Tapovan and Kedartal in October 2008.

roy_supratim05 · Jul 4th, 2008, 19:20

Though you need feedback from any recent trekker, I want to share some useful links (I hope so

).

Uttarkashi Govt. Site
1. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/

Regulation Notice about Gaumukh
2. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/Dept/tourism/goumukh.PDF

Current DM Name and Phone Number
3. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/aboutDistt/dm_current.htm

Guide Map
4. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/Dept/touris..._guide_map.JPG

urvashi · Jul 4th, 2008, 19:46

Dear Supratim,
Onek onek dhanyobad

You are really very much helpful. I will definitely do the needfull.

Thanks again
Urvashi

Quote:

Originally Posted by urvashi

Thanks a lot Supratim, Joy for your informations.
supratim, I read the details of your trek to Kedar tal, it is fantastic. Can u please provide me the information about how to gate this permission and where should I must approach for that. Please also give the Address and/ or phone no. of DFO office if you have it. Can I get it from Kolkata?

Thanks.
Urvashi

AvidTrekker · Jul 5th, 2008, 00:49

I just received the Himalayan Club e-circular...

I reproduce the relevant portion below for all intending Gangotri-Gomukh-Tapovan travellers.

Quote:

Tourists (Indians and Foreign Nationals) visiting Gangotri and Goumukh area of Gangotri National Park are hereby informed about the new procedures and restrictions being adopted to save and conserve Goumukh area.
• Only 150 tourists, trekkers (porters included) will be permitted to visit Goumukh every day.
• Permission for entry to Goumukh region will be issued by Chief Wildlife Warden, 5 Chandrabani, Mohabbewala, Dehradun.
• First come First serve basis will be adopted for issuing permits.
• Fees:
1. Rs 50/- for Indian for 2 days. Additional fees of Rs 25/- per day.
2. Rs 350/- for Foreign National for 2 days. Additional fees of Rs l75/- per day.
• Movement of Mules and Horses is banned inside Gangotri National Park
• 500 meter prior to Goumukh is declared as restricted area.
• Visitors not having permits will be stopped and returned back from the Gangotri check post.
Contact Numbers;
I. Chief Wildlife Warden,Dehradun --91+ 0135 2644691
2. DFO, Uttarkashi — 91+ 01374 222444
91+ 01374 222964(FAX)

Uttarakhand website: http://uttarkashi.nic.in/Dept/tourism/goumukh.PDF
.
.

travel joy · Jul 5th, 2008, 17:33

Very useful post indeed..Thanks a lot avidtrekker.

somnath · Jul 7th, 2008, 14:17

Let me update you about our status. Train ticket is booked – I cannot believe the rush ….. horrible !!!! Anyways our travel agent has done a good job. Shealdah to Delhi ticket was in waiting list so he reserved Sheladah > Gaya and then Gaya > Delhi. It costs 400/- more but reservation is confirm.

Welcome to Indiamike, Urvashi (sounds like we are in same team – is it?). Could you please share your itinerary / planning with us.

Friends, thank you once again for this precious info. We tried to contact Uttarkashi and came to know that they can arrange papers but we need to present in DFO office for the formalities. Well, we’ll definitely try to avoid a stay at Uttarkashi then.

Avid, thank you once again for the estimation help. I was calculating like Rs.200/- per person per day which looks similar with you. Hmmmmm…….. now the next hurdle is return ticket.

Bhaswaran · Jul 7th, 2008, 14:50

Dont worry Somi, the list of Puja Specials will be published in about a week.

ashutosh69 · Jul 7th, 2008, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by somnath

Thank you Joy, thank you Babu. Thank you for your valuable information. Yes Babu, you told me to stay at Kedarkharak. Yes you are right Kedarkharak > Kedartaal > Kedarkharak (camp) would be better. So the new one is:

