GGaumukh is the second-largest glacier of India with 30 kms in length and 4 kms in width, first one being Siachen. The Himalayan peaks visible during this trek are Shivling, Sudarshan, Meru, Bhagirathi sisters, Kharchkund and more.The trail to Gaumukh is open for trekkers and pilgrims from May to October. Gangotri National Park remains closed during winters as it is prone to heavy snowfall.Visit the Gangotri Temple is a key attraction of this trek. It is one of the sacred Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Gangotri is the place from where Bhagirathi River descends. Situated at an altitude of 3,048mts above sea level, Gangotri acts as the base camp of the trek to Gaumukh Glacier.
Drive – 258kms, 10hrs
Uttarkashi is a major town of Uttarakhand. Buses and shared cabs are easily available from Dehradun and Rishikesh to reach Uttarkashi. You can board shared cabs to Uttarkashi from Rispana Pul in Dehradun. The drive to Uttarkashi takes 6hrs from both Dehradun & Rishikesh. The road from Dehradun passes through Mussoorie Bypass Road offering scenic views whereas the road from Rishikesh goes through Chamba Hill Station. The massive Tehri Dam Lake also comes into view as you proceed towards Chilyanisaur and uttarkashi
It takes another 4hrs from Uttarkashi to reach Gangotri via Harsil. If you start from Dehradun/Rishikesh at around 6 am then you will probably reach Uttarkashi by 12 Noon. Take another shared cab to Gangotri from Uttarkashi. Perform evening aarti at Gangotri Temple and obtain the permits to enter Gangotri National Park. Forest Permits are necessary to enter Gangotri National Park.
First thing in the morning, visit the sacred shrine of Goddess Ganga – Gangotri Temple. You can buy the necessary items from the market at Gangotri town. The trek starts from Gangotri itself. You need to show permits at Forest Check Post, 2kms from Gangotri. As you walk deep into the valley the vegetation also decreases. Continue trekking to reach Chirbasa, located 9kms from Gangotri. The route involves crossing small streams en route to Chirbasa.
Chirbasa makes a good campsite and it is also the last point where you’ll see good vegetation. You can camp here if there are any signs of AMS or if you are tired. Chirbasa is situated at an altitude of 3, 580mts above sea level. Bhojwasa is located 5kms ahead of Chirbasa. Bhagirathi Peaks are constantly visible during the trek. Bhojbasa is an open expanse of land in the valley, situated at an elevation of 3,800mts above sea level. There are few ashrams at Bhojwasa where pilgrims stay.
Since there is no village or melt at this elevation, finding a food stall or dhabas is not possible at Gaumukh. The only food you can have is the one you take with yourself on trekking. There are quite a few local restaurants and dhabas in Bhojbasa where one can savor North Indian vegetarian dishes and authentic Garhwali cuisine.
Trek down to Gaumukh Glacier. The snout of Gaumukh Glacier used to look like a cow’s face, but you won’t see any such resemblance now. This is the origin of the Holy Ganges. Further, trek down to reach Bhojbasa.
Trek down to Gangotri. It will take around 5-6hrs to reach Gangotri from Bhojwasa.
Gangotri – Uttarkashi – Dehradun/haridwar Drive – 258kms, 10hrs Drive back to Dehradun/Haridwar
Winter (November to April)
Winter (November to April) Weather is freezing cold with heavy snowfall. Gaumukh is closed during this period. Only pro-trekkers and mountaineers visit the area for various trekking expeditions near Gangotri.
Summer (May to June)
Summer (May to June) are cool and winters are very cold. Gaumukh Ttrek open during the start of summers. The weather is pleasant with observed maximum temperature around 25 degree Cent. and can get very cold at night. This is the best season for pilgrimage and sightseeing trips.
Monsoon (July to mid-September)
Monsoon (July to August) It makes difficult to reach the temple due to various landslides. Pilgrims are suggested to avoid travel during monsoon season. The best time to visit the holy city of Gangotri is from April to June and September to November. The temple is open from last week of April to second week of November.
