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| Season |
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Mid May to Mid June & September to Mid October |
| Duration |
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21 Days |
| Grade |
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Strenuous (Expedition Style) |
| Highest Point |
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5950 Meters |
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| The Central Himalayan Region of
Garwhal, also known as Uttrakhand, this region is also
revered as the Sanctum of Hinduism’s God’s
and goddesses, and has many times been called as the “Land
of the Gods”. Situated amongst lofty peaks in this
mountain heartland, are the four places of the pilgrimage
for Hindus. There are temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu
– the preserve, Shiva – the destroyer and
goddess Ganges and Yamuna, both
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| incarnations of Goddess Parvati, the consort
of Shiva. All the shrines are located near the sources of the
major tributaries of the Mighty Ganges.
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This is high
altitude Trekking, Moraines, Glaciers, Glacial Lakes,
Mountains & Pinnacles! Sheer rocks, but clad with
snow and Ice and they are most beautiful of all Himalayas,
most of them rising abruptly from glaciers to the skies.
This is a high altitude trek taking us from one Hindu
shrine of Badrinath to the other, Gangotri – literally
meaning “Ganges flowing to the North”. Gangotri
is a small hamlet with a small stone temple built in
the 18th Century by the Gurkha General Amar Singh Thapa.
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| For the next few days you shall be driving
and trekking, through the land, most sacred to Hindus, the land
of Ashrams, Sadhus, Temples, Mountains, Glaciers, Roaring Holy
Rivers and Pilgrims. |
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You shall spend
time traversing the mammoth Gangotri Glacier 28 Kms
long with numerous feeder Glaciers, this is the longest
glacier in the central Himalayan region of Garwhal.
We shall trek through the biggest Himalayan amphitheater
of very famous mountains, some of the major peaks you
shall be viewing are – Nilkanth (6597 Mts.), Meru
(6672 Mts.), Kedarnath Peak (6940 Mts.), Kedar Dome
(6831 Mts.), Bhagirathi I, II & III (6856 –
6455 Mts.), Satopanth (7075 Mts.), Chaukhamba (7138
Mts.), Sri Kailash (6932 Mts.), Kharchakund (6617 Mts.),
Vasuki Parbat (6792 Mts.), Mana Parbat (6794 Mts.),
Bhrigupanth (6771 Mts.) and many more. |
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 Day
01: Arrive Delhi |
Arrive at New Delhi’s
international airport a Mountain Trails representative will be waiting
for you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a
Mountain Trails placard. Met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for
overnight stay, accommodation will be protected for you from
the previous night for immediate occupancy.
Overnight at Hotel |
Day
02: Delhi – Haridwar, (Train) Shatabdi Express 0700-1200
hrs
Haridwar – Uttarkashi
(1550 Mts.) (Drive 185 Kms, 5-6 Hours) |
Early in the morning you will be transferred
to New Delhi Railway station to board the Shatabdi Express
to Haridwar, gateway to Garwhal Himalayas met upon arrival
at Haridwar Railway station and drive to Uttarkashi, considered
as the Northern Kashi or Varanasi. The town is situated at
an elevation of 1,550 m on the right banks of river Bhagirathi.
It is a district located in the northern Himalayan state of
Uttaranchal. Its boundaries also mark the Chinese precincts.
Uttarkashi is known for its temples dedicated to Rishi Parasurama,
Datatryea, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon.
At one time, there were 365 temples in this town. The town
is also known for its various ashrams, which are the homes
of the sanyasis and hermits.
Overnight at Hotel / Guest House / Deluxe Camps |
| Day
03: Uttarkashi – Gangotri (3140 Mts.) Drive 5 Hours |
In the hinterlands of the Himalayas is
Gangotri where, it is believed, Ganga, the stream of life, touched
earth for the first time. According to the Hindu religious scriptures,
the heavenly goddess Ganga manifested herself in the form of
a river to absolve the sins of King Sagar's sons. After three
generations of severe penance, performed over several centuries,
Ganga conceded to descend to the Earth. At the legendary source
of the river, Goddess Ganga is worshipped in the form of deity.
The Gangotri temple was built in the early 18th century by a
Gorkha commander, Amar Singh Thapa and later rebuilt by the
Maharaja of Jaipur. By November, Gangotri is snowbound, and
so the deity is taken 25 kms downstream to Mukhba, so that her
devotees are not thwarted. Despite the severe cold, however,
several "SADHUS" remain at Gangotri year round, even
through the very severe winter. Gomukh, the identified source
of the river Ganga, is 18 Kms. further uphill. The trek to Gomukh
is gradual, and several pilgrims undertake the journey to pay
homage to the river at its known source.