1 4-Oct-2008 Sat Howrah (rajdhani)-16.55pm
2 5-Oct-2008 Sun New Delhi 10.15am(arr) (8477-Utkal express)----14.00pm(dep) Haridwar—20.30pm(arr)
3 6-Oct-2008 Mon Haridwar Uttarkashi (To get the permission from DFO)
4 7-Oct-2008 Tue Uttarkashi Gangotri
5 8-Oct-2008 Wed Tue-Gangotri Bhojbasha(14 kms)
6 9-Oct-2008 Thu Bhojbasha Gomukh(4kms) Tapovan(4kms)
7 10-Oct-2008 Fri Tapovan Bhojbasha / Chirbasa
8 11-Oct-2008 Sat Chirbasa / Bhojbasha Gangotri
9 12-Oct-2008 Sun Gangotri
10 13-Oct-2008 Mon Gangotri BhojKharak (8 KM)
11 14-Oct-2008 Tue BhojKharak Kedarkharak (4KM)
12 15-Oct-2008 Wed Kedarkharak kedartal (5kms) Kedarkharak
13 16-Oct-2008 Thu Kedarkharak Gangotri (12 KM)
14 17-Oct-2008 Fri Gangotri Haridwar
15 18-Oct-2008 Sat Haridwar(8478 Kalingantkal exp.)6.00am(dep) Delhi(H. Nizamiddim stn.)11.450am—(arr) Delhi (2330-W.B. smrpk Krnti exp)-19.05pm(dep)
16 19-Oct-2008 Sun Sealdah…(arrival—17.45pm)

Babu, you are right there is no buffer day, you can understand the time constraints in sector – V. he he…… hence we’ve taken the harsh decision at the beginning. If anyone is even 90% fit after Tapovan s/he will drop Kedartal – not even 10% chance. I know it doesn’t sound very organized but Kolkata to Kolkata the number of days are not flexible.

Any suggestion / comment on other parts like guide’s recommendation / budget (approx). etc.?

1. You should break at Uttarkashi. The drive becomes strssful after the re routing cause of Tehri Reservoir and NTPC construction in Gangnani region. Even when I drive my own vehicle it takes a good 11 hours of non stop drive from Hardwar to Gangotri. In a hired vehicle I shall easily add another hour or two. Even if you start very early you shall reach Uttarkashi by late afternoon. Keep time to arrange for the permit even if you have contacted a guide earlier. Uttarkashi to Gangotri takes a cool 4.5 hours now a days.
2. Do prepare for snow trudge after Kedarkharak. This would mean, at least high gaiters, woollen socks, ice axe and a guide who knows route and can break route thru snow...assuming that there is fresh snow and there has not been a team out there before you. You can read thru our Kedartal experience in first week of November at the following link.

http://snowscapes.blogspot.com/2008/...r-trek-to.html

You shall have grand photo opportunities ..so take enough rolls for analogue camera and enough batteries and memory sticks for digital camera

Happy trekking!!

somnath · Jul 8th, 2008, 19:59

Bhaswaran, who is “Somi”

? anyways, yes Sir, Puja Spl. Trains will be announced soon.

Hi Ashutosh, thank you so much for your feedback. And I think I’ve seen this wonderful write-up from a link in Orkut. Hey, you are there – rite? Ashutosh, I know someone who did the same but in the year 2004 when the route was not like this. Yeah I’ve seen those pix and according to that team only a few meters of rock fall area was the main problem. But I can understand from recent reports that it is now different (due to massive landslide and all…..). and this trend of early snowfall is the real concern for us. So final decision will be taken based on latest situation at Gangotri.

Break at Uttarkasi – yeah I understand it is going to be a stressful day (I went to Gangotri in 2006 and we stayed at UTK) well, I understand that we need a break but we would perefer one day off at Gangotri rather than UTK. Lets see if it is unavoidable we’ll give a break at UTK.

Photo opportunities – I am convinced. Ha ha ha….

Rajeev Bora · Jul 8th, 2008, 23:08

Just got back from Garhwal and Kuaon after a month of vacation. Wanted y'all to know that I found the garhwali population to be extremely greedy and rude!
Be prepared to shell out at least 600 to 800 per day for a guide coz you are bongs and your accent will make the garhwali leeches to ask for abnoral rates. Besides you will not find any porters for less then 300 a day.

This time around also got to know what the rain gear is worth coz when it starts pouring you just wish that all you need is really there in your rucksack! Do bother about your boots in particular.

ashutosh69 · Jul 9th, 2008, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by somnath

Bhaswaran, who is “Somi”

? anyways, yes Sir, Puja Spl. Trains will be announced soon.

