Gaumukh Trek from Gangotri – A Complete Travel Guide

by Vargis.Khan

In this post, I will provide a detailed description of Gaumukh Trek which is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Gangotri. In fact, it is this 18 kilometers long trail to Gaumukh that attracts 90% of the tourists here. There are majorly two kinds of people that visit Gangotri; either the devotees or the adventure enthusiasts. For both of them, walking to Gaumukh and tracing River Ganges back to its origin is one of the biggest parts of a trip to Gangotri.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Gangotri –  A Complete Travel Guide

For a brief introduction, Gaumukh, also known as “Gomukh” or “Gomukhi” is the source of the Bhagirathi River. It is the point where Bhagirathi originates out of the Gangotri glacier (picture below) and then flows downhill to be later called River Ganga. It is situated about 18 kilometers from Gangotri and at an altitude of 13,200 ft (4,023 meters).

The motorable road ends at Gangotri and the final distance to Gaumukh can only be covered by foot. Due to its religious importance, it is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site; and due to the trek being neither too difficult nor too easy, it is also a much sought-after trekking destination. The word “Gomukh/Gaumukh” literally means “Mouth of a Cow.”

It is said that the snout of the Gangotri glacier where Bhagirathi comes out from looked exactly like the “Mouth of a Cow” in old times and hence the name.

Image: Barry SilverGaumukh Trek from Gangotri

Gaumukh Trek

Please note that this article only covers the part about trekking to Gaumukh after you have arrived in Gangotri. The information below will tell you how you can plan your trek, what permits are needed and, some of the things you should keep in mind. If you, however, would also like to know the details on how to reach Gangotri then please read the previous part of this post, Gangotri Travel Guide.

Best time to visit Gaumukh

The best time to trek Gaumukh would be from Mid April to June and then again from September to early November. Gangotri remains closed from late November to March so a visit in these months is not possible at all.

The risk of rain would make the trek and journey tough to execute in July and August. This is also the time when it gets a little crowded in Gangotri with the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. Hence it only leaves the months of spring (April), summer (May and June), and autumn (October) to trek to Gaumukh.

Gaumukh Trek Permit

A permit is required for a person to be able to trek to Gaumukh. This permit can be obtained from either District Forest Officer in Uttarkashi or at the forest office in Gangotri. There is a daily limit of 150 permits per day and it is issued on a first-come-first-served basis.

Also Read: When is the Best time to visit Gangotri

How to get Gaumukh Trek Permit

The first place to get the permit would be at the DM office Uttarkashi. You will anyways cross Uttarkashi while going towards Gangotri so you can actually get the permit while on the way. The DFO office is located at the northern end of the road just ahead of the bus stand. It is a government office open on all working days during normal working hours.

Getting a permit from here is quite simple really. You just fill out your name and address on a form; attached your government-issued Identity proofs like Aadhar Card, PAN Card, or Voter’s ID; and pay a fee of Rs. 150 per person.

If you did not get the permit at Uttarkashi for some reason, you can obtain it in Gangotri as well. It is issued at the forest office which is located just as you enter Gangotri to your left. Charges and procedures will remain the same but the problem is that this office is only open from 8.00 am to 10.00 am, and then 5 pm to 7 pm.

On the brighter side, this office remains open on all days including Sundays as well which the office in Uttarkashi is not.

Gaumukh Trek from Gangotri

Gaumukh Trek Permit Cost

The cost of the permit is Rs. 150 per person for Indian citizens and Rs. 600 per person for foreign nationals.

Gaumukh Permit Duration

The permit for Gaumukh is valid only for 2 days. So, for example, if you started from Gangotri on Monday, you must return by Tuesday evening. The duration is extended if you plan to trek to Tapovan as well.

Gaumukh Trek Permit Online

Thankfully, permits for the Gaumukh trek can be obtained online. You will need to visit the official page for the Online application for Gangotri National Park permission and fill in your details. You will also be asked to upload required Identity proofs on this page. After you submit the application, you will receive an email confirming that your permit was approved, provided that you are able to produce original documents at the office.

Take a printout of this email and show it at either the DFO office in Uttarkashi or at the forest office in Gangotri along with your original documents to collect your permit. Payment for the permits can either be made while you were submitting the online application, or you can pay in cash when you show the permit later at either in Uttarkashi or Gangotri.

