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Gomukh | |
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Gaumukh or Gomukhi | |
![]() Gomukh, "Face of a Cow", the pout of the glacier along the river | |
Location | Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India |
Coordinates | 30°55′36″N79°4′51″E / 30.92667°N 79.08083°E |
Status | Retreating |
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Gomukh, also known as "Gaumukh" or "Gomukhi" (Hindi: गौमुख or गौमुखी ; Assamese and Bengali: গোমুখ or গোমুখী), is the terminus or snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi River, one of the primary headstreams of the Ganga River. The word Gomukh/Gaumukh (go/gau=cow, mukh= mouth) literally means "Mouth of a Cow."
The place is situated at a height of 13,200 ft (4,023 m) in the Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas with an estimated volume of over 27 cubic kilometers.
It is a Hindu holy pilgrimage site, visited by many who visit Gangotri. It is around 20km away from Gangotri and can be reached by trekking. [1] [2]
Gomukh is mentioned in the Puranas. It is said there that, searching a lost sheep, a boy reached near a glacier in Gangotri, the snout of which exactly looked like the face of a cow, and thus it got its name 'Gomukh'.
Gomukh is 18 km from Gangotri in the foothills of Bhagirathi at a height of 4255m. It is the snout of the Gangotri Glacier.
Around the snout, nature presents a wild topography. There are boulders scattered here and there with some pieces of broken snow, along with the hard clayey snow of the glacier.
The Gomukh snout is rapidly moving backwards. According to the modern research the snout has moved 1 km in just 70 years.
The first and foremost thing for Gomukh trek is that you must have permission from (D.F.O.) District forest officer, Uttarkashi. Only 150 permits are issued per day, permission can be taken via fax also. [3] The trail to Gomukh begins from Gangotri, about 18 km (11.2 mi) from Gomukh. It was heavily damaged by rockslides by the 2013 North Indian Floods as was road access to Gangotri.
9 km ahead of Gangotri is Chirbasa, the abode of Chir trees. After 3 km of Chirbasa comes the dangerous Gila Pahar, the place well known for its landslides even prior to the 2013 destruction of much of the trail here; near-sheer cliffs down to the river must now be traversed. Here the Bharals, a type of mountain antelope, are sometimes seen. The Bharals are found above the altitude of 10,000 ft. Only 4 km from here is Bhujbasa, the only night halting place on the way with buildings. One can stay at the GMVN Bungalow, or at the Lalbaba's Ashram or at Ram Baba's ashram. [4] After trekking 41/2km from Bhujbasa, one reaches Gomukh, the snout of the Gangotri Glacier.A little before Gomukh, the majestic view of Mt. Shivling welcomes the trekkers to the place.
On the trail no horses are allowed, so one must take preparations to walk on foot. The trek to Tapovan and Nandanvan starts from here.
The route after 'Bhojbasa' can be quite difficult, more so since the 2013 floods. One has to cross a boulder zone to reach the Gomukh snout.
The trek beyond Gomukh is quite difficult. Crossing the glacier and going towards Tapovan has become quite dangerous nowadays because of the landslides. There is no track and one must have a guide and should be prepared to face any type of accident which can even be a life-threatening one. The last climb to reach Tapovan is very stiff, within 2 km a climb of around 1500 foot and is quite a challenging experience.
You may apply for an online permit, [5] even with an online permit you would still need to get it verified at the district magistrate uttrakasi office.
Gangotriglacier is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India in a region bordering Tibet. This glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganges, has a volume of over 27 cubic kilometers. The glacier is about 30 kilometres long and 2 to 4 km wide. Around the glacier are the peaks of the Gangotri Group, including several peaks notable for extremely challenging climbing routes, such as Shivling, Thalay Sagar, Meru, and Bhagirathi III. It flows roughly northwest, originating in a cirque below Chaukhamba, the highest peak of the group.
Gangotri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat (municipality) in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is 99 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarter. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi – the origin of the river Ganges. The town is located on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). According to a popular Hindu legend, the goddess Ganga descended here when Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair.
The Bhāgīrathī is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In the Hindu faith, history, and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the source stream of the Ganges. However, in hydrology, the other headstream Alaknanda, is considered the source stream on account of its great length and discharge. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devprayag in Garhwal and are thereafter known as the Ganges.
Gangotri National Park is a national park in Uttarkashi District in the eponymous state in India, covering about 2,390 km2 (920 sq mi). Its habitat consists of coniferous forests, alpine meadows and glaciers. Gaumukh at Gangotri glacier, the origin of the river Ganga, is located inside the park. Gangotri National Park was established in 1989.
Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a town located in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, India. Uttarkashi town is headquarters of the district. Uttarkashi is also known as Somya Kashi. Uttarkashi is a Hindu religious place for spiritual and adventurous tourism. Uttarkashi town is also called as Shivnagri. The town has number of temples and ashrams. Uttarkashi is known for its religious people, weather, education.
Tapovana (Sanskrit) comes from the two root words tapas, meaning 'penance' and by extension 'religious mortification' and 'austerity', and more generally 'spiritual practice', and vana, meaning 'forest' or 'thicket'. Tapovana then translates as 'forest of austerities or spiritual practice'. Though pronounced the same in Hindi, tapovana should not be confused with tapovan, which means a person engaged in austerity.
Gangotri is a town and pilgrimage centre in Uttarakhand, India.
Bhilangna River is a Himalayan river in Uttarakhand, India, which is the major tributary of the Bhagirathi river, the source stream of the Ganges River of India. Bhilangana is a combination of Bhil and Ganga.
