Description section here has every detail about Gaumukh trek, starting from how to reach Gangotri and then Gaumukh, plus how to apply for permit etc…

This video is part of our 30 day Uttarakhad Char Dham yatra.

Distance from Gangotri to Gaumukh: This is a total distance of 18 km, with break up as…

Time Duration:We did this Trek from Gangotri to Gaumukh over 2 days, we stayed overnight at Bhojbasa.

Journey dates: 1st week of June 2019.

Permit process: You need to apply online for Gaumukh permit using the below weblink… swsuttarkashi.com/Permission/GangotriNationalPark

Application for permit does not mean confirmation of travel on that day, you still need to visit the forest office day before or few days before the journey and get the day of travel confirmation done.

You can do this either at Uttarkashi or Gangotri.

Charge for permit: You don’t have to pay anything online — when you reach forest office entry gate at Gangotri, you have to pay charge of Rs 150 per person.

Charge for Pony service: Government approved rate is Rs 1800 per person from Gangotri Forest entry gate to Bhojbasa and back next day.

Though Rs 1800 rate is fixed by government but on an average this costs Rs 2500 because they will charge extra for luggage plus if you are little over over normal weight they will charge extra. Consider this about Rs 2500 per person.

Guide charge: We paid Rs 2500 to our guide, Ideally you should fix your guide day before the journey, if you want only porter you may get it at Rs 2000 for the complete journey.

In our case Guide demanded Rs 2500 for his service then Rs 1000 extra for his boarding and lodging — we paid Rs 3500 to him for this 2 day journey.

In this route most guides work as Guide cum porter but still you should clarify this with the guide.

Food availability: You can carry your own food or if you want to locally buy, you will get Maggie with tea at Chirbasa.

Food at Garhwal Mandal vikas Nigam Guest house Bhojbasa- They serve good and tasty food, though options are limited, only veg food available.

Dal, Bharta or Bhindi average one person serving costs Rs 170 to Rs 190.

Tea in morning — you can get it at 6 am in morning at Bhojbasa.

Places to stay between Gangotri to Gaumukh: Only place where you can stay is Bhojbasa, there are 2 options there GMVN, you need to do online booking. There is no place to stay at Gaumukh.

Per person stay cost Rs 350 excluding food.

Other option is there is a ashram near GMVN, you can stay there as well at cost of Rs 350 per person. This cost at Ashram includes food cost, they serve langar there.

Electricity at Bhojbasa — There is no electricity over there, GMVN guest house has a generator which they run every day evening for one and a half hour.

Mobile network: You will get mobile network only for 2 to 3 km during the start of the journey, then no network, even BSNL network was not there.

If there is some emergency, GMVN people liasons with the Army there and communicates wirelessly with Gangotri.

Things to carry: Enough woolens, raincoat, oxygen cylinder, you can get oxygen cylinder from gangotri medical shop by paying Rs 600 and if it is not used they will deduct Rs 100 or 200 and return the balance money.

Its not compulsory to carry oxygen cylinder but just on a safe side.

Should you have any other query, please read through frequently asked questions below.

FAQ — Can i travel from Gangotri to Gaumukh and then come back on the same day to Gangotri.

Answer — Yes you can do that, as i did the same 6 years back when i went there with my wife but you need high physical fitness and good stamina. Though it is not advisable, as by the time you reach back Gangotri it will be dark.

Can i start trek early morning at 4 am?
Answer -No, Forest department allows entry from the gate at 6 am, to reach Forest entry gate you should start from you hotel or guest house at Gangotri at 5.30 am or 5.15 am…

Can i travel to Gaumukh in winters?
Answer — No — You can go there during May to Oct period only, during winters Gangotri National park is closed.

Benefit of taking guide?
Answer — He can guide you about danger zone, and give you good company. They are not professional guides, they were porters at some point of time and now have graduated themselves to guide.

Best time to travel to Gaumukh?

Answer — Mid august to end september. May and October will be cold. Though you can travel any time between May to Oct but avoid Monsoon time between June to July.

Is travel on Pony safe?
Answer — To my mind it is not advisable, because if you slip from Pony, it may badly hurt you or there may be a casualty too because it is steep below and passage is also small…

Though the number of travelers per day is limited so there is no crowd there but i will still suggest try walking down and you will love the journey.