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Traveling With Us - Gangotri Glacier Trek

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An area which has been attracting people for centuries.
The trek starts from the 18th century temple of Gangotri and goes beyond the source of Ganga to the meadow of Tapovan, favourite spot for sadhus meditating in the Himalayas.
Gaumukh, the snout of the glacier, Tapovan and the mighty peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas definitely make it a special trek.

Day 1 Delhi to Camp Kuflon(1520m)
Board Dehradun Shatabdi train leaving Delhi at 6:55am. Arrive Hardwar at 11:20am. Transfer to Kuflon, near the road head for Dodital, 11 kms from Uttarkashi in the valley of the Assi Ganga (5 hr drive). Overnight Kuflon.

Day 2 Camp Kuflon Basics to Chirbasa (3600m) 4 hr drive and 4 hr walk
Drive 4 hrs to reach the holy shrine of Gangotri (3000m). Visit the temple and the start the 4 hr walk up towards Gaumukh, the source of the river Ganges. The trail keeps following the river and and just short of Chirbasa one gets the first views of the Bhagirathi Peaks. Chirbasa (3600m), literally meaning the home of pine is now a cluster of shops and some pine trees. Walk down from the main trail and setup camp close to the river.

Day 3 Chirbasa to Bhojbasa (3800m) 3hrs
Have a relaxed day with only about 3 hrs of walk. Reach the campsite of Bhojbasa(3800m), home of birch (now only a few left in the much denuded area) and setup camp. Evening walk to one of the high points closeby is recommended for better acclimatisation. Don’t forget to carry your cameras along, you just might chance upon a group of ibexes or a beautiful sunset

Day 4 Bhojbasa to Tapovan (4450 m) 5-6 hrs
Walk about 2hrs to reach Gaumukh (4000m), the source of the Ganges. Spend time admiring the beauty and the power of the nature. It’s a visual treat and an experience in itself to watch the Ganga gush out of the snout of the Gangotri glacier. Cross the glacier and start the steep ascent to reach the beautiful meadow of Tapovan (3hrs from Gaumukh).

Day 5 Rest day at Tapovan (4450m)
a lush green meadow dotted with wildflowers right at the foot of the giant Shivling. Spend your day doing walks around the campsite, or visiting the sadhus, reading a book or just admiring the mighty peaks of Bhagirathi, Shivling, Meru and others.

Day 6 Tapovan to Chirbasa (3600m) 5hrs
Start the trek back to reach Chirbasa in about 5 hrs. Setup camp

Day 7 Chirbasa to Gangotri to Camp Kuflon Basics. 2-3 hrs walk and 4 hrs drive
After breakfast carry on the trail to reach Gangotri (4hrs) and board the waiting vehicles to drive back to the camp Kuflon Basics for the comforts of hot shower, barbeque and the campfire.

Day 8 Camp Kuflon Basics to Haridwar to Delhi
Have an easy start, let the aching muscles rest. An early lunch / brunch and drive back (5 hrs) to Haridwar to board the evening Shatabdi to reach Delhi by 10:30 in the night.