Garhwal Pilgrim Trek - Nomadays

India

Garhwal Pilgrim Trek

SNOWY SILENCES, SACRED TRAILS

The region’s natural bounty is rich and diverse: Snow-bond peaks, crystal glacier, jagged rock faces, scenic valleys, meandering rivers, and cascading waterfalls and dense forests. Add to this a friendly and hospitable people, with a rich culture. No wonder, walking along India’s ancient pilgrim routes is where we have some of the most magnificent Himalayan experiences.


We begin with a 1,500m ascent from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, a major pilgrimage centre with an anci...

See more

Day 1Traditional Welcome on arrival

Day 1Traditional Welcome on arrival

  • Arrive at the International airport of Delhi. After the traditional welcome, transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

6h 30m-240km
Rishikesh

Day 2Drive to Rishikesh - Birth place of Yoga

Day 2Drive to Rishikesh - Birth place of Yoga

Delhi - Rishikesh

  • In the morning we drive to Rishikesh, situated on the banks of The Ganges. Rishikesh is said to be the birth place of yoga and known as the gateway to four major Dhams (pilgrimage sites) of Hindus - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Upon arrival here we are transferred to hotel for check-in. In the evening we visit the Ghats of river Ganga to see the Aarti ceremony- spectacle of sights, sounds and chanting. Rishikesh, flanked by The Shivalik range of the Himalayas is well known for its scenic beauty and spiritual experience.

Rishikesh
8h-260km
Gauri Kund

Day 3Uphill drive to Gaurikund

Day 3Uphill drive to Gaurikund

Rishikesh - Gauri Kund

  • Today we drive uphill almost full day along the serpentine road on the right side of river Ganges up to Devprayag. Here Bhagirathi from Gaumukh and Alaknanda from Satopanth join to form the sacred river of Ganges. We continue via Srinagar to Rudraprayag where we turn left on the side of Mandakini River and continue further to reach Gaurikund. Arrive & check-in to the lodge.

Meal and accommodations
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Sunil Lodge
Accommodation: Sunil Lodge
Gauri Kund
6h-14km
Kedarnath

Day 4Trek to Kedarnath (3500m)

Day 4Trek to Kedarnath (3500m)

Gauri Kund - Kedarnath

  • Today our trek starts with a gentle climb to Kedarnath. During the pilgrimage season there are chances to get mingled with the pilgrims who come from different parts of India; some of the devotees, Sadhus (holy men), women and children (unable to walk) being carried in palanquins (carrying chairs). The trek passes through rich, green and beautiful valleys, tumbling waterfalls and stark mountains with constant view of river Mandakini rolling down. Kedarnath Temple dedicated to lord Shiva and built by Pandavas after the war of Mahabharata, stands facing the Mandakini Valley against the background of some majestic peaks. The stone shrine of Kedarnath is at an altitude of (3500m).
    Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs
    Distance: 14 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Sunil Lodge
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Sunil Lodge
Kedarnath
4h 30m-14km
Gauri Kund

Day 5Tracking Back to Gauri Kund

Day 5Tracking Back to Gauri Kund

Kedarnath - Gauri Kund

  • Early morning we pay a visit to this holy shrine to feel the spiritual atmosphere in and around the temple; witness devotees buying incense and flowers from the shops near the temple to offer to Lord Shiva in the temple; and chasing the priests to perform rituals to pray for their families. Later we descend back to Gaurikund.
    Duration of Trek: 4-5 Hrs
    Distance: 14 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Sunil Lodge
Gauri Kund
1h-10km
Triyugi Narayan
5h-12km
Maggu

Day 6Drive to Triyugi Narayan and Trek to Maggu

Day 6Drive to Triyugi Narayan and Trek to Maggu

Gauri Kund - Triyugi Narayan

  • In the morning, we take a short transfer up to the trek starting point and walk around 1 hour through some rice fields up to Triyugi Narayan Temple. Legends say that Lord Shiva got married to goddess Parvati here.

