Trek to Gaumukh - Tapovan - Nandanvan

Hello all,

We are a group of 5 people planning to trek to Gaumukh - tapovan - nandanvan in 1st week of september.

I have a few queries about this trek (for which I couldnt find any ready made answers in the forum)

1. One of us, is a 50 year old woman - The plan is that, she would come only till Gaumukh and then return back to Gangotri with a porter (while the others move onwards to Tapovan).
- Is this a good idea? (is it safe etc.?)

2. For a group of 4 going to Tapovan, how many porters are required? (each guy/girl would have a backpack)
- Would a porter double up as a cook?
- Which is the best place to hire a porter/guide?
- Would a guide take care of hiring the porters and securing food supply for Tapovan/Nandanvan?

3. Day 1, we would reach Uttarkashi from Haridwar in a cab. Should we move on to Gangotri the same day or is it possible to start early the next morning in Uttarkashi, go onto Gangotri and then on to Bhojbasa in the same day?
- Would we get cab from Haridwar to Gangotri (or only till Uttarkashi)?

4. THe trek from Tapovan to Nandanvan would be over ice (i presume) - would it require any special footwear?

5. Is it possible to do Tapovan - Nandanvan - Bhojbasa in the same day?

Thanks in advance for responses (and wish us luck and good weather )

--Avidtrek

At the outset, I was surprised to find Avid asking these questions until I relooked at the member's id.!!

Coming to your querries, I am sure you will get all the answers from those I-mike trekkers who had been to Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan-Nandanvan recently. My only suggestion is that get some acclimatisation at Uttarkashi/Gangotri for a day or two before trekking to Gaumukh-Tapovan-Nadanvan.

Happy trekking,

Sadanand

I too was as surprised to find Avid asking these questions...

till i saw the id a bit more closely



Poor fellow... someone please answer his thread while i unwind

Dear Avid Trek

I got a heart attack myself. I thought Avid had a fit or something. Can't you change your user id? Or create a new one? Anyway, to get back to your questions.

1. One of us, is a 50 year old woman - The plan is that, she would come only till Gaumukh and then return back to Gangotri with a porter (while the others move onwards to Tapovan).
- Is this a good idea? (is it safe etc.?)
Last year I travelled with a 50 plus woman myself -- she wasn't anything extraordinarily fit. They can trek up to Gaumukh but no further. Instead of turning her back at Gaumukh it would make sense to ask her to stay there in your tents while you make your assualt on Tapovan, get back to Gaumukh and then make another climb to Nandanvan. In case you are not camping, then staying at Bhojbasa in the ashrams (for the lady) is a good idea. Better than being holed up at Gangotri.

About safety: Yes, the route is pretty safe. So sending anyone back with a porter is no issue.

Tapovan, Nandanvan and Bhojbasa/Gaumukh is possible in a day, but you need to be quite fit.


2. For a group of 4 going to Tapovan, how many porters are required? (each guy/girl would have a backpack)
- Would a porter double up as a cook?
- Which is the best place to hire a porter/guide?
- Would a guide take care of hiring the porters and securing food supply for Tapovan/Nandanvan?
For a group of 4, two porters are enough. They will carry your food and tent gear. But again I repeat: Instead of staying at Tapovan think of coming back to Gaumukh and camp there. It is warmer and the reduced height helps a lot. Next day, move to Nandanvan.

Porters can double up as cooks, so no issues there. You could hire guides/porters in Gangotri. They are milling around everywhere and you can settle one within ½ hr. Just check to see if they have been on the route (number of times).

Guide will (and want to) take care of arranging porters and food stuff. They get a cut in this. Avoid this. First arrange your porters, then fix your guide and then buy provisions. Don't be lazy on this. If you need any help just shoot questions in this forum.

3. Day 1, we would reach Uttarkashi from Haridwar in a cab. Should we move on to Gangotri the same day or is it possible to start early the next morning in Uttarkashi, go onto Gangotri and then on to Bhojbasa in the same day?
- Would we get cab from Haridwar to Gangotri (or only till Uttarkashi)?You'll get cabs only till Uttarkashi (it is the permit thing).

It really is not possible to move to Gangotri the same day you get to Uttarkashi (technically yes, practically no). Start early the next morning (there is an early morning bus) and you are in Gangotri by afternoon. Have lunch, loitre about the place -- see the temple, flex your legs and rest overnight. Next day, quick march to Bhojbasa.