Overnight at Camps/Guest House |
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| Day
04: Gangotri – Bhojbasa (3658 Mts.) Trek 6 Hours |
Begin trekking, easy
walk, the broad trail initially passes through dense deodar
forests, carries on to a small isolated forest of pine
at Chirbasa, before emerging above the tree line at Bhojbasa.
Overnight in Tents |
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Day
05: Bhojbasa – Tapo Van (4463 Mts.) Trek
4-5 Hours |
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Continuing along the
pilgrim grassy hillsides. A couple of hours walk, reveals
mighty Mt. Shivling (6543 Mts.), a breathtaking view of
wild flowers studded meadows crowned by the Bhagirathi
group of peaks. Halt at Gaumukh, where the holy Ganga
gushes out of the snout of the Gangotri glacier, is set
in a wide moraine-studded valley, Mt. Shivling stands
tall, raising to touch the skies above, while the Bhagirathi
I, II and III tower above. Enter the moraine and cross
the glacier to reach the meadow of Tapovan, the Mountains
all around making it a great Himalayan amphitheatre.
Overnight in Tents |
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Day
06: Tapo Van – Nandan Van (4450 Mts.)
(Trek
4-5 Hours) |
| Wake early as, the
top of Mt. Shivling lights up with golden rays of the
morning sun, perfect photo opportunity slowly the tower
becomes bright and shiningas the sun goes high in the
sky. After breakfast |
set off
for trek to Nandan Van, across the Gangotri glacier, cutting
across the glacial moraine, you shall reach the spaciouos
alpine meadow of Nandan Van, at the juncture of Chatrungi
Glacier and Gangotri Glacier and the base of Baghirathi
I (6856 Mts.), II (6512 Mts.) and III (6454 Mts.). You
should also have views of Mt. Kedar Dome (6831 Mts.),
Karcha Kund (6617 Mts.), Kedarnath (6940 Mts.) & Mt.
Meru (6672 Mts.) across the Gangotri Glacier. You shall
camp at the meadow of Nandan Van for two nights.
Overnight in Tents |
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| Day
07: Nandan Van (Acclimatization Day) |
| This free day brings you another
photo opportunity to film & shoot the mighty, majestic
north face of Mt. Shivling, this time across the Gangotri
Glacier. Day will be utilized for acclimatization, you
shall set off for a day hike at higher altitude and shall
return back to the camps after spending at least a couple
of hours at higher altitude, Hot lunch shall await for
you at the camps. Afternoon shall be free for independent
activities. Overnight in Tents |
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| Day
08: Nandan Van - Vasuki Tal (4600 Mts.) |
Today we shall leave
the meadow of Nandan Van, today you shall have opportunity
to view Bharal (Mountain Goat) walking through high ridges
& Lammergeyer, arrive at the Vasuki Tal “not
so big” glacial lake in the serene surroundings
of Chaturangi Bhamak. Left of the lake is Bhagirathi Bhamak,
leading to the Bhagirathi group of the peaks.
Overnight in Tents |
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09: Vasuki Tal – Sweta Bhamak (4900 Mts.) |
| As you start trekking in morning, you
shall leave the alpine vegetation, which will not be visible
for next few days, from now onwards you shall be in mountain
country, pass through the Sunalaya Bhamak, which leads to Satopanth
(7075 Mts.), one of the two seven – thousand meter mountains
of Gangotri Glacier. Overnight in Tents |
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10: Sweta Bhamak – Kalindi Bhamak (5450 Mts.) |
Its scree, moraine
and boulders as we cross Sweta Bhamak, above which rise
Chandra Parbat (6728 Mts.) We are now traversing Chaturangi
Bhamak, which is a major tributary to the Gangotri glacier.
Chaturangi Bhamak is approximately 13-15 Kms long, which
makes it approximately half the length of Gangotri Glacier.
Chaturangi literally means a glacier of four colours and
the moraines over the glacier range from pink, yellow
to brown. Arrive at Kalindi Bhamak camp, which is just
next to the Kalindi Glaciers snout. Up ahead lies the
Kalindi Khal (5940 Meters), meaning pass, it’s a
deep gap between Avalanche Peak (6413 Meters) and Kalindi
Peak (6102 Meters).