Hi Ashutosh, thank you so much for your feedback. And I think I’ve seen this wonderful write-up from a link in Orkut. Hey, you are there – rite? Ashutosh, I know someone who did the same but in the year 2004 when the route was not like this. Yeah I’ve seen those pix and according to that team only a few meters of rock fall area was the main problem. But I can understand from recent reports that it is now different (due to massive landslide and all…..). and this trend of early snowfall is the real concern for us. So final decision will be taken based on latest situation at Gangotri.

Break at Uttarkasi – yeah I understand it is going to be a stressful day (I went to Gangotri in 2006 and we stayed at UTK) well, I understand that we need a break but we would perefer one day off at Gangotri rather than UTK. Lets see if it is unavoidable we’ll give a break at UTK.

Photo opportunities – I am convinced. Ha ha ha….

Well....our journey was in the Winter of 2004 as u would have seen in my blog. I daresay that the route was pretty much challenging. There were couple of landslides (eash about 200/300 mtrs) and that vertical rockwall
with frozen iceslabs over and beneath before Bhojkharak. There are two land slide areas before Kedarkharak where u also have regular rockfall. There is this frightening rockfall of large boulders that happen all the time at Bhojkaharak camp but thankfully on the otherside of Kedarganga :-) Now that has been happening for well over a decade now.
Basically if you have info of snowfall...please be prepared. Do take an iceaxe

ashutosh69 · Jul 9th, 2008, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajeev Bora

Just got back from Garhwal and Kuaon after a month of vacation. Wanted y'all to know that I found the garhwali population to be extremely greedy and rude!
Be prepared to shell out at least 600 to 800 per day for a guide coz you are bongs and your accent will make the garhwali leeches to ask for abnoral rates. Besides you will not find any porters for less then 300 a day.

This time around also got to know what the rain gear is worth coz when it starts pouring you just wish that all you need is really there in your rucksack! Do bother about your boots in particular.

I am afraid I do not quite agree with this comment. And I do feel incensed enough to request applying logic before passing a loose remark against a populace.

I am not a Garhwali...In fact I come from same part of India as Bongs...and have seen Uttaranchal from very close quarters and have experienced its people in most trying conditions.

Way back in 1999 one was paying out 300/350 bucks to a good guide..may be 150/200 bucks to a porter. Today...after a decade if a qualified Guide charges 700 Whats the big deal? He is the one who actually saves your life at 17000 feet few days later!!

How much of income increase our people have seen in the same period? A porter, who carries your burden thru most difficult of circumstances ..sometimes in life threatening situations!.if he thinks he deserves a 100 rupee increase over a decade...is it too much to ask? These people earn larger part of their living during 5 months of a year....

Quite unfortunate...its like tolerating a cheating autowallah or taxiwallah for 50 bucks in the city and haggling for a Rickshawwallah and calling him names for 3 Rupees...

Yes...if the guide or the porter arent qualified enough....wanting to flow with the rates that other genuine guys ask for...there is a point

roy_supratim05 · Jul 9th, 2008, 12:32

I agree with Asutosh. Yah, it is right that now the guides and porters becoming more demanding, but price index also gone high enough. We are paying more & more buks for petrol, gas, auto, bus, taxi and also for foods & vegs in our own city. So if they ask for a bit higher, I don't find any rudeness. Normally mountain populations runs under very low level of price index. It is their season for income. If they are helping us to complete our treks successfully, they definitely deserves reasonable money. If we collect enough info. about the maps, locals, terreins, object, weather etc. about our route, we should differentiate between good and bad guides and then we could burgain on that basis.

ani rch · Jul 9th, 2008, 13:29

hi somnath what i find from you that most of the teammates is 1st timerin any trek so it will be very hard for them to cover topobon and gomukh in 1 day .so be prepared.then you should stay one day in topobon and visit neela tal. a beautyful high altitude lake.staying is important to feel the serinity of the place.you can consider decending in same day upto gongotri.
then you should stay one day in kedertal for the same reason. after all treking is not a painstaking activity only we do so much to see and feel the place.you can decend in 2 days.think about it and all the best.

