How difficult is Gaumukh trek?

Basic Details of Gaumukh Tapovan Trek: Difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult. Age group: 18-45 years. Duration: 8days/7nights. Trek distance: 23 Km (one way)

How difficult is Tapovan trek?

Difficult. Gradual ascent for 2.5 hours. 2 hours glacier walk followed by 1 hour of moderate ascent. Final 1.5 hours is a steep ascent.

Is Gaumukh trek open?

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.

How far is Tapovan from Gaumukh?

Once you reach, you can visit the small Shiva temple here and take in the stunning views. From Gaumukh, start the 5-km trek to Tapovan (at a height of 4,460 m), one of the finest high altitude alpine meadows in the region. The trek is a steep ascent with clear views of the surrounding peaks.

Why is Tapovan famous?

Perched at an altitude of 14,640 ft above sea level, Tapovan or the forest of penance, comprises a rocky terrain, huge mountains and small streams. It is famous for the Gangotri-Tapovan trek, which is a heart-thumping adventure.

What is inside Gaumukh?

Around the snout, nature presents a wild topography. There are boulders scattered here and there with some pieces of broken snow, along with the hard clayey snow of the glacier. The Gomukh snout is rapidly moving backwards. According to the modern research the snout has moved 1 km in just 70 years.

How long is Yamunotri trek?

The trek of around 7 kms is easy with several halts and you can easily reach Yamunotri at around 1 pm. You can have your lunch at Yamunotri and or head to the temple for prayers. At Yamunotri, devotees pray at Surya Kund, a natural hot water spring named after the Sun God, who is said to be the father of River Yamuna.

Is snow fall in Gangotri?

Winter season in the region starts from the month of November to March. Usually in winters, the season is freezing cold and having a heavy snowfall which can even interrupt your journey. So most people avoid visiting Gangotri in winter season.

Why is tapovan famous?

How far is tapovan from Gaumukh?

What does tapovan mean?

forest of austerities or spiritual practice
Tapovan (Sanskrit) comes from the two root words tapas, meaning ‘penance’ and by extension ‘religious mortification’ and ‘austerity’, and more generally ‘spiritual practice’, and vana, meaning ‘forest’ or ‘thicket’. Tapovan then translates as ‘forest of austerities or spiritual practice’.

What is the length of the Gaumukh Trek?

Gaumukh Trek is a 46 km trek hiked over 6 days (8 days including the drive to and from the trek,) in the Greater Himalayas. It lies in the state of Uttarakhand and begins and ends at the pilgrim town of Gangotri.

How difficult is the Gaumukh trek from Gangotri to Ganga?

Gaumukh is located at an altitude of 13,200 ft. The total distance between Gangotri to Gaumukh is 18 kilometers. Horses and ponies are not allowed on the Gaumukh trail and you must complete the journey on foot only The difficulty level of the Gaumukh trek is moderate to difficult.

Why is the Gaumukh-Tapovan trail so famous?

Given that the Gaumukh-Tapovan trail has a large religious significance, it is one of the few trails that have been frequented by trekkers from across the country for centuries together. It used to be one of the country’s most visited treks until other treks started getting discovered.

Is it difficult to reach Gaumukh?

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.”