Triyugi Narayan - Maggu

  • We continue our trek with gradual ascents passing through a beautiful village and dense forest; green meadows and pastures with spectacular views of snow peaked mountain ranges.
    Duration of Trek: 5 Hrs
    Distance: 12 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Sunil Lodge
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Maggu
7h-15km
Panwali Kantha

Day 7Trek to Panwali Kantha via Dhupandha

Day 7Trek to Panwali Kantha via Dhupandha

Maggu - Panwali Kantha

  • This day, one of the most exciting days on the trek, provides us magnificent views of surrounding mountains and landscapes. We begin with a gradual climb for about 2 hours from the camp to Maggu Top. From the top ridge one can appreciate the panoramic views of high mountain peaks of Kedarnath, Sumeru Parvat and other snow-covered peaks. We walk a long way on the ridge overlooking the valley of rhododendrons and bamboos that provides us a chance to spot some wildlife such as black faced langoors (a species of monkeys) and deer. We then walk through a small but very beautiful village of Panwali before reaching our camp.
    Duration of Trek: 7 Hrs
    Distance: 15 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Panwali Kantha
7h-16km
Ghuttu (1600m)

Day 8Trek to Ghuttu

Day 8Trek to Ghuttu

Panwali Kantha - Ghuttu (1600m)

  • Today's trek starts with gradual ascent for about half an hour to Panwali Pass where one can appreciate panoramic views of the massive of Nanda Devi (7817m) on one side and fantastic views of forests, green meadows and pastures on the other. The trail then descends for about 6 hrs through thick forests up to the base and after crossing a big stream; the trail passes through Ghuttu Village with its rice fields.
    Duration of Trek: 7 Hrs
    Distance: 16 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Ghuttu (1600m)
6h-10km
Bhairon Chatti

Day 9Trek to Bhairon Chatti

Day 9Trek to Bhairon Chatti

Ghuttu (1600m) - Bhairon Chatti

  • Today our 6-7 hr. trek starts with a gradual acclivity. The trail passes through some beautiful villages where people welcome us with a smile and men are eager to talk to us. Watching ladies working in rice fields and small children running here and there makes our day a wonderful experience. We continue through thick forests and alpine meadows to reach Bhairon Chatti. We camp at a beautiful site with lush green ground near Bhairon Temple with fantastic views of some high mountains and thick forest.
    Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs
    Distance: 10 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Bhairon Chatti
6h-13km
Buda Kedar

Day 10Trek to Buda Kedar

Day 10Trek to Buda Kedar

Bhairon Chatti - Buda Kedar

  • Today we have about 6-7 hours trek starting with gradual descent through thick forests for about 2 hours and then almost a flat walk through some rice fields leading us to a picturesque village of Binakkhal. We continue our trek on the trail that again passes through forests all the way down for about 2.5 hours to Agunda via Buda Kedar located near River Bal Ganga.
    Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs
    Distance: 13 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Buda Kedar
5h-16km
Belak Pass (2950m)

Day 11Trek to Belak Pass

Day 11Trek to Belak Pass

Buda Kedar - Belak Pass (2950m)

  • Today our 5-6 hours long trek starts with a gradual walk through the village. After crossing Bal Ganga by wooden bridge at Jalla we walk uphill through thick forests and some pastures up to Belak, which is on the border line of Chamoli and Uttarkashi towns, to camp at the top of the forest.
    Duration of Trek: 5 Hrs
    Distance: 16 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Belak Pass (2950m)
4h-10km
Malla
2h-75km
Gangotri

Day 12Trek till Malla and drive to Gangotri

Day 12Trek till Malla and drive to Gangotri

Belak Pass (2950m) - Malla

  • Today our 4-5 hour long trek starts with gradual descent towards Lata. The trail passes through dense forests for about 3-4 hours to the bottom of the forest. We cross a big stream walking over a beautiful wooden bridge and then a level walk up to Malla, the road head, which connects Uttarkashi with Gangotri .
    Duration of Trek: 4 Hrs
    Distance: 10 Kms

Malla - Gangotri

  • Transfer to Gangotri (75 kms) by bus/Jeep. We arrive in Gangotri and check-in to our lodge.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Hotel Mandakini
Gangotri
6h-14km
Bhojbasa