ani rch · Jul 9th, 2008, 13:38

4-Oct-2008 Sat Howrah (rajdhani)-16.55pm
2 5-Oct-2008 Sun New Delhi 10.15am(arr) (8477-Utkal express)----14.00pm(dep) Haridwar—20.30pm(arr)
3 6-Oct-2008 Mon Haridwar Uttarkashi (To get the permission from DFO)
4 7-Oct-2008 Tue Uttarkashi Gangotri
5 8-Oct-2008 Wed Tue-Gangotri Bhojbasha(14 kms)
6 9-Oct-2008 Thu Bhojbasha Gomukh(4kms) Tapovan(4kms)
7 10-Oct-2008 Fri Tapovan -neela tal(3 km)-topobon
8 11-Oct-2008 Sat topobon-gomukh- Bhojbasha -Gangotri
9 12-Oct-2008 Sun Gangotri BhojKharak (8 KM)
10 13-Oct-2008 Mon BhojKharak Kedarkharak (4KM)
11 14-Oct-2008 Tue Kedarkharak kedartal (3kms)
12 15-Oct-2008 Wed Kedartal- Akhri bhujkharak(12 km)
13 16-Oct-2008 Thu Akhri bhujkharak- gongotri(8 KM)
14 17-Oct-2008 Fri Gangotri- hardwar
15 18-Oct-2008 Sat Haridwar(8478 Kalingantkal exp.)6.00am(dep) Delhi(H. Nizamiddim stn.)11.450am—(arr) Delhi (2330-W.B. smrpk Krnti exp)-19.05pm(dep)
16 19-Oct-2008 Sun Sealdah…(arrival—17.45pm)
you can consider this and in this way you will not violate your date schedule kolkata to kolkata

Bhaswaran · Jul 9th, 2008, 14:33

I agree Somi

. Visit Neeltaal. It is beautiful.

Jul 4th, 2008, 19:20	#16
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 278	Though you need feedback from any recent trekker, I want to share some useful links (I hope so ). Uttarkashi Govt. Site 1. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/ Regulation Notice about Gaumukh 2. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/Dept/tourism/goumukh.PDF Current DM Name and Phone Number 3. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/aboutDistt/dm_current.htm Guide Map 4. http://uttarkashi.nic.in/Dept/touris..._guide_map.JPG __________________ Supratim Please visit my Homepage

Jul 7th, 2008, 14:17	#20
somnath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 2,406	Hi, Let me update you about our status. Train ticket is booked – I cannot believe the rush ….. horrible !!!! Anyways our travel agent has done a good job. Shealdah to Delhi ticket was in waiting list so he reserved Sheladah > Gaya and then Gaya > Delhi. It costs 400/- more but reservation is confirm. Welcome to Indiamike, Urvashi (sounds like we are in same team – is it?). Could you please share your itinerary / planning with us. Friends, thank you once again for this precious info. We tried to contact Uttarkashi and came to know that they can arrange papers but we need to present in DFO office for the formalities. Well, we’ll definitely try to avoid a stay at Uttarkashi then. Avid, thank you once again for the estimation help. I was calculating like Rs.200/- per person per day which looks similar with you. Hmmmmm…….. now the next hurdle is return ticket. __________________ Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. My Travel Pix...1 My Travel Pix...2 My Travel Pix...3

Jul 7th, 2008, 14:50	#21
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 992	Dont worry Somi, the list of Puja Specials will be published in about a week. __________________ ....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........ http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496 Darjeeling trip Video : "Darjeeling - The Queen of Hills" DVD

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Jul 5th, 2008, 17:33	#19
travel joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 117	Very useful post indeed..Thanks a lot avidtrekker.

