Trekking in Gangotri & Surroundings

1. Do I have to carry any sort of medicine? --->
<Shyam> yes of course. You must be prepared with medicines for
fever, upset stomach,any accidental falls, cold, body/headache etc :-)

2 Is a sleeping bag (-5 to 0) fine there?
<Shyam> Assuming -5, You will encounter temperature shadily lesser than -5 (probably) near Kedartal.
for the nights you wish to stay there. Within a tent, you expect it will handle another say 3-4 degrees higher. If you
have enough warm cloths, that must be OK but barely. Rent it from Uttarkashi after enqiuring with Guide. Roughly it
will be of order of 25-35 Rs/day

3. Will i get snow there? -
<Shyam> For sure (guaranteed on Jogin/Thalaysagar Base Camp) but almost everything had snow when Tilak went
The height of all the three are in the range 15500-17500 feets.

4. Gangotri-Kedartal- Jogin/Thalaysagar base Camp/PatanganiDhar - which one among these three is the most scenic one?
Each is beautiful in its own way. Kedartal is roughly around 4900 meters. Enroute Kedartal during the ascend from Gnagotri you will find greenery. Moraine starts at Kedartal and it will be boulders. It boasts of fantastic views of Thalaysagar, Brihupanth, Jogin etc. Thalaysagar basecamp is roughly 5500M. Its gets a bit technical as well, so essentially its a close up the mighty peaks. Patangini Dhar is a detour from Kedarkharak to Rudugaira valley, and is 5000 M roughly sort of steep climp. Essentially there are two things here at Patangini Dhar, either return back from Patangini Dhar to Gangotri same way or Descend into Rudugaira Valley and explore this area and return through Nala base camp [it will take another 3 days extra approximate].

5. What kind of documents do i have to carry with me? (like Voter ID card)
No ID needed to Kedartal, but its good to carry Voter Id always. For example to rent a room in say Haridwar or Uttarkashi, you
will need some proof.

Itenerary from Tilak Soni

May 20: Uttarkashi to Gangotri, trek to Bhoj Kharak
May 21: Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Taal
May 22: Kedar Taal to Thalay sagar BC, back to Kedar Kharak
May 23: Kedar kharak - Patangini Dhar- Rudu Gaira Valley
May 24: Explore Gangotri Peak and Rudugaira Peak area
May 25: RuduGaira BC to RuduGaira Nala
May 26: RuduGaira Nala to Gangotri, shall try to reach Uttarkashi
May 27: Gangotri/uttarkashi to Rishikesh, further to delhi

** The Trek shall take one to altitude of 5500+ mtrs, so possessing proper fitness is prime concern.

Hi rsshyam77,

Thanks again foe helpful tips and information.I will certainly carry medicines and all..what is the costs 25-35 Rs/day on rent that I didn't understand.I own a sleeping bag(-5 to 0), will that be fine to spend a night outside the ten,say at Kedar Taal?

Your detailed description was excellent and it made me even more confused to choose any one among them. And a few questions like,

Can Kedar Taal and Jogin be covered( reach and back) in 7-8 days? How many days more for Thalaysagar basecamp? Can you please help me out chalking a route? I want:

1. Snow

2. Total duration of 7-8days from Uttarkashi to Uttarkashi back( trip can be extended for 2 more days but Snow is a must).

3. Greenery with flowers and lakes are more preferable en route.

Thanks in advance

Hi rsshyam77

Thanks a lot!

The itinerary certainly helped me figuring out the no.of days it would take to reach Kedar Taal and Thalay sagar BC. His trip took 7 days altogether and it covered places more than I expected.

