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Nag Tibba Trek

Into the abode of the God of Snakes

Nag Tibba, the highest peak in the lesser Himalayan range in Garwahal, Uttarakhand; is considered to be the abode of the God of Snakes (Nag Devta). The peak thus also borrows part of its name from the God; Nag (Snake) and Tibba (Top). The top affords spectacular views of the Yamnotri Valley. Magnificent peaks like the Banderpoonch, Kala Nag, Swargrohini and so on, will not only captivate but also enthral you.

Short itinerary

Day	From	To	Altitude	Distance /Time
Day 1	Mussoorie	Pantwari	1394 m	88 km/4hrs (by car)
	Pantwari	Goat Village Home Stay	2562 m	2 km/1hrs
Day 2	Goat Village Home Stay	Jhandi (Summit)	2977 m	5 km/5hrs
	Jhandi (Summit)	Goat Village Home Stay	2562 m	5km/3hrs
Day 3	Goat Village Home Stay	Pantwari	1394 m	2km/1hrs
	Pantwari	Dehradun		88 km/4hrs (by car)

Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate

Best Months: March to May; September to January (January is the best time to witness snow)

Detailed Itinerary

Pantwari to Goat Village Home Stay

On this the very first day the walk is only 2km to the Goat Village and it is exposed with little or no tree cover. However, the views one experiences spread as far as the eye can see below the horizon line. You reach the Goat Village before you can start feeling tired. The Goat Village is a beautiful place to rest and get the feel of village life. The sunset from the Goat Village is breathtaking. In the evening you can walk around the place to get acquainted with it and call it an early night and get ready for the next day’s walk.

Goat Village Home Stay to the Summit

The walk this day is easy but very long as compared to the one witnessed the day before but it is amazingly beautiful. You will walk through a mixed forest that will transport your imagination to the wilds of our forefathers. As you near the top a quaint meadow begins to emerge that then carries on till the top and cascades on to all sides of the summit. And then come the views of the abode of the Gods. The Himalayan range spread out in front of you will take your breath away and transform you to a trance like state. As you sit there with 180 degree views one doesn’t want to leave and come down.

From the summit we descend back down to the Goat Village. This walk down is just as spectacular as the views you will see from the summit, a mixed descent that is in places steep and in some places gentle. The entire way is surrounded by a lush Rhododendron and Blue Pine forest. This walk is a pleasurable assault on all your senses.

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Mt Rudugheira (5819m) Expedition

Mt Rudugaira is located in the Rudu Valley inside the Garhwal Himalayas. The Rudu Valley offers an approach for the peaks in the Gangotri Massif as well as for Auden’s Col. Rudugaira is a perfect training peak for beginners who are trying to get some experience of high mountain climbing.

It is not a technical mountain and the difficulty grade of the mountain differs from season to season. It is tougher to climb in the pre monsoon season where the presence of deep soft snow requires one to have knowledge of how to walk with boots and crampons as well as know how to use an ice axe. This peak therefore offers the perfect conditions for those wishing to learn the basics of mountain climbing.

In the post monsoon session the challenges offered are not of snow but dexterity and balance. The mountain is almost completely slate and careful stepping maneuvers are required. The effects of altitude of course remain the same.

Short Itinerary

Day	From	To	Altitude	Distance/Time
Day 1	Dehradun	Uttarkashi	1352m	120km (by car)
Day 2	Uttarkashi (Issuing of equipment)
	Uttarkashi	Harsil	3048m	90 km(by car)
Day 3	Harsil	Gangotri	3100m	15km (by car)
	Gangotri	Nala Camp	3450m	14km/7hrs
Day 4	Nala Camp	Base Camp	4450m	10km/6hrs
Day 5	Base Camp	Camp I	4600m	7km/3hrs
Day 6	Camp I	Summit Camp	5000m	4-5hours
Day 7	Summit Camp	Summit Attempt	5819m
	Summit	Base Camp
Day 8	Base Camp	Harsil
Day 9	Harsil	Dehradun
Day 10	Extra Summit Day

Expedition Grade: Easy to Moderate

Best Months: Mid May to Mid June, Mid September to End October

Detailed Itinerary

Gangotri to Nala Camp

Our climb starts from Gangotri and it is a two day march to Base Camp. At Gangotri we cross the Bhagirathi River and start walking down away from the town and towards the Rudu Valley. This same trek right up to Base Camp is also the approach to the famous Auden’s Col trek.

Almost the entire trek on this day is through a thick forest of Pine and Deodar trees. It starts as soon as we get out of town. Along the route around 3km from Gangotri is Pandu Gufa, a large cave that according to legend the Pandavs took refuge in during their years of exile. Now a Sadhu lives there to meditate.

Near the Pandu Gufa is a fork in the trail and we start climbing up into the forest. All this while we keep the Rudu Ganga to our right and walk for about 4-5km kilometers till we come to a small log bridge that we use to cross the Rudu Gard and from here on the river remains on our left till Nala Camp.

Even though the trek is long on this day it is quite a pleasure. The Rudu Valley unlike the Gangotri Valley is green and heavily forested coupled with the constant sound of the river it is an assault on the senses. The only challenge we will face on this day of the trek is quite close to the Nala Camp where we shall encounter 3 or 4 landslides which we have cross to get to the campsite.

The Nala Camp is a small campsite right next to the river.

Nala Camp to Base Camp

The trek on this day to Base Camp is as different from the one to Nala Camp as the sun from the moon. Where the day before we had walked in a closed valley that was heavily wooded today we walk along high, open and lush meadows. As soon as we start walking from Nala Camp we climb up a small hillock that takes 15 minutes to get to the top. Once on the top enormous, green meadows can be seen as far as the eye can see and the whole valley opens up.