The DFO office in Uttarkashi remains closed on Saturday and Sunday so please plan your journey accordingly. On the online application form, it will ask you to select a Tour Operator towards the bottom of the page but that is not a mandatory field. If you are visiting between May to November, then you can leave this field blank.

If you were, however, visiting in April before the temple doors were open, then you would have to select a local tour operator on this page.

Also Read: What to See in Gangotri and Things to Do

Gaumukh Trek Details

Now that you have obtained the permit, let me provide a brief summary of how your trek is going to look like. There are four major points on the route; Gangotri, Chirbasa, Bhojbasa, and Gaumukh. The route will look something like this.

Gangotri – (9 kms) – Chirbasa – (5 kms) – Bhojbasa – (4 kms) – Gaumukh = 18 Kms

The difficulty level of the trek can be called moderate but it does get a bit challenging and steep at some points. The stretch between Gangotri to Chirbasa is a little easy but the challenging nature of the trek starts to come more into the picture as you proceed further.

Gangotri really is a small town and finding the starting point of the Gaumukh trek won’t be a difficult task. Ask any of the locals and anyone can point you in the right direction. But as a reference, the trek begins from around 100 meters behind the Gangotri temple. One has to climb a steep stairway in order to reach the starting point of the trek.

The first couple of kilometers is really an easy walk and you will arrive at the check post. Entry to trekkers and visitors is only allowed after 6 AM so my advice would be to start as early as possible from Gangotri. If you started by 5 in the morning, you will be at the check post by 6 and can be on your way to Gaumukh as soon as the entry opens.

Gaumukh Trek from Gangotri

Plastic Covers Fee

At the check post before the start of the trek, you will be asked to show your permits as well as all the plastic bags that you were carrying. All your chips packets, chocolate covers, Biscuit packets, polythene bags will be counted and you will be asked to deposit a certain amount.

When you return, this fee will be refunded only if the count of plastic covers that you are carrying matched the one from the morning; meaning that you brought all the plastic covers back and did not leave anything behind. If the count did not match, this amount will be forfeited.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Roadways Bus Time Table

Gangotri to Chirbasa

You will be required to produce your permits at the checkpoint, as well as the original Identity proofs. You will make the payment if you did not already do so while procuring the permits online or at Uttarkashi. Your bags will then be checked for how many plastic items you were carrying and all of them will be counted. You will then make a deposit against your plastic items and will then be allowed to enter.

The entire trail is to Gaumukh is well marked and you will have no trouble navigating your way. It will continue to gradually increase its gradient but will not be too challenging to handle.

The name Chirbasa literally means “the abode of Pine trees” and it is named such because there are a lot of pine trees around here. In fact, you will be able to recognize the place by the huge cluster of pine trees. It is located at a distance of 9 kilometers from Gangotri and for this entire length; you will pretty much be on your own.

There will not be any Dhabas, shops, tea stalls, or anything of that sort in between. Hence it is extremely important that you bring something to munch on along the trek. Also, ensure that you are carrying a water bottle that you can fill in from any of the water streams en route.

Trekking from Gangotri to Chirbasa will take you about 4 to 5 hours. If you were at the check post by 6 and started as soon as the entry was allowed, you should be able to reach Chirbasa before 10 AM. There is a small Dhaba here where you can take a short break and restock your energy levels.

Gaumukh Trek from Gangotri

Chirbasa to Bhojbasa

Chirbasa is known to be the last place where you will see some vegetation on the trek. After this point, trees mostly just vanish and the landscape seems to look like a barren wasteland. The next stop on the trail will be Bhojbasa and until then, you will again be on your own. There will not be any dhabas or tea stalls anymore so do not forget to fill your water bottle and get something to eat on the way if you weren’t carrying anything.

Bhojbasa is located at a distance of about 5 kilometers from Chirbasa and it will easily take you 2 to 3 hours to complete. The ascent in the trail will be quite the same as between Gangotri and Chirbasa and it will be an easy to moderate walk. The vegetation too will continue to get lesser with each passing kilometer as you get closer to Gangotri Glacier.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila

Bhojbasa

Located at an altitude of 3800meters (12,450 feet), Bhojbasa serves as a stopover for people trekking to Gangotri or even further to Tapovan. It is really not much except for a huge ground-like area in the middle of nowhere and a couple of buildings in it.

