- Max altitude
- 4,460 m
- Days
- 7 days
- Distance
- 41 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
Every trekking day is above 3,000 m, the trail crosses several rock-fall zones, and the last stretch to Tapovan is a steep climb over loose glacial moraine; the walk out from Bhojbasa to Gangotri is a long 14 km day.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Gangotri
640 m → 3,100 m
Day 2
Gangotri → Chirbasa
3,100 m → 3,600 m
Day 3
Chirbasa → Bhojbasa
3,600 m → 3,780 m
Day 4 · highest point
Bhojbasa → Tapovan (via Gaumukh)
3,780 m → 4,460 m
Day 5
Tapovan → Bhojbasa (via Gaumukh)
4,460 m → 3,780 m
Day 6
Bhojbasa → Gangotri
3,780 m → 3,100 m
Day 7
Gangotri → Dehradun
3,100 m → 640 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Gangotri
at 3,100 mLoading forecast…
High point · Tapovan meadow (Shivling base)
at 4,460 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Gangotri
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun (Rishikesh is the other option)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 245 km via Uttarkashi and Harsil); Rishikesh (shared taxis, private cabs and seasonal buses, mostly leaving early morning); Uttarkashi (shared jeeps and local buses run daily to Gangotri in season)
- Drive
- About 9 h from Dehradun
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹12,000–20,000
With an operator
₹23,000–45,000
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Guided prices published October 2026: Indiahikes ₹18,950 + 5% GST plus ₹3,100 + GST for Dehradun-Gangotri transport (about ₹23,000 in all); Himalaya Shelter ₹45,000. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep to Gangotri and back, two nights in Gangotri, park permit, the registered guide and trek insurance that are now mandatory, a porter, tent and stove hire, and food. You cannot legally go beyond Gaumukh without a registered guide.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 36
Nights near 4,460 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Airtel, BSNL and Jio work in Gangotri; beyond Gangotri the signal is patchy or absent.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (cash often runs out there, so draw money in Dehradun)
- Nearest hospital
- Basic medical help at Gangotri; district hospital at Uttarkashi for anything serious, and AIIMS Rishikesh beyond that
- Water
- Side streams of the Bhagirathi along the trail and the Akash Ganga stream at Tapovan. The water is silty glacial melt; filter and treat it.
Highlights
- Darshan of Gaumukh, the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, revered as the source of Maa Ganga, who flows out here as the Bhagirathi; in Hindu belief she descended to earth through Lord Shiva's matted locks
- Mt Shivling seen from base to summit at the Tapovan meadow, with the Bhagirathi peaks glowing at sunset across the glacier
- A walk up the Bhagirathi valley through pine and birch forest at Chirbasa and Bhojbasa
- Starting from Gangotri, one of the Char Dham shrines, beside the Gangotri temple and Surya Kund
Risks
- Several rock-fall zones between Chirbasa and Gaumukh: cross them quickly, one at a time, and early in the day.
- Large blocks of ice regularly break off the Gaumukh snout. Do not go close to the ice cave or into the river below it.
- The climb from Gaumukh to Tapovan is steep, unmarked moraine. It needs a guide and can be dangerous after fresh snow.
- Altitude sickness: Tapovan is about 4,460 m. Take Chirbasa and Bhojbasa slowly and turn back if you have AMS symptoms.
- Pre-winter snow often arrives at Bhojbasa and above after mid-October; autumn nights fall below zero.
- Monsoon (July-August) brings landslides and rockfall on the trail and road blocks on the Gangotri highway.
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need a permit for Gaumukh and Tapovan?
Yes. Gaumukh and Tapovan are inside Gangotri National Park, and the Uttarakhand Forest Department issues a mandatory entry permit, either online or at the forest offices in Uttarkashi or Gangotri. Only 150 people a day are allowed on the Gaumukh trail. Published fees vary (₹100 to ₹200 for Indians, more for foreigners), so confirm the current fee when you apply. Carry photo ID and a medical certificate.
Is a guide mandatory for Tapovan?
Yes. A registered guide is mandatory for going beyond Gaumukh to Tapovan, and since September 2024 trekkers also need trek insurance and a medical certificate to get a Gaumukh permit.
When is the best time for the Gaumukh Tapovan trek?
May-June and mid-September to mid-October. Autumn has the clearest views, but the season is short because snow comes to the upper camps after mid-October. The park is closed from 30 November to 31 March, and the trek is not done in the July-August monsoon.
How far is Gaumukh from Gangotri?
About 18 km. Most groups stop at Chirbasa and Bhojbasa on the way, visit Gaumukh, then climb to Tapovan. The full Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan-Gangotri route is about 41-42 km over five trekking days.
Is Gaumukh Tapovan suitable for beginners?
It is a difficult high-altitude trek, not an easy first trek. Operators ask that you can run 5 km in about 32 minutes. Fit beginners can do it with good preparation, a guide and a slow acclimatisation schedule.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Basic medical help at Gangotri; district hospital at Uttarkashi for anything serious, and AIIMS Rishikesh beyond that
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (cash often runs out there, so draw money in Dehradun)
- Phone network
- Airtel, BSNL and Jio work in Gangotri; beyond Gangotri the signal is patchy or absent.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Gaumukh Tapovan
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Gangotri National Park — Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) (official)
- Gangotri National Park Reopens For Trek: Date, Permits, And What Travellers Need To Know — Outlook Traveller
- Gaumukh Tapovan Trek — Indiahikes
- Gaumukh Tapovan Trek Cost, Itinerary & Best Time — Himalaya Shelter
- Gaumukh Tapovan Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Gaumukh: A Trekker's Paradise — ETV Bharat
- How to get Gaumukh Permit 2026 — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Gomukh — Wikipedia
Photos: Pranab basak, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lokeshwar23, CC BY-SA 4.0; Barry Silver from Tokyo, CC BY 2.0