Shivling is a mountain in the Gangotri Group of peaks in the western Garhwal Himalaya, near the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, one of the biggest glaciers in the Himalayas, and Tapovan, a beautiful lush meadows, both being also popular pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. It lies in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of the Hindu holy site of Gaumukh. Its name refers to its status as a sacred symbol – Shiva Linga. It was called "Matterhorn Peak" by early European visitors because of its similarity in appearance to that Alpine peak. While not of locally great elevation, it is a dramatic rock peak, and the most visually striking peak as seen from Gaumukh; that and the difficulty of the climb make it a famed prize for mountaineers.
Swami Sundaranand was an Indian Yogi, photographer, author and mountaineer who lectured widely in India on threats to the Ganges River and the loss of Himalayan glaciers due to global warming.
Nelang or Nilang is a river valley of the Himalayas, containing a small eponymous village, in the Uttarkashi District of the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is close to the disputed Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control (LAC), and is also claimed by China as part of Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture of Tibet.
Maneri is a town in Uttarakhand, India. Situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi 8 km north of Uttarkashi, it is the home of Maneri Dam and the terminating railway station on Chota Char Dham Railway nearest to Gangotri.
Bhagirathi Massif or Bhagirathi Group is a mountain range of Garhwal Himalaya in Gangotri Glacier Uttarakhand India, It has four peaks between 6856 meter and 6193 meter. The Bhagirathi I summits is 6856 meter or 22493 feet. It was first climbed by A Japanese team in 1980. It is surrounded by Glaciers on four side on the eastern side of the Massif is Vasuki Glacier, on the western side its Gangotri Glacier the main glacier in this area, northern side is surrounded by Chaturangi Glacier and southern side guarded by Swachhhand Glacier.
Vasuki Parbat or Vasuki Parvat is a mountain range of Garhwal Himalaya in Vasuki Glacier Uttarakhand, India. It has a subsidiary peak, Vasuki south. Vasuki Parbat stands majestically at 6792 meter and the south peak 6702 at meter. Its the 35th highest located entirely within the uttrakhand India. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category.
Chaturbhuj is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand, India. The elevation of Chaturbhuj is 6,654 metres (21,831 ft) and its prominence is 357 metres (1,171 ft). It is 52nd highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. Chaturbhuj lies between the Matri 6,721 metres (22,051 ft) and Shwetvarn 6,340 metres (20,801 ft). Its nearest higher neighbor Yogeshwar lies 2.7 km east. It is located 5.9 km NW of chirbas Parbat 6,529 metres (21,421 ft) and 8.5 km east lies Sri Kailash 6,932 metres (22,743 ft).
Satopanth South West also called P. 6770 is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand, India. The elevation of Satopanth south west is 6,770 metres (22,211 ft) and its prominence is 195 metres (640 ft). It is 40th highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. It lies in the same connecting ridge that joins Satopanth and Bhagirathi Parbat I. It lies 1.8 km SW of Satopanth. Its nearest higher neighbor Satopanth 7,075 metres (23,212 ft). It is located 3.4 km SE of Vasuki South 6,702 metres (21,988 ft) and 5.2 km NNW lies Bhagirathi I 6,856 metres (22,493 ft).
Jogin I is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand India.The elevation of Jogin I is 6,465 metres (21,211 ft) and its prominence is 843 metres (2,766 ft). It is 94th highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. It lies 5.4 km east of Gangotri III and 7.4 km west of Bhrigupanth 6,772 metres (22,218 ft). It lies 2.2 km South of Jogin II. Its nearest higher neighbor is Gangotri III 6,577 metres (21,578 ft). It is located 6.9 km NW of Thalaysagar 6,904 metres (22,651 ft) and 8.8 km NW lies Gangotri I 6,682 metres (21,923 ft).
Jogin II is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand India.The elevation of Jogin II is 6,342 metres (20,807 ft) and its prominence is 259 metres (850 ft). It is 110th highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. It lies 6.2 km east of Gangotri III and 7 km west of Bhrigupanth 6,772 metres (22,218 ft). It lies 2.2 km north of Jogin I. Its nearest higher neighbor is Jogin I 6,465 metres (21,211 ft). It is located 7.2 km NW of Thalay Sagar 6,904 metres (22,651 ft) and 8.5 km NW lies Gangotri I 6,682 metres (21,923 ft).
Vasuki Parbat South is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand, India. The elevation of Vasuki Parbat South is 6,702 metres (21,988 ft) and its prominence is 280 metres (919 ft). It is 49th highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. It lies 1.6 km south of Vasuki Parbat its nearest higher neighbor 6,792 metres (22,283 ft) and 2.7 km east of Bhagirathi Parbat I 6,856 metres (22,493 ft). It is located 4.6 km SE of Bhagirathi Parbat II 6,512 metres (21,365 ft) and 4.1 km SE lies Satopanth 7,075 metres (23,212 ft).
Shwetvarna is a mountain of the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand India.The elevation of Shwetvarna is 6,340 metres (20,801 ft) and its prominence is 240 metres (787 ft). It is 111th joint highest located entirely within the Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi, is the highest mountain in this category. It lies 1.2 km SSE of Chaturbhuj 6,654 metres (21,831 ft) its nearest higher neighbor and it is 1.2 km SSW of Sudarshan Parbat 6,507 metres (21,348 ft). It lies 3 km NW of Shyamvarn 6,135 metres (20,128 ft).