I will definitely try to explore Rudu Gaira Valley, Gangotri Peak and Rudugaira Peak area if I can reach there in 4 days and come back to Uttarkashi in 4 more days and if guide and porter don't charge extra

I will try and follow this itinerary followed a few days back by Mr Tilak Soni as much as possible, Hope I'll be lucky like him to get snow all the way and some snowfall too on the way

If you had come across any guide at 500-600 per day during your trip please let me know. The cheaper the better. My itinerary will be determined upon the cost I'll have to spend for guide and porter per day.Hope you understand

Thanks in advance!

Hi rsshyam77,

I've made a rough itinerary by myself for the whole trekking route day by day. Please take a look.

Day 1: Uttarkashi to Gangotri, trek to Bhoj Kharak (11th June)
Day 2: Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Taal
Day 3: Kedar Taal to Thalay sagar BC

Day 4: Thalay sagar BC to Kedar Taal

Day 5: Kedar Tal to Bhoj Kharak

Day 6: Bhoj Kharak to Gangotri ( 16th June)

Does this look fine to you?
Do I have to make any change?
Will I get snow there?
What would be the approximate expenditure for 6 days as i will be traveling solo with one guide and one porter? I'm on a tight budget.
Is there anything else that I should carry?

I'll be very happy if you put some light on these queries, and hope with the blessing of Ganga Maa I can successfully cover the above-mentioned route.

Thanks in advance!

That is typical plan.

For 6 days it will be (max cap except guide/porter charges)
1) Rs.6000 (Assuming 600 for Guide and 400 for porters - last year rates)
2) Rs.1500 (Food)
3) Rs.900 (Tent for 6 days)
4) Rs.800 (Haridwar-Gangotri-Haridwar bus charges)
5) Rs.180 (Sleeping bag rent for 6 days)
6) Rs. X (Any incidental charges, commutation from Kolkota,
Stay at Haridwar/Dehradun, and Gangotri, food etc depend on you)

Fix a guide and call him for snow conditions. You will get a perfect picture, though my guess is, you will see in the Thalaysagar basecamp. Reach TilakSoni at nine eight one zero zero two five seven eight eight (your personal message sint enabled for me to send you)

Hi rsshyam77,

Thanks a lot for providing the list of expenditure.It really made my planning easier and clearer. It costs around 10k-11k(max) for 6 days of trekking which fits my budget well!

I got in touch with Mr.Tilak Soni but his quotation is a bit too much for me at the moment(almost double of the cost estimated by you).

Now I would ask for one and last favor from you. Do you have any contact no. of any guide in Uttarkashi or Gangotri who is dependable and can organize everything at the given cost.So that I can talk to him and fix everything from Kolkata itself.

Any other source,link for getting in touch with a guide will also be appreciated in case you don't have the contact detals of a specific guide.

Thanks in advance!

Hi sudwantstotread,

Sorry i dont know anyone based out of Uttarkashi, though if you search through a few threads on Kedartal/Audin col you can easily find one.

I did miss out on a few from a cost perspective, like crampons, gaiters rope
etc .. but it wont cost too much difference from my estimate.

If none are available, i can suggest Umed Singh Rana from Ransi for Kedartal but
1) He is a long way off from Gangotri (near Madmahesdar)
2) I am not sure if he has done Thalaysagar Basecamp.

Hi rsshyam77

It's fine if you can't help me regarding guide. So far It has been of great help from you. You came up with answers to almost all of my queries. If I can make the trip, I will always be grateful to you.

Hopefully in 3-4 days I will find contact details of guides based out of Uttarkashi or Gangotri and then can fix everything and proceed accordingly.

Thanks a million Mr Shyam, all credit goes to you!

Hi Everyone...

We are 6-7 person going for gangotri-gamukh-tapavan trek. Our itinerary as follow:-
1st day:- Boarding train from howrah.
2nd day:- Reaching Haridwar, Night stay at haridwar.
3rd day:- Boarding bus for Gangotri & night stay Gangorti.
4th day:- Start trek towards Bhojbasa. & night stay at Bhojbasa.
5th day:- Bhojbasa to Gaumakh. Back to Bhojbasa.
6th day:- Bhojbasa to Tapavan via Bhojbasa. And return back to Bhojbasa.
7th day:- Return to Gangotri Night stay.
8th day:- Return to Haridwar. Night Stay.
9th day:- Boarding train.
10th day:- Return back to Kolkata.