Overnight in Tents |
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Day
11: Kalindi Bhamak – Kalindi Khal (5940 Meters) –
Avalanche Bhamak
(5500 Meters) |
| Today we start early
as we slowly climb the Kalindi Khal pass, from the pass
The summit of Kalindi peak is only 150 Meters higher,
in fact the summit camp for Kalindi peak lies below the
pass. (You shall not attempt the summit in any condition,
as all climbing expeditions have to take prior permission
from Indian Mountaineering Foundation – IMF and
involves climbing fee). Once on the pass, you shall have
most panoramic views of Mt. Kamet (7756 Meters), Mt. Mana
(7272 Meters), Abi Gamin (7355 Meters) and Mana Parbat
(6797 Meters), on a very clear day one can also see the
Tibetan plateau across the Mana Pass (6728 Meters), also
seen are the mountains of Gangotri Glacier; Chandra parbat
(6728 Meters), Vasuki Parbat (6792 Meters), Bhagirathi
Parbat (6512 Meters). You shall then descend and cross
the glacial terrain before reaching the camp of Avalanche
Bhamak, (we can however, continue till next camp). |
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12: Avalanche Bhamak – Arwa Tal (4800 Meters) |
| Trek to Arwa Tal, surrounded
by the moraine fields of the Arwa Glacier, exactly northwards
from Arwa Tal is Mana Pass (5600 Meters), which was sought
by the first Jesuit explorers to Tibet. It was in 1624
when Antonio de Andrade and Manuel Marques went to Tibet
by this route, two centuries before any other explorer
can reach Tibet, to our west is Mana Parbat – I
(6797 Meters), Mana Parbat – II & III (6771
& 6730 Meters). Overnight in Tents |
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13: Arwa Tal – Arwa Camp (4200 Meters) |
Leave the snout of
the glacier and follow the Arwa stream, a steep descend
will be followed by a gradual descend till you reach the
Arwa camp.
Overnight in Tents |
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| Day
14: Arwa Camp – Ghastoli (3600 Meters) |
Today the terrain
changes dramatically, glacial moraines gives way
to the glacial streams, also today’s day is
full of river crossing you shall be crossing rivers
including the Saraswati river at times, also the
vegetation also starts to appear.
Overnights in Tents |
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15: Ghastoli – Mana – Badrinath |
| Start trekking with a gradual
descend, the route follows the river Saraswati to
down streams, we cross the river just after leaving
our camps through out eh walk we follow the true
right bank of the river, the river has its origin
from the slopes of Mana pass (5600 meters) leading
to Tsaparang in Tibet. Also visible are the peaks
of Mt. Kamet (7756 Meters) & Mt. Mana (7272
Meters), former being third highest in Indian Himalayas.
You shall be met by the vehicles at Mana and shall
be transferred to Badrinath, one of the holiest
shrines for Hindus, at Badrinath we shall experience
an atmosphere of devoted spiritual pilgrimages,
for many Hindus this |
is an emotional experience,
above Badrinath is the spectacular conical Mt. Nilkantha
(6596 Meters), literally meaning “Blue Throat”
one of the 1008 names of Lord Shiva.
Overnight in Guest House / Tents |
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| Day
16: Badrinath – Joshimath – Auli |
Drive through the narrow
and swinging journey to the alpine meadow of Auli, a ski
resort in winters with slopes to cater all needs.
Overnight at Hotel |
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Day
17: Auli (Day Hike to Gorson Top) |
Morning proceed for
a day hike to Gorson Top, on a clear day views of Mt.
Nanda Devi (7817 Meters) are great. Return to Auli.
Overnight at Hotel |
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18: Auli – Srinagar (Garwhal) – Rishikesh
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We shall drive Rishikesh,
known for Ashrams or religious retreat centres Hub of
various religious activities including lessons in meditation,
and treatment for a variety of stress-induced ailments
using the ancient medical techniques. In the evening visit
to one of the ghats at Rishikesh to witness Aarti on the
banks of River Ganges, an important Hindu ritual.
Overnight at Hotel |
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19: Rishikesh – Delhi Drive 6-7 Hours |
| AM: sight seeing of
Rishikesh, afternoon proceed for a half day drive to Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and check into your hotel. |
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| Day
20: Delhi – Outbound |
Delhi, India’s modern capital
is also an ancient city tracing its origins in legend.
It is dotted with hundreds of landmarks and offers more
than a millennium of history in stone. From here various
Hindu and Muslim dynasties including the Mughals ruled
India. No fewer than 7 cities had stood on this site before
the British rulers of India created here their dream capital
designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Full day combined city tour of Old and New Delhi visiting
Qutub Minar, India Gate (War Memorial), Lakshimanarayan
temple – modern Hindu temple, drive past President’s
House, Parliament House and Secratariat buildings. Also
visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana – cremation sites
of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Also visit Jama
Masjid and drive past Red fort and Chandni Chowk. |
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Dzukou Valley Tour
