Gangotri-Gaumukh-Nandanban-Tapovan Trek

Gangotri-Gaumukh-Nandanban-Tapovan Trek
The trek along the holy river Bhagirathi takes you right up to the source of the river-popularly known as Gaumukh (Cow's snout) at the base of the Gangotri glacier. This trek is for adventure lovers and involves mountain climbing, rock climbing and glacier traverse. This trek can however be undertaken by non-mountaineers with sound health also. The trek passes through an orchard of coniferous pine trees at Chirbasa and birch at Bhojbasa. From Bhojbasa one has to trek to Lanka and Gaumukh. From Gaumukh to Nandanvan one traverses along the Gangotri glacier and Chatturangini glacier. One can pitch one's camp at the junction of Chatturangini glacier and Bhagirathi-Gangotri glacier.
From Nandanvan the views of prominent peaks namely - Shivling, Bhagirathi, Sudarshana, Thel, Kedar dome are fabulous. The trek to Tapovan from Nandanvan after crossing the Gangotri glacier and traversing on a rocky face one arrives at the meadows of Tapovan (meditating ground), a green lush valley in the summers confined by many named and un-named peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya. Herds of Bharal (Blue mountain goats) are a common sight here on mountain ridges
According to this legend, King Sagar, after slaying the demons on earth decided to stage in Ashwamegh Yagya as a proclamation of his supremacy. The horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth was to be accompanied by the King's 60,000 sons born to Queen Sumati and one son Asmanjas born of the second queen Kesani. Indra, supreme ruler of the gods feared that he might be deprived of his celestial throne if the 'Yagya' (worship with fire) succeeded and then took away the horse and tied it to the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was then in deep meditation. The sons of the King Sagar searched for the horse and finally found it tied near the meditating sage. Sixty thousand angry sons of King Sagar stormed the ashram of sage Kapil. When he opened his eyes, 60,000 sons had perished by the curse of sage Kapil. Bhagirath, grand son of King Sagar, is believed to have meditated to bring down the Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors and liberate their souls, granting them salvation or Moksha. The Bhagirathi 'Shila' is located near the temple of Ganga where the holy Ganga first descended on earth from heaven.



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