At the end of April 2007 I got a chance to visit Gangothri, temple for the river Ganga.

Gangothri is around 450 kms from Delhi and 3048 m from sea level. Myself along with my friends started on 28/04/2007 (Friday) by 10 pm.

There were two cabs, six in each. The whole journey from Delhi was filled with fun. In my cab we were making fun of each other and commenting on different topics. At one point of time to make the journey more interesting we started taking opinion poll on topics like, the beautiful lady, sexiest lady of Satyam (Gurgaon), and the biggest fool (male) of Satyam (Gurgaon). On the way we took a break of three hours as the drivers were so tired after a long drive.

We were able to reach Gangothri only next day night at 8 pm, nearly 280 kms has to be covered in hilly regions. The temperature was 2 degree Celsius when we reached Gangothri. We stayed there for that night in a guest house and next day morning by 10 am we stared to Gaumukh. Guest houses in Gangothri are quite cheap and comfortable. There were some ashrams which provide stay and food at free of cost, for Hindus. The guest house where we stayed was very close to bank of river Ganga. For the whole night the water flow was singing lullaby for us. Gaumukh and Gangothri are opened only for six months. For the rest of the year its closed of general public. Extreme winter was the reason given when we enquired about it.

Gaumukh, starting point of Ganga is nearly 18 kms from Gangothri. There were only two possible modes to reach there, either by walk or by hiring a pony. We all, the twelve young bloods started to Gaumukh by walk. Roads were narrow and with boulders blocking half of it. For some distance it was damn steep and we need to search for the way. On the way, for few kilometers we were walking on ice covered rocks. The guide who accompanied us was narrating the look of the location during winter season. We got a chance to see the photograph of it, the whole place was covered with snow, even on the roads there were snow for the height of nearly half a feet.

After crossing 9 kms from Gangothri we reached Chirdvasa, which gives the first view of Bhagirathi peaks. It has some dhabas and camp sites. On the way we enjoyed in some small streams and waterfalls. Though the water temperature was around 4-5 degrees no one bothered about it and we had lot of photo and video sessions. We rested in a dhaba for nearly half an hour to have our lunch. We were left out with just two options, magie and hot tea, which would cost minimum of thirty and five rupees each. Some of my friends were so tired that they took too many breaks in their journey. But I and other few guys had a competition who will reach Gaumukh first; each one was leading the race at one point or the other.

By evening 6 pm we reached Bhojvasa which is nearly 15kms from Gangothri and 3792 m above the sea level. Bhojvasa, a little camp on the way to Gaumukh from Gangothri, place where pilgrims stay at night before reaching Gaumukh. We stayed in an ashram there for that night. For trekkers accommodation is provided by GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam), a Government of Uttaranchal Enterprise. The dinner that was provided by the ashram was not that good. But we cant expect more than that at such a high altitude and worst weather condition. We were charged just 160 rupees for tea, dinner and stay. That night temperature was running in negative. Some how we were able to spend the whole night there.

Next day morning most of the guys fell sick and were not ready to move. Few of us took the work of a mentor and brought them back to their sprits. None of us were interested to leave anyone in ashram just because they were feeling tired. Two to three days of continuous planning and so much pain taken to have a look of Gangothri glaciers should not end fruitless. The path from Bhojvasa to Gaumukh was the worst part of all that we covered for past 15 kms. It was not like trekking, but mountaineering. Fellows who reached Bhojvasa at the last were leading us with great sprit. The urge to have a look of Gaumukh brought the energy back into them.

Four days dream, too many speculations in onward journey was to be tested in few minutes. We were just few meters away from our goal. Excitement started rising for each and every step that we took, at last we touched the 18Th km from Gangothri. Gaumukh was clearly visible to us. We were 4000 m above the sea level. Some started to jump in joy and some started running towards it. Some pious guys started shouting Ganga Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shiv. Gaumukh, a huge mass of ice in semi circular shape was covered with a layer of mud. The ice mass was melting and river Ganga was flowing underneath the ice mass, the water was so chill and muddy. But then we tried to get ourselves wet by splashing water on us and dunking our head in chilled water. The bank which stretched from the snout was covered with pebbles and stones. There were nothing other than the ice mass, this was a great disappoint for us. We always expect some shops at such kind of tourist places, so that we could take souvenir back home. We stayed there for nearly an hour, feeding the birds and posing for the photo shoots. The birds were looking like crow but with a yellow beak and pink legs. It behaved more or less like a dog, coming close to us when we show some eatable to it. The guide said that they were from China.

Further 5 kms from Gaumukh you have Tapovan, a meadow filled with wild flowers and medicinal plants. From there you could have the look of shivling peak. This is the place where the rishis used to do tapas during summer season. Though I was interested and ready to visit it, rest of the guys was saying a big NO. Further 8 kms from Tapovan you have Nandhanvan, which is 4500 m above sea level. Missing these two exciting places I need to return back half hearted. By 11.30 am we started moving back to Bhojvasa. The return journey to Bhojvasa was also difficult as onward journey. We had our lunch in GMVN canteen near to the ashram in Bhojvasa. Without taking any rest I along with four guys started immediately, rest were tired and wanted to enjoy the thrilling pony ride up to Gangothri. Onward pony ride would cost around 1000 rupees and the return journey would cost around 500-600 rupees. I along with other walkers reached Gangothri by 6 pm; we just took rest of 20 minutes on the way. That night we stayed in the same guest house and planned to start next day by morning 5o clock.

It was 8 am but still some hasnt waked up, a typical Indian punctuality. Few of the guys went to Gangothri temple which is just 200 m from our guest house and others were busy shopping. By 10 am we packed everything and started for next 280 kms drive in hilly region. On the way we were discussing our most memorable moments at Gangothri. Around 8 pm we reached Rishikesh. From there till Delhi its a plain region and would take just 6 to 7 hrs drive to reach home. By 11pm we stopped in a road side dhaba for the dinner. One of my friends birthday was on may 2. By 12 midnight we had our small birthday party and regular treat for the birthday boy. For the remaining journey we were singing birthday song in different tunes and different words. Later we started playing the radio jockey game; one person will be the RJ, one will the AD guru and the remaining will the caller. Each one will have to call the RJ and ask him for a song. The fun in that would depend on how the caller and RJ added humor to their conversation. We enjoyed the game and laughed nearly for one and a half an hour and that was one of the best moments of the trip.

We reached home by 4 clock in the morning. Next day all went to office only for the second half.

This trip is my best ever long trip and best ever trekking in my life.

Planning for many more such trips,

Prathap