By now, you would already have walked 14 kilometers since you started from Gangotri in the morning. Accommodation at Bhojbasa is available in form of Ashrams and a GMVN guest house, and both are very basic dormitory type accommodation.

Below is a picture of Bhojbasa.

bhojbasa

After you reach Bhojbasa, you have two options. You can either break the journey for the day and trek to Gaumukh the next morning. Or you can continue all the way to Gaumukh, come back and stay at Bhojbasa for the night and return to Gangotri the next day. Since the duration of the Gaumukh permit is only two days, you will have to return to Gangotri the next day anyway.

My recommendation is that you do not go to Gaumukh on the very first day and do it the next morning. The reason behind this is that Gaumukh is another 4 kilometers from Bhojbasa and this is where the trek becomes challenging as well. If you continue to Gaumukh, you will be in a hurry to reach and come back to Bhojbasa before dark. This will also not give you any time to spend at the glacier. Hence it would be better to stay at Bhojbasa for the night and start trekking to the glacier the next morning.

If you were carrying your own camping gear, then Bhojbasa is the place where you will pitch your tent for the night. Camping is not allowed by law anywhere after Bhojbasa.

Bhojbasa to Gaumukh

The trek will get a bit challenging after Bhojbasa. It will be steep and there will be boulders as well on the way that you will have to jump over.  The trail starts from behind the GMVN rest house but you can ask anyone here if you weren’t able to spot it.

The path however will still remain well marked; and easy to spot and navigate. Make sure that you are filling your water bottle in the morning before you start and also are bringing in items to munch on. Finding drinkable water after Bhojbasa will be a tough task so bringing water along will be of utmost importance.

Up until now, Bhagirathi would have stayed on your right all along the trek.  About a kilometer after Bhojbasa, you will get your clear view of Shivling peak, Bhagirathi group of peaks, and Gangotri Glacier. Take a moment, relax, and savor the view while relaxing.

The trek after this point will continue to get even more challenging with numerous boulders on the trek so please walk very carefully. One wrong step here can leave you with a twisted ankle or even tumbling down into the river.

boulders on the trek

The trail on the other side of the river however is much easier but it would mean that you would have to cross the water stream. If you find a spot where you can, jump on the other side of the river (the river would then be on your left after crossing).

Make sure you do not get your shoes wet in the process because that will become a huge problem. Trekking in such cold weather with wet shoes will not be a pleasant experience.

Gangotri Glacier and Gaumukh

After a grueling final 4 kilometers of a trek, you will finally arrive at Gangotri Glacier and Gaumukh. From Bhojbasa, it will easily take about 3 hours to get here.

Spend some time, take pictures, and then head back to Bhojbasa for the night if you trekked all the way to the glacier on Day 1 itself. If you came here on Day 2 after a night’s stay at Bhojbasa, then it is time for you to head back to Gangotri.

Also Read: Easy Treks in Uttarakhand: The Top 5

Mobile Connectivity at Gaumukh

There is no mobile connectivity at all at Gaumukh. Airtel and BSNL will work fine in Gangotri but the signals will be all gone about a kilometer into the trek.

neeraj vayu

Accommodation on Gangotri Gaumukh Trek

The only accommodation on the trail is available at Bhojbasa and nowhere else. Depending on your own preference, you can either stay at the Ashram or GMVN rest house.  These are both dormitory-type accommodations. Hot water will be provided and only vegetarian food is served here.

If you want to, you can even book the GMVN Guesthouse by calling 0135-2740896, 2749308, 2748478; or by emailing at [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also book it online at the GMVN Website. Just create a user ID on this site and book your stay. The two Ashrams at Bhojbasa are known as Ram Baba Ashram and Lal Baba Ashram.

Accommodation Cost at Bhojbasa

The Ashram here will charge you Rs. 300 per person and the GMVN Guest House will charge Rs. 350 per person.

Also Read: List of Necessary Items to Carry for Trekking

Acute Mountain Sickness

If you start to feel symptoms of altitude sickness anywhere on the trek, please do not climb up and further and return to Gangotri immediately. For example, if you start to feel feverish, have headaches, nausea, chest pain, having difficulty breathing, then it means you are suffering from AMS and any further gain in altitude will only make things worse. Stop and climb down immediately.

gomukh trek

Other Tips

Mentioned below are a few other tips that can be of help while trekking to Gangotri.