Day 13Trek to Bhojbasa via Chirbasa

Day 13Trek to Bhojbasa via Chirbasa

Gangotri - Bhojbasa

  • The second part of the trek starts with a gradual ascent through the forest. From Gangotri we move along the beaten track towards Chirbasa, with a thick tree line. We follow the river Bhagirathi which takes the form of Holy Ganga on joining Alaknanda River after a few kilometers down. The views of high peaks are spectacular and the trail sometimes passes through forests full of deodars and conifers all the way up to Chirbasa but beyond Chirbasa all the way up to Bhojbasa the terrain becomes really desolate and barren. We arrive in Bhojbasa that has a small temple down the river. We camp near the river side. Afternoon is free to explore the area and to enjoy excellent sunset on Bhagirathi group of peaks.
    Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs
    Distance: 14 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Bhojbasa
6h-9km
Tapovan

Day 14Trek to Tapovan via Gaumukh

Day 14Trek to Tapovan via Gaumukh

Bhojbasa - Tapovan

  • Today we trek to Tapovan via Gaumukh enjoying the panoramic view of Bhagirathi group of peaks on our way. Gaumukh is the spot where water of Ganga trickles down from the glaciers into the Gangotri Valley and beyond. We arrive in Gaumukh and explore the area. Later, we continue our trek to Tapovan, one of the finest high-altitude alpine meadows in the area. The trek from Gaumukh to Tapovan is an ascent crossing over the Gaumukh Glacier. As one climbs up the trail the view of the surrounding peaks becomes clearer and the peaks appear to be just a stone's throw away. Tapovan is known for its beautiful meadows that encircle the base camp of The Shivling Peak that is visited by hundreds of tourists, mountaineers, trekkers and ascetics every year. Tapovan is a very pleasant surprise spot with a large meadow replete with bubbling streams, wildflowers and campsites.
    Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs
    Distance: 9 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Tapovan
5h-14km
Chirbasa

Day 15Trek to Chirbasa via Bhojbasa

Day 15Trek to Chirbasa via Bhojbasa

Tapovan - Chirbasa

  • Tapovan is a convenient base camp for climbers expeditions to different peaks and is a real delight for the keen and enthusiastic photographers. Early morning light makes the surrounding scenery an unforgettable experience while one enjoys the view of the golden rays of sunrise on high peaks and the crisp and dazzling morning sun on the campsite. Post breakfast we make a swift descent down to Bhojbasa, covering the seemingly endless trek in a matter of hours. We arrive in Bhojbasa and explore the local area.
    Duration of Trek: 5 Hrs
    Distance: 14 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Camping
Chirbasa
4h-8km
Gangotri
4h-95km
Uttarkashi

Day 16Trek till Gangotri and drive to Uttarkashi

Day 16Trek till Gangotri and drive to Uttarkashi

Chirbasa - Gangotri

  • After a walk for about a couple of hours, we reach Gangotri where we meet our vehicle that carries us down to our lodge at Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi is situated on the bank of Bhagirathi River and is home to numerous temples and ashrams (4-5 hrs drive). In the evening, we have free time to explore the town.
    Duration of Trek: 4 Hrs
    Distance: 8 Kms

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: Hotel Jahanvi
Uttarkashi
5h-125km
Rishikesh

Day 17Drive to Rishikesh

Day 17Drive to Rishikesh

Uttarkashi - Rishikesh

  • After an early breakfast, we set out on another beautiful drive (6 hrs) to Rishikesh via Chamba. In the afternoon, we have an option to visit Lakshman Jhula or surrounding temples. There is also a chance to attend evening prayer at Triveni Ghat.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Hotel Jahanvi
Lunch: Restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel Neeraj Bhawan
Rishikesh
6h 30m-240km

Day 18Return to Delhi visiting Haridwar

Day 18Return to Delhi visiting Haridwar

Rishikesh - Delhi

  • Early morning we leave Rishikesh and drive to Delhi. En-route, we visit Haridwar which is one of the holiest places for Hindus in India. We visit Har ki Pauri where the pilgrims have a holy dip in the Ganges. We continue our drive to Delhi where we are transferred to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 19Departure from Delhi

Day 19Departure from Delhi

  • Today is a free day to relax or to explore Old and New Delhi. In the evening, we are transferred to International Airport to catch our flights to our respective destinations.