Gangotri Trekking
One of the sacred shrines of India, it is the source of the River
Ganga. Another attraction is the 18th century temple of the Goddess
Ganga, and a lingam in the water that can be seen in winter.
Gangotri
- Gaumukh - Tapovan - Nandanvan Trek
7 Day Trek
Altitude: 3048m-4500m
District: Uttarkashi
are Tourist Delight
Gangotri (3048m) lies in the northwest Himalayas of Garhwal, and is
one of the four dhams
(pilgrimage centres for Hindus, the other three being Yamunotri,
Badrinath and Kedarnath) of Garhwal.
The Bhairnoghati bridge built across one of the deepest gorges in the
world, connects Gangotri trek to the rest of the world across the
Bhagirathi River.
Gangotri trekking tours to the Gangotri temple is full of adventure.
The temple is an 18th century temple made of granite rock
at Gangotri that was built by Amar Singh Thapa, a gorkha commander,
and later rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur.
The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga who is believed to have
descended from heaven as a result of King Bhagirath’s
centuries-long penance, since the latter wanted the ashes of his dead
relatives to be washed away by the holy waters of the Goddess Ganga.
The current of the Ganga was so strong that Lord
Shiva (the Destroyer in the Hindi Holy Trinity of
Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) had to hold her flow in check by coiling
his matted locks around her. From then on, Shiva is also known as
Jatashankar (Jata means
hair in Hindi). There is a lingam
(the symbolic phallus of Shiva) in the water that can be seen in
winter. Gaumukh, or the cow’s mouth, (3892m), the source of
Bhagirathi River, is at a distance of 17km from Gangotri.
A 4km trek through the massive Gaumukh Glacier, takes you to the high
altitude plain, Tapovan, where King Bhagirath did penance. Tapovan is
the foothill of the mighty Shivling Peak (6543m), makes one of the
most desired trekking tours adventure in Gangotri, surrounded by
beautiful peaks in the world.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Drive 252km, with packed lunch,
from Rishikesh to Gangotri via Tehri and Uttarkashi along the
Bhagirathi River. Dinner and overnight stay at the GMVN rest house or
in tent. There are a few eating joints at Gangotri.
DAY 2: Breakfast and trek 14km, with
packed lunch, to Bhojbasa (3792m), a place full of birch trees, via
Chirbasa (3600m), the land of pine trees, 9km from Gangotri. The trek
takes you through one of the best landscapes in Garhwal. Dinner and
overnight stay at the GMVN rest house or in tent at Bhojbasa.
DAY 3: Breakfast and trek 10km with
packed lunch to Tapovan (4463m) via Gaumukh (3892m) where the
Bhagirathi River emerges from beneath the Gangotri Glacier. Tapovan is
a beautiful grassy meadow below the mighty Shivling peak (6543m), one
of the most beautiful peaks in the world, and is also known as the ‘Matterhorn
of the East’. Dinner and overnight stay in tent at Tapovan.
DAY 4: Breakfast and trek 8km, with
packed lunch, to Nandanvan (4500m) via the Gangotri Glacier. The
enchanting route offers some beautiful views of snow-capped peaks like
the Shivling (6543m), Mana Parbat (6758m), Satopanth (7084m),Vasuki
(6792m), the Bhagirathi trio (6556m), and many others. Dinner and
overnight stay in tent at Nandanvan.
DAY 5: Breakfast and trek 11km, with
packed lunch, to Bhojbasa via Gaumukh. Dinner and overnight stay at
the GMVN rest house or in tent at Bhojbasa.
DAY 6: Breakfast and trek 14km, with
packed lunch, to Gangotri. Dinner and overnight stay at the GMVN rest
house or in tent at Gangotri.
DAY 7: Breakfast and drive 252km to
Rishikesh.
Best Time for Treks: April
to June, and September to October. |
