Travelogue of Uttarakhand, Gomukh Trek

3rd June 2013.

Today was a Monday. The most eagerly awaited day had come. We got up at 5am. We were out of the room by 5.30am. We had a very light breakfast in a nearby hotel . A young guy was seated next to us and seemed as he was either going to Gomukh or coming back. After enquiring with him, he said he is coming back from Gomukh. He informed that this is a very tough trek. He was somewhere around 30 years. It had taken 4 days for him to complete the trek. He said on the first day he could go to Chirbasa only which is 9km. Second day he went to Bhojbasa which is 5 kms more. Next day he went to Gomukh and came back to Bhojbasa, and fourth day he came from Bhojbasa to Gangotri. He also warned that we should not take this trek as we had young kids, (My younger one is 11 years old). We reassured him, and said we have done all the necessary things. We had physically prepared ourselves, we had done acclimatization, and also we had hired a porter to carry a small load that we intend to carry. The small load was of warm clothing’s and some eatables. Our Guide cum porter Mr. Sunil had come.

3rd June 2013.
Today was a Monday. The most eagerly awaited day had come. We got up at 5am. We were out of the room by 5.30am. We had a very light breakfast in a nearby hotel . A young guy was seated next to us and seemed as he was either going to Gomukh or coming back. After enquiring with him, he said he is coming back from Gomukh. He informed that this is a very tough trek. He was somewhere around 30 years. It had taken 4 days for him to complete the trek. He said on the first day he could go to Chirbasa only which is 9km. Second day he went to Bhojbasa which is 5 kms more. Next day he went to Gomukh and came back to Bhojbasa, and fourth day he came from Bhojbasa to Gangotri. He also warned that we should not take this trek as we had young kids, (My younger one is 11 years old). We reassured him, and said we have done all the necessary things. We had physically prepared ourselves, we had done acclimatization, and also we had hired a porter to carry a small load that we intend to carry. The small load was of warm clothing’s and some eatables. Our Guide cum porter Mr. Sunil had come.
So we were ready to go at 6am. We were at the first check post at 6.30am. There, official checked our permits and allowed us to proceed. By now it was drizzling and we removed the disposable raincoats from the bag and wore it. Since it was cloudy and it wasnt sunny, walking was easy and non tiring. We proceeded by the winding road, soaking in the beauty of the nature and reached at Chirbasa at 10am. That means we had covered a distance of 9km in 4hrs. After relaxing and having some food we proceeded to Bhojbasa. The stretch between Chirbasa to Bhojbasa is a tricky and a dangerous one. The mountains are all of mud and pebbles. And if the gushing wind dislodges a small pebble, it leads a a huge mud slide. So our guide was with us to guide us through this stretch. Basically one should be careful and watch if stones and pebbles are sliding down. If they are, one should wait till it stops and only then proceed. During our trek there was no such activity as there was no strong wind. So we reached safe and sound at Bhojbasa at 1330 hrs(1.30pm).So we had covered the next 5 kms in 2 hrs and 30 mins. Our guide told us that he will go down(The tents and residential ashrams are at a 500meters descend) and keep the rucksack and come to Gomukh and we should proceed to Gomukh without coming down. We followed his instruction. After resting for 30 minutes we started for Gomukh. The road here is very stony, but has been marked well, so one might find their way easily. By the time we had covered 2 kms, the guide had joined us. We were walking at an easy pace, and reached Gomukh at 1600hrs(4pm). That means we had covered the distance of 4 kms in 2 hours. The sight of the Gomukh was just splendid. Flanked by Bhagirathi peaks behind and Shivling Peak on the right, it was a majestic view beyond description. We were also wondering why it felt so hard for some people to trek here, where as we could do it very easily, and thought may be because of either no physical preparation or no acclimatization. We were talking and smiling recounting the story told by that young man in the morning. We soaked in the beauty and took some photos of these mesmerizing surroundings. I alone went a little further near Gomukh, and took some photos from a distance of 500 meters. We filled up a bottle of water here, and after spending an hour here we were ready to go back. We started back at 1700hrs(5pm) and at an easy pace reached Bhojbasa at 1900hrs(7pm). There our guide had kept his luggage in Rambaba Ashram, which has a tent, with beds and comfortable mattresses with enough of blankets and Rajai. Only grouse is the food is pathetic. We were charged Rs 300 per head, that included food and stay. We had to pay for the guide also. So here we were all tired after walking 22 kms, or rather 23 kms, in the tent taking rest. We had our food and we in the bed by 9pm. It was nice that we were carrying all the clothing’s for cold as it was bitter cold here. It is surprising that at the height of summer, in early June, where the temp rises to 45 and 50 degrees Celsius in the plains, here it was so cold, that it must be hovering around 0 degree C.