Trek · Gangotri, Garhwal
Trek to Gaumukh, the Gangotri Glacier snout
An 18 km trail inside Gangotri National Park from Gangotri via Chirbasa and Bhojbasa to Gaumukh, the ice cliff where the Bhagirathi emerges at about 4,000 m. Permits, a mandatory guide and a cap of 150 trekkers a day keep it quiet.
Photo: gbSk at Flickr · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsGaumukh means cow's mouth, after the shape the ice cave once had. It is the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, one of the largest in the Himalaya, and the source of the Bhagirathi. The trail leaves Gangotri past the national park checkpost and climbs gently along the valley side through birch and pine to Chirbasa, about 9 km, then over open slopes to Bhojbasa, about 14 km, where most trekkers sleep.
From Bhojbasa it is about 4 km over moraine to the viewpoint below the snout. The ice face is grey with debris, and the river surges out from beneath it. The glacier has retreated over the past century, and parts of the snout can collapse without warning, so stay well back from the ice. On clear mornings, Shivling and the Bhagirathi peaks stand above the glacier.
Permits are issued by Gangotri National Park, online or at the Uttarkashi and Gangotri offices, with a daily cap of 150 trekkers. A registered guide, insurance and a medical fitness certificate have been required in recent seasons; check current status before you travel. Accommodation at Bhojbasa is limited to GMVN and ashram beds and must be planned. Altitude is serious here: acclimatise at Harsil and Gangotri first.
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Questions
Before you book
How many people are allowed on the Gaumukh trek daily?
Gangotri National Park caps entry at 150 trekkers a day for Gaumukh and beyond. Permits are issued online and at forest offices in Uttarkashi and Gangotri. The cap and process can change; check current status before you travel.
Is a guide mandatory for Gaumukh?
In recent seasons the park has required a registered guide, insurance and a medical fitness certificate for the Gaumukh and Tapovan treks. Confirm current rules with the park office or a licensed operator in Uttarkashi before you plan.
How difficult is the Gaumukh trek?
Moderate. The distance is 18 km each way with a gentle gradient, but you reach about 4,000 m and the last section crosses rough moraine. Most people take 3–4 days return with nights at Bhojbasa. Talk to your doctor if you have heart or lung conditions.