  • Any sports shoe will be fine for completing this trek but if possible, do bring a pair of trekking shoes with good grip and ankle length.
  • You must bring a light jacket even if you were trekking in the months of May and June. The wind out here is a bit cold and the weather can change unpredictably.
  • Permits for Gomukh can be procured via Fax as well.
  • After 3 kilometers from Chirbasa, you will come across “Gila Pahar”, a place well known to be dangerous because of landslides.
  • You will also come across Bharals, a type of mountain antelope while trekking to Gangotri.
  • The route after Bhojbasa can be a little difficult for some people, and even more so after the 2013 floods.
  • You should avoid trekking in the monsoon season. Rains can make the route slippery and this region is prone to landslides, cloudbursts, and roadblocks.
  • Please do not attempt the trek alone. Be in a group of at least two people. Also inform, your folks before you start on the trek.
  • Please carry ample dry fruits, chocolates, snacks, and drinking water.
  • Do not consume alcohol or any other intoxicants during the trek.
  • Do not attempt trekking at night.
  • Before undertaking the trek, it would be better to consult your doctor.
  • You should carry basic medications (for fever, headache, upset stomach, body-ache) and a first-aid kit during the trek.
  • Please be a sensible tourist and do not litter. If you brought polythene bags along, please ensure that you are bringing those back and not throwing them carelessly.

Also Read: 7 Short & Easy Winter Treks in Uttarakhand

Things To Carry for the Trek

  • Comfortable clothes. You do not want to go trekking in tight-fitting jeans.
  • Good quality trekking shoes
  • Sunscreen lotion of highest SPF that you can find
  • Skin moisturizers
  • Water bottles
  • Energy bars/snacks/Dry Fruits
  • Pair of sunglasses
  • Cap or hat
  • Personal toiletries and basic medication (if any)
  • Flashlight (with spare batteries)
  • Insect repellent and emergency medical kit

gomukh trek

Gaumukh Temperature

The average temperature at Gomukh and on the trek remains around 15°C to 16°C during summer; and around 5°C to 6°C during the months of September, October, and November. It snows heavily in December, January, and March here with temperatures way below zero degrees making the area inaccessible.

Gaumukh Height

Gaumukh is located at an altitude of 13,200 ft.

Gangotri to Gaumukh Distance

The total distance between Gangotri to Gaumukh is 18 kilometers.

Gangotri to Gaumukh by Pony

Horses and ponies are not allowed on the Gaumukh trail and you must complete the journey on foot only

Also Read: 12 Scenic and Offbeat Places in Uttarakhand

Gaumukh Trek Difficulty

The difficulty level of the Gaumukh trek is moderate to difficult.

gomukh

Gaumukh Trek Itinerary

Starting from Delhi, you can follow the following itinerary for a trip to Gangotri and Gaumukh. I am assuming Delhi as the starting point here but even if you were coming from a different city, only the journey to and from Delhi will be different. The trek details from Gangotri will still remain applicable.

  • Delhi to Rishikesh / Chamba – Day 1
  • Rishikesh Chamba to Gangotri – Day 2
  • Gangotri to Chirbasa to Bhojbasa – Day 3
  • Bhojbasa to Gomukh to  Bhojbasa to Chirbasa to Gangotri – Day 4
  • Gangotri to Rishikesh = Day 5
  • Rishikesh to Delhi – Day 6

Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

If you had some more time in hand, then you can extend your trek further to Tapovan. Please note though that for Tapovan, you will need to hire a local guide and arrange for your permits accordingly. Tapovan trek cannot and must not be attempted on your own without proper guidance.

  • Delhi to Rishikesh – Day 1
  • Rishikesh to Gangotri – Day 2
  • Gangotri to Bhojbasa – Day 3
  • Bhojbasa to Gomukh to Tapovan – Day 4
  • Tapovan to Bhojbasa – Day 5
  • Bhojwassa to Gangotri – Day 6
  • Gangotri to Rishikesh – Day 7
  • Rishikesh to Delhi – Day 8

Conclusion

That pretty much is all that you need to know about trekking making a trip to Gangotri and then trekking to Gaumukh. I hope the information above was of help. If you have any questions; or need any other details; please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum, and I will be glad to answer.