But because you have a 50 year old with you. My alternate suggestion: After lunch at Gangotri you can think of heading to Chirbasa and camping there. 8 kms -- 5 hours (for the lady). This may be your plan on the second day too if you are taking her with you.

When I went there last year, we started trekking from Gangotri at 8 am. I was hoping to reach Bhojbasa by 2.00. But the unthinkable happened. The lady got tired out and we were forced to camp at Chirbasa (where we reached only by 2.00). Good thing actually, because Chirbasa is a lovely camp spot.

4. THe trek from Tapovan to Nandanvan would be over ice (i presume) - would it require any special footwear
Not ice. Morains. You need a good shoe for any trekking. Something that has a good grip and if possible ankle support. Weinbrenner shoes available at Bata stores are good. They cost about Rs 1200.

Arjun

Thanks arjunm and others for the reply.

And sorry about my id - didnt really notice another member with similar id...

Just a few more questions -

Following arjunm's advice -
1. Can we start from Bhojbasa in the morning, go to Tapovan and come back to Gaumukh in the same day?
2. Would it be possible to start from Gaumukh in the morning, go to Nandanvan and come back to Bhojbasa in the same day?

Thanks

Yes, this is very much possible. Start early, say around 6.30 am and you can be back at Bhojbasa by 3.30-4.00 in the afternoon.


This is possible too, but it is a longer haul than Bhojbasa-Tapovan-Bhojbasa. Again, you need to start early and you can get back to B'basa by 5.00. The good news is that the route from Gaumukh to B'basa is relatively level and easy and even if you reach late you can do it under flash lights.


Arjun

Hello,
I am scheduled for gangotri-tapovan trek on 31Aug07. I have read indiamike threads but few queries remain.
1) what all means are available for travelling between uttarkashi-gangotri?
2)If possible earliest starting time and last starting time(to and fro)?
3)whats weather conditions right now and how will they be till next week(a rough idea)? <<accuweather.com predicts rain>>
thanks n regards
vivek

Dear Vivek

You get buses and Tata Sumos to travel to Gangotri from Uttarkashi. There are early morning buses (leaves at 5.15) to morning buses (leaves at 8.00) to mid morning buses (leaves at 10.30). The last noon bus is at 12.30.

Generally post noon buses are rare and they are usually coming back. It takes about 4½ hrs to get to Gangotri. My suggestion would be to take an early morning bus to enjoy the best view and the least crowd (the buses get quite crowded sometimes).

You can also take a Tata Sumo from Uttarkashi and they generally charge Rs 1500/- for a full Sumo.

At around this time you are sure to get rain one of the days of your travel (though not everyday). Carry a light rain coat with you. Also nights are cold. No probs if you are UK or Gangotri (the hotels supply 'Razai'. But on the trek you need a good sleeping bag. Take one on rent from NIM, Uttarkashi.

Arjun

Avid

All the best. I plan to go to Gaumukh myself in Sept 3rd week so would be nice to hear your experiences.

Hello Arjun,
Thanks for your response and the clarification. Now i have clarity of timing regarding my arrival and departure timings.
Thanks n Regards
Vivek

A little note for everyone

The bus timings that I have given in these posts are 'official'. But there is nothing official about them. You can always add or substract ½ hour to all of them.

In fact if you are a big group, you can commander your own bus service. Last year, 10 of us trekked in the Gangotri area. So we went to the bus stand and said why not lay out a bus just for us? Would you believe, they actually did! And picked up passengers on the way! Net result: we paid the regular bus fare, but travelled at our own convinient time. What would you call this -- Bus cum taxi?

Arjun

P.S. We were at the fag end of the season (October actually), so all this goofing about worked. I don't know if you can pull of such a stunt in September.

can we get a shuttle car at morning, around 6 am, from Uttarkashi to Gangotri?? How much will be the cost?? However, its a matter to get other passengers at that time to fill up the vehicle. Any idea / experience abt. that??

AvidTrekker ...... ha ha ha! ..... body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya, and a shadow everywhere (including on IM) ...

everybody should notice AvidTrekker's unique Avatar at first, the ID confusion should be reduced .

hi
planning to trek tapovan in end may this year. wish to camp 2 days in tapovan. suggestion regarding places where we can advance further from tapovan(day trip).