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| Gaumukh
Glacier - the source of the Ganges |
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Camp Gaumukh at Bhojbasa
Season:
June-Sept
Location:
Bhojbasa, the Himalayas
Altitude:
3792 mts
Places
of interest: Gangotri,
Ghaumukh (Mouth of the Ganges),
Tapovan,
Nandanvan
Activities:
Trekking, Camping,
Photography, Spiritual Quest, Mountaineering
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Gangotri houses the temple dedicated
to Godess Ganga. It is situated on the left bank of the Bhagirathi at an
altitude of 3042 mts.
According to Hindu mythology, Godess Ganga the
source of life, manifested herself in the form of a river to absolve the
sins of King Bhagiraths predecessors in answer to his austeure penance for
several centuries. It is believed that it was at this spot where the
temple stands, that Lord Shiva received Ganga into his matted locks, to
minimise the immence impact of her descent on earth. Having descended as a
result of King Bhagiraths austere penance, she came to be known as
Bhaghirathi at her legendary source.
The mouth of the river Ganga is known
as Gaumukh and is situated 18 kms from the Gangotri temple. The route from
Gangotri to Gaumukh, passes through woods of coniferous and pine trees at
Chirbhasa and Birch trees at Bhojbhasa. From Gaumukh one has to traverse
the Gangotri and the Chaturangini glaciers to reach the Tapovan and
Nandanvan Valleys.
This
trek combines the experience of mountain climbing, rock climbing, boulder
hopping and glacier traversing. Starting from the temple town of Gangotri
the trek takes one along the vast glacier bed surrounded by walls and
pillars rising to an altitude of 3,500 meters standing as a mute testament
to the ancient giant glacier.
The route from Gangotri to Gaumukh- the source of the
Ganga, passes through orchids of coniferous pine trees at Chirbhasa and
birch trees at Bhojbhasa. From Gangotri one has to traverse the Gangotri
and the Chaturangini glaciers to reach the lush green meadows of Tapovan
surrounded by the many named and un named peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas.
En route to Tapovan from Nandanvan one gets an excellent view of the
Shivling, the Bhagirathi, the Kedar dome, Sudershan and the Thelu peaks.. |
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The Ganges... click on pictures for larger
image |
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