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66 comments

Amichai May 31, 2023 - 6:23 am

Hi Vargis Bhai, thank you so much for this great info.
I’m thinking about doing this trek at mid July (2023) – do you think it’s reasonable (regarding weather)?
Thanks

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 31, 2023 - 6:58 am

It is not advised to attempt the trek in July due to the monsoon season bhai … May, June are better

Reply
Amichai May 31, 2023 - 10:43 am

Thanks Vargis for your reply. Do you have any other 5-7 day trek in India recommended for July? my starting point is Delhi (finishing a business trip there). Thanks!

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 1, 2023 - 7:38 am

Sorry Amichai … I am not intro trekking that much, have only done a handful

Reply
Amal Chandra kalita August 10, 2023 - 1:07 pm

Hi I am AMAL,
Planning to track in this month on 31st August, 2023 to Goumukh to Tapovan. How can I get a Guide. Please suggest me.

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Nabanita saha April 10, 2023 - 5:09 am

I want go Gomukh 24th to 28 th May . I am solo travelling. Please let me know is there any package for me.

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Nabanita saha April 10, 2023 - 5:13 am

I didn’t get permission without any travel agent to go Gomukh. How to get permission to go Gomukh? Please guide me

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Swagat Roy March 4, 2023 - 6:23 pm

Hi Vargis Bhai,

If i hire a guide to go to tapovan, what do you think should be his charges per day. I plan to go solo with the guide. I am fit enough to reach bhojbasa on the first day and stay at tapovan the 2nd day and on third day back to gangotri. May be a day can be added if i go to nandanvan depending on weather.

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Nandita Shee Deb December 28, 2022 - 4:01 am

Hi, we are planning to trek to gomukh in mid May 2023 with our 2 kids, aged 8 and 5 year olds.
Are kids of this age permitted?
Is it advisable to travel with kids of this age?

Reply
Vargis.Khan January 2, 2023 - 7:57 am

I will not advise bringing a 5 year old on the trek

Reply
Nandita Shee Deb January 4, 2023 - 7:33 am

Thank you.

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SHANKAR MAHADEVAN April 15, 2023 - 2:07 pm

I am 72 with no medical issues. Can I go for Gaumukh treking . Already have trek experience

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Pulkit August 2, 2022 - 9:58 pm

Hi,

Are horses available on this route for elderly or Palkis?

Reply
Shipra Paul July 8, 2022 - 10:22 am

Hello Vargis,

First of all really appreciated for such a nice description. It’s really very much informative and helpful.
I wish to go Gaumukh trek as a beginner. So for a beginner what would be your advise and how to prepare for this trek .
Your valuable advise would be appreciable.

Reply
Shipra Paul July 8, 2022 - 10:20 am

Hello Vargis,

First of all really appreciated for such a nice description. It’s really very much informative and helpful.
I wish to go Gaumukh trek as a beginner. I never trek before but would like t go in October 1st week. Your valuable advise would be appreciable.

Reply
Nandita Shee Deb December 28, 2022 - 3:31 am

Hi, we are planning for mid May 2023 with our 2 kids, aged 8 and 5 year olds.
Are kids of this age permitted? Is it advisable to travel with kids of this age?

Reply
Dibyendu Roy May 14, 2022 - 5:16 pm

Hello Vargis bhai just loved your blog. I am planning for this trip and I want some guides contact number. Can you please provide me the contact number of the guides

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 15, 2022 - 1:19 pm

Thank you Dibyendu Bhai. Sorry, I do not really have any contacts anymore.

Reply
Prasanna Gokhale February 11, 2022 - 2:03 pm

Dear vargis really thanks for the detail writeup. It gives full information. Absolutely no quiry if you are a trekker.

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 15, 2022 - 10:37 am

Thank you Prasanna Bhai

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Sunil vishwakarma January 6, 2022 - 8:07 am

Hi Varghis Bhai…Do you have any Idea if Solo trekkers are allowed this year in may?

