Yamunotri-Gangotri-Gomukh Trekking

Hi Friends ,

Me and 3 of my friends are planning for Yamunotri - Gangotri trip on 1st week of July and below is the day-wise plan devised by us ,Kindly comment whether below schedule is appropriate or not :

Day-1 :
Barkot (220kms/7hr)
Bus to Barkot from Rishikesh or Tehri via Dehradun & Mussoorie.
Then straight to our Hotel for night halt.

Day-2 :
Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot {36kms drive & 7kms Trek (one side)}

Morning leave for Janki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti & Fool Chatti. On arrival Janki Chatti start Trek of 06 kms for Yamunotri,
On Arrive Yamunotri Holi Dip in Garam Kund, than Pooja and Darshan of Shree Yamunotri Ji, after Darshan and Pooja,
afternoon start trek back to Janki Chatti on arrival Janki Chatti meet with driver and drive back to Barkot.

Hanuman Chatti : The confluence of Hanuman Ganga & Yamuna River.

Yamunotri Temple : Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again.

Surya Kund : There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into numerous pools.
The most important of these is Surya Kund.

Divya Shila : A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple

BARKOT - UTTARKASHI (DRIVE 82 KMS, 04 HRS)

Leave for Uttarkashi, a drive of 82 kms. Enroute visit Prakateshwar Cave,
on arrival Uttarkashi check in at the hotel evening visit Vishwnath Temple, Overnight stay at the hotel.

Uttarkashi : Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected.
The other important temples situated here are Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and Goddess Kuteti Devi.

DAY 03 :
UTTARKASHI - GANGOTRI - trek to CHIRBASA
(DFO) Uttarkashi -- The number 01374223693 is correct [Office opens at 9:00 AM]

You dont need to fax for permit, from uttarkashi market you need to ask for forest division office which somewhat 2 km away.
When you reach their office with ID proof, they would take 15 minutes to release the permit.

DAY 04 :
CHIRBASA - GOMUKH - CHIRBASA

DAY 05 :
Afternoon -- Back to UTTARKASHI.

DAY 06 :
Morning -- Back to DELHI.

Your comments will be very much useful to us as we are 1st time trekker.

Kindly note on Day-06 night we have office shifts.

As July is Monsoon season and chances of Landslides are high in these area so keep take care of that in your schedule.

Day 1 - My suggestion is that on day 1 itself try to reach Rannchatti, phool chatti or Janaki chati rather then staying at Barkot. Because your day 2 plan Barkot to Barkot is little tough to achieve. From Haridwar via kepty falls you can reach Janaki chatti by evening , if you start from Haridwar at 7.00 a.m.

You had miss one day as on day 3 you will reach Uttarkashi, visitg temples and stay at bank of Bhagirathi. and on day 4 UTTARKASHI - GANGOTRI - trek to CHIRBASA.

Hi ,

Thanks for the suggestion .

I have some questions ,

1. We plan for Barkot as we are not sure whether we will get any accomodation in Janki Chatti .Can we ???
2. Lets say we reach Janki Chatti on Day 1 , We are planning to reach Uttarkashi on Day 2 and reach CHIRBASA on Day 3 , Time crunch is there ... Can we make it ???

Your openion will be valuable to me on above aspects !!!!Thanks:-)

Dear Supal7,

Accomodation are available at Rannchati, Phoolchatti and Janaki chatti so do not worry about the same.
But your plan to reach Uttarkashi on day 2 seems impractical and please mind that it is rainy season so my advice not to rush. The only way it is achievable that you reach Janaki chatti / phool chatti on day 1 and on day 2 start early in the morning as reaching Yamunotri, Darshan and coming back take approx 6-7 hrs. so you will be back to Janaki chatti by 12 noon and then move to Uttarkashi.

Dear Supal,

Please note that in Uttarkahnd at lots of places driving is not allowed after 7.00 p.m. and there are barricades at various points so please keep that thing in your mind and trust your driver as they know better.

Hi friend ,

Thanks for your valuable inputs .

