Trip to Gangotri and Gaumukh

sks551

Hello friends:

We are planning to do this trip at the beginning of Oct this year.
Our plan is to arrive at Delhi and then either hire a car plus driver for the duration of this trip or to take a train journey to Haridwar and then hire a car and driver.
Can any one help me with this trip please? Do we really need a tour operator?

Although we were born and brought up in India but we have been out of the country for too long and need help planning this trip.

Can any one recommend and good reliable tour operator that might be able to help us on this matter. We are thinking to spend about two weeks in this area then head towards Kolkata to visit friends and family.

I am sure that others have done this trip; can some one give the literary please.
Thanks in advance

delhiwala

Dear sks551,

Welcome to IM.

Take a train journey to Haridwar and then hire a car from there. No need for a travel opeartor. However, due to environmental concerns, daily only 150 people are allowed on Gangotri-Gomukh trek. And you need to seek permission from Forest Office, Uttarkashi for this trip.

There are many threads on this topic. Please scroll to the bottom of the page you'll see many links, you may read some Chardham topics also...

__________________
Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

sks551

Thanks Delhiwala for your reply.
I have already read some of the older threads. I need to read the new ones.
In order to plan our journey could you give me some idea where we need to make our stops? Starting from Delhi, I suppose we need to make a stop at Haridwar. We don’t know the distance between various places and how long it might take by car.

In UK we can travel 250Km in less than 2.5 hours which is not a problem. However I have no idea as to how long I need to allow for travelling the same distance in that region.

delhiwala

In Uttarakhand Hills, you can't achieve more than 30-40 Kms. per hour.

If you start from Haridwar in the morning, break at Uttarkashi. You'll need to apply for Gomukh Trek permission here. Check Details Here

After securing your permission you may visit Gangotri and then to Gomukh.

sks551

Thanks,
How far in advance do I need to apply for this permission?
We are planning to visit during first week in October. Is there a form that I need to fill-in? Or do I need to write a begging letter and fax it to DFO’s office?
If they don’t reply then how do I know that they have received my application?

Paleface

Nah, just at the Forest Deptt. office at Kot Bangla, near Monal Guest House, you will probably get it for the next day (as you can't really arrive and then go up same day) when you reach in early October, being as the main Yatra onslaught is waning by then...... October is primo season!!

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Only a mediocre person is always at his best. Somerset Maugham.

sks551

I have produced my travel literary base on what other people have done in the past:

Day:1 Travel by car From Delhi to Haridwar to Rishikesh then over night stop at Rishikesh. (Can we do this in one day? Or do we need to make an overnight stop at Haridwar?)

Day:2 Travel by car From Rishikesh to Gangotri then over night stop at Gangotri

Day: 3 Trek from Gangotri to Bhijbasa - over night.

Day: 4 Trek from Bhijbasa – Gaumukh – Tapovan. Is there any accommodation at Tapovan? Or do we need to get back to Bhijbasa for overnight stop?

Day: 5 Trek back from Tapovan to Bhijbasa – overnight stop.

Day: 6 Bhijbasa to Gangotri – Overnight stop

Day: 7 Gangotri to Haridwar by car – Overnight stop

Day: 8 Haridwar – Delhi by car

We have allowed 10 to 15 days for the whole trip. Please recommend if my plan is feasible. I don’t mind adding extra days in the middle for rest and site seeing.

Paleface

Day:2 Travel by car From Rishikesh to Gangotri then over night stop at Gangotri - Well that might be pushing it, considering you need the permit.........

sks551

I was thinking about faxing our request for permit one week before our arrival at Gangotri.
Can we hire a guide and a porter at Gangotri?
Also; Is it possible to hire camping equipment at the same time as guides and porter?

delhiwala

Rishikesh-Gangotri in one day is not possible as your permit need to have name of porters/Guide also. The daily limit of 150 is all inclusive i.e. including Porters & Guides.

So, You'll have to stay at least a day at Uttarkashi.

Do you want to take a bath at Ganga at Haridwar ? If not why not cover some route uphill. You may think of staying at Chamba, there are 4-5 hotels there. One being a 3* also. From Chamba, Uttarkashi is only 90 KMs. so if you start early, you may reach even before the Forest Office opens. This way you have a chance of getting your permit same day. But you may get it by evening, so you'll have to stay at Uttarkashi, I don't see any other way.

Tapovan has only Ashrams for stay, you'll have to take tents. Better to stay at Bhojbasa.

Paleface

well that's about to change as it is clearly a ridiculous bureaucratic screw up - who can know the names of porters/guide 100 kms away from UK - the Hotel association has pointed this stupidity out and the new Sardar in charge of permits has acknowledged that making it easy for yatri's is in everybody's interest... permits should become reasonably immediate, of course early bird etc... One way to ensure help is to stay at Uttarkashi at Monal Guest house, 100 Mts from forest office and DFO et al is well known to the locals, so local help is always a benefit.

delhiwala

Good course correction. Infact they can make a system where they do not mention the names of the Porters and Guides and just mention their nos. along with the names of the trekkers. This way permit can be obtained by Fax also.

Of course nothing can beat local help !!

delhiwala

Right now It's raining in Kedarnath...

There has been snowfall also, but at upper reaches.

It's cold there, anybody visiting recently, go prepared for cold weather...

Paleface

Why not, even the Internet?? But you know too well our theory and their practised art of obfuscation is stopping us all moving forward - the hills burn.....

chhanda

As mentioned earlier we will reach Haridwar on 23rd may 2009. From there usual route Madmaheshwar.Any idea what will be the weather? What kind of clothing will be required? do we need layered clothing or winter clothing? Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.