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Vargis.Khan January 6, 2022 - 9:28 am

Sunil Bhai too early to tell. It all depends on how the COVID story will unfold this year because of the recent increase in the cases

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Abhiram October 11, 2021 - 10:20 am

we are a group of 4.Is it okay to visit Gaumukh in 2 or 3rd week of November.Anything I should be aware of,other than that in your great blog

Reply
Jr October 17, 2021 - 1:46 pm

Hi Abhiram. I’m planning to visit Gaumukh as well around the 7th of Nov. I had some questions regarding the online permits. Apparently Gaumukh is categorised as a “Moderate Trek” although while registering I keep getting an error “Hiring an Agency is Mandatory for Moderate Treks”. Would it be possible if I could connect with you on this?

Reply
Krishnapriya Basak September 22, 2021 - 9:28 am

Hello Varghis,
it is really an informative as well as wonderful write up. The links are really helpful.
Could you just provide me one information? Will I be allowed to pitch tent at Tapovan?
With best wishes,
Krishnapriya
[email protected]

Reply
Subhadip B April 18, 2021 - 4:41 pm

Vargis Sir,
First of all a huge thanks for such awesome, resourceful blog.
I am planning to do a solo trek till Gomukh. Now my question is if I extend my plan till Tapovan, where I would get local guide?

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 19, 2021 - 2:07 pm

Hi Subhadip Bhai – You can get guides for it from Uttarkashi.

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Ch.ch.srinivasu March 29, 2021 - 11:25 am

Very friendly informative….sir…

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Vargis.Khan June 20, 2021 - 12:22 pm

Thanks Bhai

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Shridhar Vaidya March 12, 2021 - 2:26 pm

Highly informative blog. I am planning to trek un the month of May 2021. Do you know any local guide and his contact details who can guide us on the route? Please share the details at Shridhar Vaidya – Cell 9422048509
Thanks.

Reply
Dhaval patel February 10, 2021 - 8:05 am

Dear Mr Varghis ,
I want to go gaumukh track may second week along with my wife and two other couple…but unfortunately website not open for gate permit….how can I do……when will this website open and how many days permit will given(maximum)

Dear vargis I read your blog nice information share…..thanks for it…

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Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya December 26, 2020 - 4:06 am

Hi Vargis,
Thanks for the details. Could you please share that if I take Tapoban permit and take the route of right side of the river from Bhojbasa, is it possible to cover Bhojbasa-Gomukh-Bhojbasa-Gangotri on the same day? We are regular trekkers, want to go close to the Gomukh, but are time-bound. Adv thanks.

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Vargis.Khan December 27, 2020 - 4:56 am

Bhai Gangotri to Gaumukh and back in a day will be extremely difficult. I really do not think it is doable. The second time I did this trek, we started at 6 AM from Gangotri and reached Gaumukh at around 3 after rushing through most of the way since we had already done it once before.

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Ravindra Mahajan December 13, 2020 - 1:51 pm

Very nicely described trail information. Almost all questions get answered while reading the blog on Gaumukh trek.
Thanks a lot.

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Ravi Ranjan November 25, 2020 - 6:29 am

Wow.. really very informative and so well explained.i was finding information about this trek from many hours and finally came out to this. Your blog is awesome..i am planning this trip for next year. Recently i went to kedarnath trek and it was amazing. please give me your contact number or add me as if i need any help later (7053563370).
Thank you so much

Reply
Abhishek modak May 8, 2020 - 3:32 am

Hello vargis,
If i visit rishikesh to gangotri then trekk gomaukh, then how i get permit from uttarkashi?

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Tagade May 3, 2020 - 9:22 am

Dear Mr Varghis
This is the first time I visited your blog.
Excellent compilation of information, which will be very handy for any traveller. Thank you for putting this together which will help many travellers plan their journey.
Regards
Tagade

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 7, 2020 - 9:17 am

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Mr. Tagade

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Devesh kumar sharma March 13, 2020 - 3:51 pm

What happens if one doesn’t not come back in 2 days as permit duration ? Also if one has applied for only upto gaumukh , can later at dfo office it may be extended upto tapovan .? Is it mandatory to take only tour operation whose list is available at permit website. Is night stay at tapovan allowed . Is tapovan worth visiting.

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Sharada Sivaram October 10, 2020 - 1:38 pm

Great job of detailed info. Thanks and God bless you!

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Bhabani March 7, 2020 - 11:22 am

I want to go Gomukh ,Tapoban and nandanban next may 2020. Thanks for that information

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Vargis.Khan March 9, 2020 - 6:08 am

You are welcome !!!