We are exactly planning what you just replied :
"you reach Janaki chatti / phool chatti on day 1 and on day 2 start early in the morning as reaching Yamunotri, Darshan and coming back take approx 6-7 hrs. so you will be back to Janaki chatti by 12 noon and then move to Uttarkashi."

Can you help me with the details of how to get to Utterkashi from Janki chatti ???
1)If by bus then what is the timing ?
2)If by car then from where can we hire one ?

Thanks again !!!!! :-)

Hi Supal,

Normally taxis are available from Haridwar or Rishikesh for these trips on per day basis. A sumo can be hired at approx 1800 per day basis or hire a indica at little cheaper rate. You may not find taxi at Janaki chatti. Also in your case time is constraint. I advice you to hire a car on per day basis from Haridwar to Haridwar. You have to bargain hard as it is normally a off season and also vehicle is idle for a day at Gangotri so you can get Indica / Sumo at reasonable rate on per day basis.
You can get idea of rate from Hardwar taxi stand ( 0133-2427738)

After seeing Yamunotri, try to get down upto Hanuman Chatti. From there you will get shared jeep - you may get it from Janki Chatti too - upto Barkot. From Barkot you will get plenty of shared jeep for Uttarkashi which are going via Dharasu Bend. If you are taking your own vehicle then it is not applicable.
spgupta1975 rightly said, on day one go upto Jankichatti and stay there. Plenty of hotels and GMVN are there as stay option.

Hi friends ,

Appreciate the advice .
Actually there is a possibility that I might go alone , and if thats the case then I want to cover only Gomukh,Tapovan,Nandanvan,Vasuk i Tal and Meru Glacier excluding yamunotri from schedule.
I have 6 days in hand.

Can U guys help me with the planning Day wise,whether I'll be able to cover above places???

Also if there is any risk of going alone at those places ?????

Note : on 7th day I have night shift so its not a problem if I return Delhi on 7th day until night.

Trekking alone in the month of July ( Rainy season) is not a good idea.
Your trek includes Vasuki Tal, How?? as it is not feasible. Vasuki Tal trekking is normally done from Kedarnath and it is 2-3 days trekking and any way you required guide as well as porter, which you can even hire from Uttarkashi.
Please chalk out your plan once again. If you are planning to go beyond Tapovan, please keep ice axer and other equipment along with you and moving alone is not at all advice. It is my advice that you shift in September even if in group as you may not get permit due to weather condition for trekking.

My advice for trekking is
Gangotri- Bhujwasa- Tapowan - Neel Taal - Bhujwasa- Gangotri.

This is what at most the best feasible in your case.

You can get the permit of same from Uttarkashi as well as from Gangotri.
The elevation for your reference at Tapovan is 4500 Mtr.

So if plan this trek reach directly to Gangotri and spend a night in Gangotri for acllimatisation.

Hi spgupta1985 ,

I have posted my plan in another new thread named "Tapovan - Nandanvan Trekking".
Can U plz go through that one once.

Also I am been accompanied by two of my friends.

Also there are few questions :
1)Can we get accomodation in Gangotri?
2)Should we hire guide and equipments like ice axer,etc from Gangotri or anywhere else?
3)Will there be any any permit issue for above places?

Thanks !!!!!

Yes there are accomodation available in Gangotri.

Yes you can hire guide cum portars from Gangotri. Long back ( 3years back) the charges were approx 300 per day.

Permit for Tapovan trek is issued from Uttarkashi as well as from Gangotri. Yes Forest division have reserve the right to issue permit, if they found that weather condition is not good they will not issue permit and Tapovan trek is risky as lots of stone fall on this trek.

@ SP Gupta dear sir there are two Vasuki Taal in himalaya one from gomukh side and another is kedarnath side. august is not a right time to visit these places until you are well equipped for hostile conditions.

Dear Eklavya,

Yes you are right regarding Vasuki Tal.

Regarding the 1st week of August visit, even I am not in favor of same and recommend September as right time for trek i.e. June is already passed.