My question is...
1) Is our itinerary right?
2) Is it possible to go to gangotri from haridwar in one day?
3) From where we can hire guide?
4) Is tent necessary for this trek?
5) And last what is the rate of guide?

Thanks,
Sandipan.

Hi Sandipan,

Answers to your queries -

1. 6th day - I don't think it is possible to go to Tapovan from Bhojbasa and then come back to Bhojbasa in a single day. It is advisable that you stay at Tapovan for a night and then go back to Bhojbasa on the next day. Little bit of change on 6th day and on 2nd and 3rd day( discussed in detail in the 2nd point) will make your itinerary look perfect!

2. It is possible but it will be very hectic(8-10hrs journey by bus). It is advisable that You reach Uttarkashi on the 3rd day then make all the arrangements and stay. On 4th day early morning you can reach Gangotri in 1.5 hours and start trekking towards Bhojbasa on the same day.

3. The best place to hire a guide is Uttarkashi. There are plenty of trekking agencies so that you can bargain and cross check the prices in different shops and then finally settle the deal with one whose deal fits your budget well.

4. Yes, you have to rent tents( 150rs per day approx) because you won't get any accommodation at night beyond Bhojbasa. Thee are some ashrams in Tapovan but you never know they might be filled up and that would also cost you some extra money.

5. It largely depends upon your skill of bargaining . As far as I know about this years rate, it would cost you 600-800rs per day and you have to hire one porter per person that will cost you 400-600rs per day, excluding rent for sleeping bag( 25rs per day approx) and other equipments.

Finally a few words,

Since you guys are from my city and it seemed to me that you guys are nature lovers who want some adventure also. But personally I believe( and many other trekker like me) that the route to Kedar Tal is much more beautiful.The route you have chosen is very moraine but the route to Kedar Tal is full of greenery with flowers and lakes en route so naturally it's scenic look is much better.

An added advantage is the snow! My friend went till Kedar Tal on 23rd May and he found the entire lake is frozen!

My gut feeling says you can cover up Kedar Tal trip in less no. of days and so it will cost less also and there is no permit hassle for Kedar Tal trip but I think you need it for Tapovan if not till Gomukh.

When you guys are starting from Kolkata? I'm going to Kedar Tal in the middle of this month only.

If you have any further query, feel free to let me know.

If you guys change your route and want to join me, you are always welcome

Thanks.

Sudarshan

Nevertheless, its quite a difficult trek :-), please dont underestimat. Gaumukh-Tapovan trek is a stroll compared to the
Kedartal-Thalaysagar BC Trek

Thank you Sudarshan.... you have any guide's ph number?? Whom we can contact in advance???

Hi sudwantstotread

I had just come across these recent pics of Kedartal-ThalaysagarBasecamp-PatanginiDhar-Rudugaira Valley.
This is for your reference and careful consideration

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpmcgGC0Xc...0/DSC_0288.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2c8zhz-5B...0/DSC_0335.JPG
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMr7OOPTqA...0/_MG_0387.JPG (Top of Patangini Dhar)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sx6-s2Chd0...0/_MG_0382.JPG (Top of Patangini Dhar)
Enroute Kedartal http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qK4NL-wMAf...0/DSC01381.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--UtBisEOvV...0/_MG_0107.JPG

Hi rsshyam77,

Thanks again for your kind gesture! The pics that you have provided are awe-inspiring.

At the same time it helped me to have a clear idea of where actually I'm planning to reach and how hard I need to be prepared for that.

I will definitely try and reach Thalaysagar Base Camp if not any farther.

Thanks a lot for making me aware once again of the hard task ahead!