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Pran dev February 29, 2020 - 5:54 pm

i am planning to start from delhi on 4th april 2020 and start gomukh trek on 6th april. Is this time right to trek to gomukh, if yes can i also add tapovan along with gomukh.

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Vargis.Khan March 1, 2020 - 12:54 am

You can no but it is not the right time. If possible, delay it by a couple of weeks.

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Vivek Mangal February 21, 2020 - 8:36 am

Hi Vargis,
Is it possible to do this trek with wife and kids (8 and 10) with a stopover at Bhojbasa in Apr end? Kids are very active, wife is moderately active. My only worry is how is the route (boulders, narrow, etc).

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 21, 2020 - 2:43 pm

Hi Vivek – To be very honest, I will not recommend it with kids that young.

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ANINDYA MAJUMDAR January 14, 2020 - 3:49 am

Your blog had been very helpful during my several ladakh tours. And the high standard is maintained here too. It really comes handy in planning my trek to Tapoban.

Just a typo to mention in “Gaumukh Trek Details” section.

It reads, “…. The route will look something like this.
Gangotri – (9 kms) – Chirbasa – (5 kms) – Bhojbasa – (4 kms) – Gangotri ( This should be GAUMUKH) = 18 Kms

Reply
Vargis.Khan January 17, 2020 - 1:15 am

Thank you for your kind words Bhai and for catching that error. I have corrected it now.

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Dr. Balaka Ganguly January 11, 2020 - 12:07 pm

I want to go to gongotri,gomukh and tapovan solo in may 2020

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Vargis.Khan January 12, 2020 - 2:28 pm

Yes you can

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montu gauda January 13, 2020 - 6:25 pm

We are a group of 5 people, we have planned in the month of May 2020

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Vargis.Khan January 17, 2020 - 1:15 am

You can go, it will be open at that time

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sonali NATH January 2, 2020 - 6:13 am

Sir, we are planing in this year May, i want to know the Guide charges for the entire Gomukh trek to complete ?

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Dibyendu October 28, 2019 - 10:06 am

The Online Single Window website for Gaumukh Trek Pass isn’t working. Is the site closed?

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Vargis.Khan October 30, 2019 - 10:01 pm

The trek must be closed now for winter season

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Biswajit Roy October 10, 2019 - 10:26 am

Sir I want to go gomukh October 19.10.19.I am alone please tell me about this trek route and how can I get a permit for gangotri national park.

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Srinivas Sharma October 5, 2019 - 10:22 am

Thanks for nice and detailed blog.

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Vargis.Khan October 5, 2019 - 2:54 pm

Thanks for taking the time to drop a note.

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Abhimanyudu Kakarla September 6, 2019 - 11:21 am

Thank you Vargis, very nice information

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Vargis.Khan September 7, 2019 - 3:12 am

Thanks Abhimanyudu

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SC Minocha September 2, 2019 - 5:57 am

Hi, Mr Khan,

I am SC Minocha, 66. I along with my nephew who is 24, are going to Gaumukh on 02 Oct. I have got the permit online. I have booked GMVN accn at Uttarkashi for 30 Sep and at Gangotri for 01 Oct and 04 Oct. Also at Bhojwasa for 02 Oct and 03 Oct.

I have planned in such a way that, if I don’t get Pony, I can manage. I have done Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Kedarnath and Amarnath Yatra, partially on foot and partially on Pony.

Your valuable comments please.

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YK September 26, 2019 - 8:48 am

Hi Mr. Minocha, may i know through which website did you manage to get the online permit. The following link doesnt seem to be working.

http://www.swsuttarkashi.com/Permission/GangotriNationalPark

thanks for the help.

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Naveen Bhat July 15, 2019 - 2:53 am

Hi Vargis, is it possible to do Gangotri to Gaumukh and back in 1 day. We are experienced trekkers. Is the total trek 18 km one way or round trip ?

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Purbadri banerjee June 30, 2019 - 5:50 am

God bless you Sir. Wonderful description. I will ever remain grateful to you sir. Thanks.

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Vargis.Khan June 30, 2019 - 7:22 am

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Mr. Banerjee. I am glad that the information was of help.

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deepak sharma June 11, 2019 - 7:30 pm

Hi Vargis

I am planning for this trip
I need some details
could you please give me your contact no. so that it will be good for me
my no. is 7503226176

And your blog is very awesome !!

Thank you

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