may)

i am already feeling envious about you.
^_^

hv a gr8 time.

sourabhs1

Hi All,
Thanks to all for providing the answers.
Since someone mentioned that it would probably be snowing in the first week of May, I wanted to check what is the best time to visit Gaumukh/Tapovan? Is it first week of May, mid May, mid Sep, or last week of Sep?

Thanks.

travel joy

I have always preferred September end - early October for that place. The weather is normally great, the autumn colours are also there and last but not the least, no crowds of pilgrims walking in from all directions..

jyotirmoy

Yes late September is the best time.

roy_supratim05

mid of spetember to mid of october will be the best time. last year october I found cool bright sunny day and blue sky all along with me.

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jyotirmoy

Only in this period you have that bright sunny day and blue sky. Hardly any chance of rain.

sourabhs1

Hi All,
Does anyone know some good links which give past year weather reports (temp, rain, snowfall etc.) for Gangotri/Gaumukh ?

Thanks.

sandeepbwn

We are planning to go to Tapabon, Neelatal & hopefully Nandanbon. Planning to start from Burdwan on 9th May (i.e. will reach Haridwar on 10th evening).

Trishul

hi,
You can trek In this area in the Month of May.
You can try to Make programme after 6tha May because The door of gangotri are open After 6th May.
You will try to make yours programme given below
Day 01 Haridwar to Uttrarkashi(aragements of trekking)
day 02 Uttrakashi to Gangotri(heir you can arange of porters & Guide).
day 03 Gangotri to Chreervasa
day 04 Cheervasa to Bhojpassa
day 05 Bhohpassa to Tapovan
Day 06 Tapovan(Nandanvan trek)
Day 07 Tapovan to Bhojpassa
day 08 Bhaojpassa to Gangotri
Day 09 Gangotri to Rishikesh.
When you start from Gangotri for Bhojpassa then make slowly because soe people try to make fast but after some time they will back due to acclimitization
If you want nice trek & Comfortable trek then try to took good & expert Guide & porter dont go in cost.
In cheervasa,Bhojbassa their is fooding & lodging in TRC but in tapovan you want some thing but thier Sadhu live so some aragmnt in also their.

sandeepbwn

Thnx Trishul the itenary mentioned by u can be followed by us too. Nice paced itenary.

spicetrekker

the concept of spirituality may wary from person to person . Anyone who goes to Tapovan has met Bengaali Mai and I found her to be very spiritual as she is doing self-less services to so many people...there is a german lady also at the end of tapovan who is a bit of a recluse and may fit into more people's definition of spiritual

spicetrekker

Sept-Oct is the best time according to me. - largely clear skies and great views. Having said that last year we had a great trek to Tapovan and Madhmaheshwar and then got stuck in bad weather on the trek to Rudranath in sept end( Sept 25-28). So weather cannot be predicted and is changing a lot these days. Better have 1-2 spare days and a mindset to enjoy whatever is thrown at you.

spicetrekker

See my replies in red

1. How much prior I need to plan? (excluding the travel upto Rishikesh). Are the acco in Uttarkashi, arrangement of guide etc. need to be done prior to going there? Can I do w/o a guide? I'd like to explore a little bit. Depends on season if you are going in May the acco may be a bit of an issue due to yatra crowd till Gangotri. Till Tapovan you can do without a guide if you have a good porter but for Nandanvan you need a guide


2. Is it ok to go there in early May (reach there on 4th or 5th) considering that the temple of Gangotri opens on 8 May? I am not a hard trekker and would need accommodation, food etc. but its ok even if it is available in an ashram or dharmshaalaa. I am also thinking that this will be good time to visit there as the rush will be less; isn't it? What will be the temperatures like? Will it be below -10C? How about rains/snow in this season? Do landslides happen there anytime or only in Jul-Aug? Will it better to visit after temple opens instead?

Even hard trekkers need acco and food ; I think all your rush will be in later part of May and that too till Gangotri. I would suggest it is better to trek this in Sept
3. Is there a weight limit that I can carry with me? Any other restrictions? Do I have to take permission from a govt. office to visit there? Do I need to have some travel insurance or any other insurance?
No insutance and No weight limits other than what you and your porter can carry but why do you need to carry too much. No permissions and no need for any specific insurance

4. Why isn't going by bus from Rishikesh to Gangotri a good idea? Is the reason that it is too crowded, or it is too long a journey?
Time taken is more and is crowded

5. Is there a place to stay and eat in Tapovan, Nandanvan in case I want to continue up? I assume such places will be there in Gangotri, Bhojbasa, and Gaumukh at least (even though temple would not have opened yet)

There are places at Bhojbhasa - Asharam and GMVN. At Tapovan a few babas and Bengali mai offer shelter but it is a great camping site so you should carry a tent if possible. Nandanvan tent is must if you are planning to stay

6. Any special considerations while buying things like sleeping bag, backpack, hiking boots etc. If someone has specific suggestions on models etc., please share. Can someone suggest a good place (with value for money and not going just by brands) in Bangalore?
Any sleeping bag (that can hanle upto 4C is ok in Sept; I am not sure about may; In Mumbai I buy this stuff from AVI Industries; I am not sure if they ship to Bangalore; they do have a web site you can google it. Boots Wienbrenner are good but Nike in the ACG range also has a few good ones -

7. Could someone suggest a budget GPS model available in India (preferably in Bangalore)? Where to buy from?
No idea but why do you need it. The route to Tapovan and Nandanvan keeps chaning to the shifting glacier and hence I am not sure if GPS would help - BTW I am not an expert on GPS

8. Do I need to take tent etc. with me? I mean: are the conditions there so uncertain that anytime, anywhere, I may need to camp?!
see question 5
9. Do mobiles work there? I hear that electricity is not available there so is it at all worth it to take mobile there?
Thank god it does not work - but FM radio works in Tapovan .

sam4u

hi all,
with a view to explore himalayas i am planning to go to tapovan or may be upto nandanvan via gaumukh but for that need some advice from u guys.
the itneray looks like this:

Day1:reach haridwar by early morning and then would catch the bus to uttarkashi-will stay there
Day2:will board a shaed taxi or a bus early in the morning to get down at gangotri. temple visit and also the pandu gufa as suggested by u.
Day3:will proceed further towards tapovan via bhojbas. will stay either in G.M.V.N OR BABA'S ASHRAM.
Day4:will start my journey towards nandanvan and will come back to bhojvas for a stay over there.
Day5:come back to utterkashi
Day6:back to delhi.

but there are certain questions which are yet to be cleared out which are:

1. since i am alone going over for this expedition would there be a need of porter on the trek?
2. Do u suggest me to visit NIM in utterkashi? in what ways they can help me in going over this trek?
3. Do i need to carry a tent as well since i am going alone?
4. where i can find out the experianced guide for these treks and what will optimal charge for a guide.
Please clarify

thanks in advance
sam4u

roy_supratim05

Hi sam4u,

Day 3 is not clear to me. Are u going upto Tapovan on day 3 or upto Bhujbasa?? If it is Tapovan then it is going to be a long exhausted day. As per my opinion carry a tent and stay at Nandanvan. Sunrise view over Shivling and Kedar Dome is majestic. For going upto Nandanvan u definitely need a good guide. If u hire a guide from Uttarkashi, then u have to bother his vehicle fare, extra days food and have to pay per day money on higher rates. Guides normally takes 300-400 per day. If u hire one from Uttarkashi then rate may be 400-500 per day.