Goumukh Tapovan Trek

The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is a perfect combination of natural beauty and spiritual experience under the shadow of Mt. Shivling. It starts from the beautiful town of Gangotri and is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The trek is around 46 km long, and the highest point is Tapovan, which has an altitude of 14160 ft.

What makes the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek special?

The dense forest, full of coniferous trees, is the first attraction for trekkers on this journey. The terrain becomes rugged as you move closer to Bhojbasa. The name “Bhojbasa” originated from the Himalayan Birch tree called Bhojpatra, which is common in this region.

Gaumukh holds a high spiritual value among the seekers as it is the source of the Bhagirathi River. The challenging terrain after Bhojbasa attracts many adventure lovers. The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek tests your mental strength while overwhelming you with the surrounding peaks. Mt. Shivling and Bhagirathi massif are the primary peaks but there are other peaks like Sudarshan, Meru and many more.

The ashram of the Mauni Baba is also a major attraction for the trekkers. If you are lucky, you can get the opportunity to talk to him and receive his blessings. Mauni Baba often prepares food for the visitors which can be a refreshing experience. Sometimes, he also allows the visitors to spend the day in his small stone cottage.

Day 01 :

Dehradun to Gangotri (10300 ft), 245 km (9-10 hrs.)

After you reach Dehradun, your journey with the Discovery Hikes begins. Our team will pick you up from Dehradun/Haridwar/Rishikesh/Kathgodam. On the way to Gangotri, you will witness some of the primary landmarks like Harsil, Moriana Top and others. You will also be seeing the Khedi waterfall just after Uttarkashi. After you reach Gangotri, take a rest. You can visit the local shops and restaurants to experience the culture of the Gangotri town. The Ganga temple is also one of the primary attractions, which you would not want to miss.

Day 02 :

Gangotri to Chirbasa (11700 ft), 9km (4-5 hrs.)

After finishing our breakfast on Day 2, we will start the trek towards Chirbasa, which will be our first stay, during the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek. The altitude gain will be around 1400 ft. The forest checkpoint arrives after a while, where the final permit is generated. You can rest here for a while, in the presence of the Ram Mandir. The route after the forest checkpoint will take you through a dense forest full of deodar and pine trees. You can fill your water bottles with natural water flowing down a rock just before Chirbasa. Once you reach Chirbasa, make yourself comfortable amidst the Chir trees around.

Day 03 :

Chirbasa to Bhojbasa (12450 ft), 6 km (4-5 hrs.)

Finish your breakfast quickly, as we will be heading towards Bhojabasa. It will be a 6 km trek from Chirbasa and an altitude gain of 750 ft. The Bhojbasa region is famous for the Himalayan Birch trees which are also known as Bhojpatra. The leaves of these trees were used as paper by the ancient people. The view of the Bhagirathi peaks is overwhelming for the trekkers. There are many landslide zones and wooden bridges on the trail towards Bhojbasa which can be very exciting. We reach Bhojbasa by evening and spend the Day 3 night here.

Day 04 :

Bhojbasa to Tapovan (14160 ft), 8 km (7-8 hrs.)

The fourth day of the trek will be full of thrilling experience as it includes challenging sections throughout. We need to trek around 8 km to reach Tapovan and the altitude gain is around 1900 ft. The trekkers have to cross the Bhagirathi River with a cable trolley and continue their journey forward. The natural beauty of the grasslands, which appear after crossing the river, is mesmerizing. Blue Sheep can be spotted while grazing in the wide grasslands. Mt. Shivling and Mt. Mera stand tall, once you reach Tapovan and the views are breathtaking.

The Gangotri Glacier, Akash Ganga and the Bhagirathi peaks are also the major attractions in the Tapovan region. The presence of the Mauni Baba Ashram adds a spiritual touch to this place. The Milky Way Galaxy is clearly visible at night from Tapovan, hence, it is a wonderland for astrophotographers.

Day 05 :

Tapovan to Bhojbasa via Gaumukh (12480 ft), 8 km (6-7 hrs.)

The day starts with sunrise above Mt. Meru and Mt. Shivling, after which the descent begins. We will take a major halt at Gaumukh, on the way to Bhojbasa. Gaumukh is the mouth of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi River. After spending some time here, we continue our trek towards Bhojbasa. Looking at the last few glimpses of the Bhagirathi peaks, we reach Bhojbasa and spend the night here.

Day 06 :

Bhojbasa to Gangotri (10300 ft), 14 km (6-7 hrs.)

We start our journey after finishing our breakfast and reach Gangotri by noon. We take the same trail; we took on Day 2. You can rest, once you reach the hotel or be a part of the Aarti at the Ganga temple and explore the local shops in the evening.

Day 07 :

Gangotri to Dehradun 245 km (9-10 hrs.)

As your Dayara Bugyal Trek Itinerary comes to an end and the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek Itinerary awaits new adventures, you wake up with a heavy heart, finish your breakfast, and start the journey towards Dehradun/Rishikesh/Kathgodam/Haridwar. You enjoy the natural beauty along the way while reliving the unforgettable memories made throughout the trek.

Goumukh Tapovan Trek

Overview

Itinerary

Cost