Trekking To Tapovan

Bhaswaran

hi

I want to trek to Tapovan in the Garhwal Himalayas and want to gather a few information. Can anyone give me the following information?

Is Tent, Sleeping bags, and guide-cum-porters available at Gangotri itself? What are the charges? (I do not want to stop at Uttarkashi en route, and hence wants to get them from Gangotri directly)

regards,

Bhaswaran

AvidTrekker

Which year and month are you planning to go?

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Bhaswaran

i am planning to go in this trip in september-october 2007.

will there be accomodation in the baba's ashram at tapovan if i did not bring any tent?

AvidTrekker

Sept yes. October don't kmow.

jyotipg will come along and answer your question... you could send him a PM too...

Bhaswaran

have you been to Tapovan? How is the trek route? tough? hazardous? very steep. Earlier, i have trekked to the Sandakfu (12000 feet) and Varsey (10000 feet).

How are the views? does september deliver a comparatively clear weather? please note that i want to go there for photography.

thanks for answering.

Bhaswaran

hawaiiyogagrl

Hi went to Tapovan last May (2005). From my understanding, the weather varies just as it does in other places. We had a great experience with the weather, at first delightfully clear and the views were stunning, then, suddenly it clouded over and dumped down several feet of snow. I live in a place where it never snows, so it was great to wake up to. (A bit sketchy to come back down it, but do-able) It was great, I hope to do the trip again soon- have fun!

AvidTrekker

If you have been to Varsey and Sandakfu, then you can go to Tapovan if you go at a comfortable pace.

Read this thread abt Tapovan.

Clear views in Sept end and Oct beginning. This year has been a freak weather year. It has snowed up there before October started. Global warming or what ?? Predictions may fail more regularly in these regions ....

travel joy

Generally late September and early October is good season for Tapovan.Things tend to get nasty after middle of October.

Guide & porters can be picked up from Gangotri but I don't think you will get good quality sleeping bags & tents there.Better collect them from Uttarkashi.U can find accomodations in the baba's ashram but I won't advice u to stay there if u are claustrophobic.
Don't have any doubts about the views, they are simply fantastic.Make sure that spend a whole day in Tapovan to visit all the spots near it.
As for the path; if u r a fit guy, no problems. The last part of the path is a rather steep climb through a scree slope, tough but not " hazardous".

VSK Sharma

Hi,
well Sep 2007 is far away. You don't need to plan that much for trek to Tapovan.
Look for the full moon day during sep / early oct.Plan to reach Tapovan that day and be ready for the photography. Pray for good weather.
Meet Swamiji of Ishavasyam Ashram at Gangotri and have a look at the photos taken by him.
Take porter cum guide from Gangotri. Should not cost you more that Rs.200. At the max Rs 250.
Carry heavy woollen since you can't enjoy the sleeping bag if you want to take good photos on a moon lite night.

Read and see the photos of the trek at himalayancamping.com.
VSK

Bhaswaran

Hi,

excellent and detailed response from you all and tons of thanks for all the essential information. actually, it is my habit of planning early. please keep on posting such information as that will of immense help to me.

Thanks a lot to you all again.

Bhaswaran

Bhaswaran

Hi,

i just visited www.himalayancamping.com it is very beautiful and informative, and have some lovely pictures.

keep it up

Bhaswaran

arjunm

Dear Bhaswaran

I just got back from Tapovan. I was there on October 19 this year. Let me tell you about everything that you wanted to know.

September is a good time to go. No doubt about it. The weather is exceptionally clear. From first week October things become dicey. You could bump into bad weather anytime. We were lucky, we didn't get any, but we missed bad weather by a few hours. Just as we got to Gaumukh things turned bad and it began to snow (not much). Next day, when we hit Gangotri, there was knee deep snow in Bhojwasa.

So don't take too much chances. Upto September end, you will get good weather. Now, for a few more details. Folks pack up and leave two days before Diwali. As we were moving towards Gaumukh, all the tea houses were open. When we were getting back, everyone (I repeat everyone) had left. In a span of 4 days the whole area had shut down. This can be a problem if you an emergency. Even Shimla baba of Tapovan was packing off (he came down a few hours after we did).

