Gaumukh Trek 2026 | Source of Ganga from Gangotri Complete Guide

Gaumukh | Where Ganga Actually Begins

Gaumukh ("cow's mouth") glacier snout hai jahan se Bhagirathi (Ganga's main source) niklti hai. Gangotri mandir se 18 km trek, elevation 4,023 m. Uttarkashi district ka sabse famous trek.

Trek Overview

Metric	Detail
Start point	Gangotri (3,100 m)
End point	Gaumukh Glacier (4,023 m)
One-way distance	18 km
Elevation gain	923 m
Duration	3-4 days round trip
Difficulty	Moderate
Best season	May-Jun, Sep-Oct

Typical Itinerary

Day 1: Uttarkashi to Gangotri (100 km drive)

6-hour drive. Overnight Gangotri GMVN Rs 2,500.

Day 2: Gangotri to Bhojbasa (14 km trek)

7 hours. Chirbasa halt for lunch. Overnight Bhojbasa tent/GMVN Rs 1,500.

Day 3: Bhojbasa to Gaumukh to Bhojbasa (4 km each way)

Summit early morning. Return to Bhojbasa by noon. Trek down to Chirbasa (8 km). Camp.

Day 4: Chirbasa to Gangotri to Uttarkashi

6 km trek + 100 km drive. Home by evening.

Permits Required

• Gangotri National Park entry | Rs 150 Indian, Rs 600 foreigner/day
• Daily permit cap | 150 trekkers (summer), 50 (off-season)
• Apply at | Forest office Uttarkashi OR online
• Advance booking | 15-30 days ahead during peak

What to Pack

• Trekking boots (broken-in, ankle support)
• Down jacket (nights drop to -5°C at Bhojbasa)
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Thermal base layers
• Headlamp + spare batteries
• Water purifier tablets
• High-energy snacks (nuts, chocolate, Snickers)
• Small first-aid kit with Diamox
• Sunglasses + sunscreen SPF 50
• Personal toilet kit

Fitness Required

• Ability to walk 8-10 hours with 10-15 kg pack
• Cardio: run 5 km in 30 min for 2 months prior
• Altitude-trained (pre-acclimatize if from plains)

Estimated Cost

Item	Cost
Organized tour (5 days)	Rs 12,000-18,000
Independent (same duration)	Rs 6,000-10,000
Porter (if needed)	Rs 800-1,200/day
Guide (mandatory for some sections)	Rs 1,500-2,500/day

Safety Considerations

• Don't cross Gaumukh glacier without professional guide
• Carry AMS medication
• Inform someone about your itinerary
• Weather can change rapidly | carry rain gear always
• Avoid post-monsoon landslide zones

Stay in Uttarkashi Before/After

• Hotel Bhandari | Rs 1.8K-3.5K
• Monal Resort | Rs 3.5K-6.5K premium
• GMVN Uttarkashi | Rs 1.5K-2.8K budget

Combine Trip

Add Yamunotri Yatra (different valley) + Gaumukh trek for 8-day combined. Or pair with Rishikesh for adventure end. Post-trek recovery in Uttarkashi town strongly recommended.

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