Jul 8th, 2008, 19:59	#23
somnath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 2,406	Bhaswaran, who is “Somi” ? anyways, yes Sir, Puja Spl. Trains will be announced soon. Hi Ashutosh, thank you so much for your feedback. And I think I’ve seen this wonderful write-up from a link in Orkut. Hey, you are there – rite? Ashutosh, I know someone who did the same but in the year 2004 when the route was not like this. Yeah I’ve seen those pix and according to that team only a few meters of rock fall area was the main problem. But I can understand from recent reports that it is now different (due to massive landslide and all…..). and this trend of early snowfall is the real concern for us. So final decision will be taken based on latest situation at Gangotri. Break at Uttarkasi – yeah I understand it is going to be a stressful day (I went to Gangotri in 2006 and we stayed at UTK) well, I understand that we need a break but we would perefer one day off at Gangotri rather than UTK. Lets see if it is unavoidable we’ll give a break at UTK. Photo opportunities – I am convinced. Ha ha ha….

Jul 8th, 2008, 23:08	#24
Rajeev Bora Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 34	Just got back from Garhwal and Kuaon after a month of vacation. Wanted y'all to know that I found the garhwali population to be extremely greedy and rude! Be prepared to shell out at least 600 to 800 per day for a guide coz you are bongs and your accent will make the garhwali leeches to ask for abnoral rates. Besides you will not find any porters for less then 300 a day. This time around also got to know what the rain gear is worth coz when it starts pouring you just wish that all you need is really there in your rucksack! Do bother about your boots in particular.

Jul 9th, 2008, 12:32	#27
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 278	I agree with Asutosh. Yah, it is right that now the guides and porters becoming more demanding, but price index also gone high enough. We are paying more & more buks for petrol, gas, auto, bus, taxi and also for foods & vegs in our own city. So if they ask for a bit higher, I don't find any rudeness. Normally mountain populations runs under very low level of price index. It is their season for income. If they are helping us to complete our treks successfully, they definitely deserves reasonable money. If we collect enough info. about the maps, locals, terreins, object, weather etc. about our route, we should differentiate between good and bad guides and then we could burgain on that basis.

Jul 9th, 2008, 13:29	#28
ani rch Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Bengal Posts: 61	hi somnath what i find from you that most of the teammates is 1st timerin any trek so it will be very hard for them to cover topobon and gomukh in 1 day .so be prepared.then you should stay one day in topobon and visit neela tal. a beautyful high altitude lake.staying is important to feel the serinity of the place.you can consider decending in same day upto gongotri. then you should stay one day in kedertal for the same reason. after all treking is not a painstaking activity only we do so much to see and feel the place.you can decend in 2 days.think about it and all the best.

Jul 9th, 2008, 13:38	#29
ani rch Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Bengal Posts: 61	4-Oct-2008 Sat Howrah (rajdhani)-16.55pm 2 5-Oct-2008 Sun New Delhi 10.15am(arr) (8477-Utkal express)----14.00pm(dep) Haridwar—20.30pm(arr) 3 6-Oct-2008 Mon Haridwar Uttarkashi (To get the permission from DFO) 4 7-Oct-2008 Tue Uttarkashi Gangotri 5 8-Oct-2008 Wed Tue-Gangotri Bhojbasha(14 kms) 6 9-Oct-2008 Thu Bhojbasha Gomukh(4kms) Tapovan(4kms) 7 10-Oct-2008 Fri Tapovan -neela tal(3 km)-topobon 8 11-Oct-2008 Sat topobon-gomukh- Bhojbasha -Gangotri 9 12-Oct-2008 Sun Gangotri BhojKharak (8 KM) 10 13-Oct-2008 Mon BhojKharak Kedarkharak (4KM) 11 14-Oct-2008 Tue Kedarkharak kedartal (3kms) 12 15-Oct-2008 Wed Kedartal- Akhri bhujkharak(12 km) 13 16-Oct-2008 Thu Akhri bhujkharak- gongotri(8 KM) 14 17-Oct-2008 Fri Gangotri- hardwar 15 18-Oct-2008 Sat Haridwar(8478 Kalingantkal exp.)6.00am(dep) Delhi(H. Nizamiddim stn.)11.450am—(arr) Delhi (2330-W.B. smrpk Krnti exp)-19.05pm(dep) 16 19-Oct-2008 Sun Sealdah…(arrival—17.45pm) you can consider this and in this way you will not violate your date schedule kolkata to kolkata

Jul 9th, 2008, 14:33	#30
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 992	I agree Somi . Visit Neeltaal. It is beautiful.

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