Tapovan trek around 15th May ?

amateurtrekker

Hi
Two of us (both 22 yrs old, male) are looking to trek to Tapovan. Both of us have NO trekking experience - although we are physically fit.

1) What is the weather like now ? Is it possible to trek to Tapovan in mid May (around 15 - 18) ?

2) Someone had said in an earlier thread that there is a baba in Tapovan in whose ashram one can stay and eat (for a donation.) Would this be possible in this period ? Or is it risky to assume that ?

3) Can we get equipment (GLOVES, sleeping bags, rucksacks, tent) from NIM, Uttarkashi ? I heard that they might have a course running at that time and in that case they do not rent out equipment. If no, does anyone have any contact in Uttarkashi who rents out equipment in a reliable fashion ? Can we also keep our bags in some locker there, since we will be transferring our clothes to rucksacks ?

4) Can we get a small stove in Uttarkashi ? and how do we manage without a pressure cooker ? (ie what utensil should we use to cook and where should we buy it ?)

5) Can we get a porter-cum-guide in Gangotri ? How to choose a reliable guide ? We do not know how to put up a tent...will all guides know to ? Will we be able to get rations (dal and chawal) in Gangotri ?

6) Can anyone please give information on Nandanvan ? Is it possible to do it now, after Tapovan ?

7) Are normal sports shoes enough ? (For Tapovan and Nandanvan) ?

Please reply asap..

thanks

roy_supratim05

1. Mid of May is good for trekking to Tapovan. Weather should be sunny and clear. You can find fresh snowfall, so be prepared for that.

2. There are lots of saints in Tapovan. I will prefer Bengali Amma. You can stay and eat there, but May is a month of trekker traffic. So if the saints den are full then you have to think about a different option. It is good to go with preperations.

3. NIM provides gears on rent, but this time they might run out of stock. So it is better to carry your rucksack on your own and for the rest of the gears contact in Bhandari's Hotel in Uttarkashi. They can arrange equipments for you. Every hotel in Uttarkashi or Gangotri provides cloak room system.

4. You can buy a kerosene stove from Uttarkshi or even from Gangotri. We bought it from Gangotri last time, costing 300. From Uttarkshi you can get it on lower rate. You can use saucepan with a upper cover instead of pressure cooker.

5. Yah, you can hire guide or porter from Gangotri. Rates - 300/400@Guide and 200/250@Porter. They knows how to pitch tent, still you confirm it from them before starting the trek for better assurance. You can buy each and every ration from Gangotri but on higher rates, vegitables might not be fresh. Still 90% trekker gets their ration from Gangotri and also we did it last time.

6. Nandanvan is good enough to visit. Sunrise over Shivling and Kedar Dome is a majestic view from Nandanvan. But a good experienced guide needed. You must find lots of snow in Nandanvan this time. Also no fixed source of water there. Be prepared for all these and as per my opinion visit Nandanvan, don't miss it.

7. Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! !!!!!!!!????????????? Don't mess with shoes. This is the most important gear in any trek. Try to buy Woodlands Hiking Boots (costs 1800-2200) or Bata Weinbrenner Hiking Boots (costs 1200-1800). These shoes have good grip on rocks and have good ankle support. Please don't under estimate or don't overlook this matter.

Happy Trekking

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Supratim

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Rajeev Bora

Please also make sure that permissions are all sorted out. I read a thread where someone says that govt is now regulating the trek to Tapovan. They are making you take medical tests and asking for a refundable deposit of 20k?? I think chits posted it!

Chits, can you please clarify if there's further info available as yet? Thanks!

chits007

@rajeev
what i have posted is for roopkund, but yes i read somewhere on orkut that because of casualties in october last year ...this 20K deposit is coming in picture , but this is only for kalindi khal trek , and not for tapovan and gomukh trek..

I havent been to that area so cant comment much on that but that region is a national park so some fee might be there.

I remember in Har ki Dun one has to pay fee ( Govind santuary) .

Rajeev Bora

I dont see it mentioned anywhere but the offices at Uttarkashi etc where you get permission to go to Tapovan, do they operate on saturdays/sundays? Coz if you arrive say on a saturday then are you stuck till the following monday? Would be wasting time!

Dilliwala

The DFO's office is a regular govt offfice - closed on Sundays, second Saturdays and public holidays.