Trekking To Tapovan

jyotirmoy

Nandanvan is indeed a photographer's paradise. Plan to have a full moon night for sure. I found a polarising filter very helpful for shooting at these heights.
Sat taal is a wonderful trek go for it on your way back.

VSK Sharma

Hi,
If i am not mistaken nandan van is higher than Tapovan.
Also no babaji stays there. Does Shimla baba alows visitors to stay in his hut. Find out before planing to stay there. Any way two others are there, where one can stay.
Trek to Nandanvan from Tapovan may not be that easy as it seems and also you have to cross chaturangi glacier to reach Nandanvan.

arjunm

VSK Sharma is partly right. Nandanvan is couple of meters lower down than Tapovan. But in these terrains they hardly matter. From Tapovan you need to climb down, traverse the Gangotri glacier, cross the confluence of Chaturangi and Gangotri glacier, and climb up to Nandanvan. Bit of a work. And then there's upper Nandanvan to reckon with. That's another bit of hard climb that you hate doing. But worth every bit of it for the views and photo opps.

You will find other Baba's ashram in Tapovan too. But keep in mind the season. Off season, they vanish. When we went to Tapovan this year, Shimla baba too was on his way off.

Arjun

Bhaswaran

Now, can anyone give me any idea of accomodation and the tariff at Harsil? How can I book this. I know that a GMVN hotel is there.

And thanks a lot for the Nandanvan details.

Bhaswaran

VSK Sharma

Hi,
You are correct. Harsil has got the GNVN tourist bungalow. You can do the booking over the net visit their site gmvnl.com and you get all info. Get down at the other end where the Army area starts, since the TB is nearer from there. Also you may get to stay in the village, but for that you have to try after reaching. Anyway, its a lovely place to spend some time.
Bye

arjunm

VSK Sharma is right. You get GNVN accommodation in Harshil just like he's said. In addition there are some lovely what-would-you-call-them hotels/lodges/cottages in Harshil. You can bargain a double bed for Rs 300.

Arjun

Bhaswaran

are there other hotels/lodges apart from the GMVN one at Harsil? That would be great. SO, i think i do not need any advance booking.

please suggest

Bhaswaran

Balmandir

Hey there,

I just wanted to point out that going in September does not guarantee clear weather and views. I visit Tapovan in mid September, but spent 3 days in the shelter trying to keep dry as the rains dumped dumped all over the meadow. If its important to get great photos then I'd allow yourself as much time as you can manage at Tapovan, in case you need to wait for it to clear.

See attached photos of the shelter and meadow during the rains!

Cheers
S

Attached Thumbnails

         

Bhaswaran

i understand, weather in the himalayas is unpredictable. it is the character of the great mountains.

as a photographer, i always believe that you need cooperation from mother nature for your job.

anyways, end-sep and oct has better probability of clear weather than other times.

Bhaswaran

VSK Sharma

Hi,
You are correct. You have to just try. After noon its generally cloudy and mornings are clear unless it is bad weather. Winter months are clear and good for mountain photos. However, you have to take chance and thank the weather gods if you get good pics. All your photos I am seeing are really good and you must have put in good amount of effort. keep it up and keep posting lovely photos.

himadventures

Tapoban with gear is fine but it you are alone-you should be sure about your guide. Crossing a glacier should be taken seriously and usualy guides are senior porters or a porters itself.

Take care !

I think you should get clear weather but as AVID says...these days things r getting bit....

scott s

How is the drive to Gangotri from Uttarkashi? I've heard it is beautiful and terrifying. I like the "beautiful" and am not so sure about the "terrifying."

Any opinions?

I've done the Mussoorie Road to Tehri to Gauri Kund, so that is my reference point.

Thanks!

Scott S

Bhaswaran

Hi,

Now that is a great encouragement for me to see that my pictures are liked by my friends. I feel more enthusiastic to see more of mother nature through my lens.

thank you very much for the warm reply.

Bhaswaran

VSK Sharma

The road to GANGOTRI is a good one which takes you to 3000 meters. Nothing dangerous other than landslides during rainy season. Now days it is a bit damaged due to construction work of a higher road and takes nearly 05 hours to cover the 99 kms. How far you can travel now in Nov, I have no idea.