We had a big problem getting back to Uttarkashi because there wasn't any transport. Even Gangotri had shut down. So keep Diwali in mind.

About tents and sleeping bags. Most trekking agencies stock them. We picked our tents from our guides, and sleeping bags and jackets (feather) from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. They were in good condition. Don't think of picking guides from Gangotri. You lose the bargaining power. For phone number of a good guide contact Shambhu Rawat 09359955146. Haggle as hell.

Guides cost Rs 350 - Rs 400 per day. Porters Rs 180 - Rs 200. If your guide says you need 6 porters, take 4.

The trek to Tapovan is not that challenging. If you have done Sandakphu, then Tapovan is not an issue. The real climb is only for about 2 hours and does not bother much. Yes, you huff and puff a bit, but that's all.

Let me caution you here. Altitude sickness could be an issue. As also unfit trek members. We had 8 ladies with us and only 5 could come up to Tapovan. If you are unfit, even going upto Gaumukh could be an issue (as we found out).

Finally, if you are going to Tapovan, trundle upto Nandanvan as well. It is the other side of the glacier and gives you deadly views of Shivling, Bhagirathi sisters, Kedar dome. If you are a photo enthusiast, then you can't miss this.

Write me if you need any help.

Arjun

jyotipg

Hey Arjun,

Nice to know that you completed the trek and missed the snowfall by a whisker. Down here in the plains when I heard of snowfall in Gangotri, I was thinking of you.

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Bhaswaran

Hi Arjun,

that was excellent information. thank you so much for helping me with those vital issues. I will try end-September 2007, then I think I can get clear views as well as can slip the Diwali.

Have you stopped at Harsil on way? I heard it is a beautiful valley and photographically rewarding. I am also planning to stop there.

Compared to Tapovan, how tough is Nandanban? Many goes to Tapovan but I found few to Nandanban.

I do not want to take a tent as I heard of Baba's accomodation facility at Tapovan. Is this right?

Thank you once again.

Bhaswaran

arjunm

Dear Bhaswaran

First let me tell you about Nandanvan and then Harshil.

You need to get a good idea of the geography of that place. Imagine the Gaumukh (Gangotri) glacier in front of you. Then Tapovan (the route marked in red) is to your right. Nandanvan (the routhe marked in yellow) is to your left and ends just below the Bhagirathi sisters that you can see in the background.

From Gaumukh Tapovan is not more than 3-4 kms (it is more the height). And from Gaumukh Nandanvan is about 6 kms. The terrain is more or less the same, as well as the altitude (in fact Nandanvan is lower down than Tapovan). From Tapovan you need to come down to the glacier and then cross it to reach Nandanvan on the other side. So it is not a difficult walk. From Nandanvan you can come down directly to Gaumukh. Gaumukh - Tapovan - Nandanvan form points of a triangle.

One alternative you can think of is this: Camp at Gaumukh. Go upto Tapovan and come back the same day. Next day go upto Nandanvan and come back to Gaumukh.

Alterantively, camp at Tapovan, go to Nandanvan and get back to Gaumukh (the usual option). If you are a photo enthusiast, don't miss Nandanvan. However, if you are more into variety in trekking then Nandanvan and Tapovan do not have much difference in Topography.

If you are staying single or double, then staying with Bhaba at Tapovan is not an issue (his is a small hut, so don't think it is some kind of a mega ashram). However, more people, then carry your own tent. I don't know why you are not thinink of staying in tents. They give you greater flexibility and lower costs.

Now to Harshil. Not much to say, it is a beautiful place. However, there is an even better option. 3 kms ahead of Harshil (Gangotri -- Uttarkashi direction), there's a place called Dharali. From Dharali you can do a lovely trek through pines to Sat taal. The taal isn't anything great (more of a tank), but the trek through the pines is as good as it gets. It is lovely from the word go. From Dharali you can go to Sat taal (and a temple beyond) and get back on the same day. You can also carry on further and get down at Harshil. In Dharali you get good places to stay, so not an issue (cheap too).


Arjun


Jyoti, guess what? Back at Gangotri I was thinking of you as well! I should have listened to you and gone there a week ahead. But you know how it is with managing chutti...

Arjun

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