We continue up and down various nalas that cut across the meadows for some kilometers. The last stretch to Base Camp is the most challenging. Not because it is technical but only because it is a bit steep. After we have crossed the meadow we reach a final nala, the steep section starts here. It takes about an hour and a half to climb up to the top and we are at Base Camp.

Base Camp is another meadow and one can not only see the meadow around but since we are at a height we can also see the entire meadow we crossed to get there as well as the path that continues to the Gangotri Base Camp.

Base Camp to Camp I

On this day we have mixed it up a bit and done away with the traditional day of acclamitisation at Base Camp. Instead of staying put we shift camp a little higher up the mountain. It’s not much and one can mostly reach camp in less than two hours and it’s not much higher up from Base Camp as well.

The initial way is through the meadow and then we take a short traverse of about half an hour across a moraine area. The camp is just over the moraine.

This move is advantageous as we climb a bit higher up the mountain and that it is not too strenuous. Once at the camp one is free to do as they please, read, chat up the rest of the team or play cards. This move not only aids in acclimatisation but also closes the distance to the Summit Camp.

Camp I to Summit Camp

The climb up to Summit Camp will take about 4 hours and is a mixture of rocky and meadow like terrain. There is a slight incline throughout the way. From here on we start seeing a lot of the peaks that surround the area the three Gangotris, Srikantha and the trail towards Auden’s Col.

The Camp Site itself is a small flat grassy area that affords more than anything else amazing views of the meadows below.

Summit Camp to the Summit

The summit attempt starts early in the morning and the usual call time will be 4am. The stretch from the Summit Camp up to the Summit is steep and there is a general incline of about 50-60 degrees. As soon as we leave Summit Camp in the morning we encounter a moraine like area. In fact most of the climb this day is on rocky terrain, unless of course it snows. In any case in all conditions there will be a lot of snow patches mixed with the rocky patches.

As we start walking from the Summit Camp we traverse left and catch the ridge that we follow almost to the Summit. As we walk along this ridge below us we can see the crevasse ridden area below Gangotri I. Just as the sun starts to rise we see the three Gangotris bathed in orange hues. This is a sight that is not easily forgotten and has brought many a seasoned climber to tears.

Mt Rudugheria has 3 false summits before the actual summit. These are large humps and as one approaches each it seems that this might be the summit, however, as one reaches the top of each we realise that we still more to go. The summit cannot be seen from Summit Camp or on the climb up till we are almost to the top. Nearing the top of the mountain we leave the ridge that we have been following and traverse slightly to the right and take a more central line up to the top.

It takes an average of 5 hours to get to the summit from Summit Camp. The view from the top is truly a thing out of dreams. The three Gangotris that have been with us throughout the climb can be seen in all their majesty. We can also now see far up the Bhagirathi valley, where we can see the three Bhagirathi peaks, Sudarshan, Shivling and many more peaks.

It takes another 3 to hours to get back to Summit Camp from the Summit and a further 4 hours to get to the Base Camp. So this day is the most strenuous of all and we are on our feet for almost 12 hours. However, the views from the top and the sense of achievement and the elation and adrenaline drive us through the day.

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Kedartal Trek

Kedar Tal is a mesmerising lake situated at the base of the mountains Thalay Sagar (6904m), Bhrigupanth (6772m) and Manda. The waters of Kedar Tal are crystal clear and on days when the water is calm a magnificent reflection of Thalay Sagar can be seen mirrored in the lake. It is truly a sight to be seen, almost makes one subscribe to the theory of suspension of disbelief and believe that there are indeed two mountains, one above the water and one below.

Kedar Tal is also the source of the Kedar Ganga which is a tributary of the Bhagirathi. The confluence of the two is at Gangotri.

Short Itinerary

Day	From	To	Distance/Time	Altitude
Day 1	Dehradun	Harsil	90km/4hrs (by car)	3100m
Day 2	Harsil	Bhoj Kharak	8km/4-5hrs	3780m
Day 3	Bhoj Kharak	Kedar Kharak	4km/4hrs	4270m
Day 4	Kedar Kharak	Kedar Tal	5km/4-5hrs	4912m
Day 5	Kedar Tal	Bhoj Kharak	9km/5-6hrs	3780m
Day 6	Bhoj Kharak	Harsil	8km/3-4hrs	3100m
	Harsil	Uttarkashi	90km/4hrs (by car)	1158m
Day 7	Uttarkashi	Dehradun	120 km/6hrs (by car)

Trek Grade: Moderate to Extreme

Best Months: Mid May to Jun, Early September to Mid November (However, chances of snow in November are heavy hence this period would only be for seasoned trekkers)

Detailed Itinerary

Gangotri to Bhoj Kharak

This day’s walk is marked by a steep ascent almost completely through the trail. The trail skirts the steep walls of the valley all along the Kedar Ganga. Kedar Ganga is a tributary of the Bhagirathi river coming from Gaumukh. The walk to Bhoj Kharak is full of Birch trees or Bhoj in Hindi, the campsite gets its name from these trees. At the very last stretch before the camp site there is a steep ascent. Once at the camp site you can sit under the shade of the Birch trees and relax.

Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Kharak

Once you cross Bhoj Kharak the tree line vanishes and the view of mountains is clearer and nearer. The walk this day is not as tough as the day before but there is a challenging section during the day where you have to cover a 1 km long landslide which is dangerous. One has to be extremely careful as there is the river on one side and a land side on the other. After you cross this part beautiful meadows welcome you. We stop for a short break here and have a cup of tea before carrying onto the camp site. The way today is not long but one has to be careful crossing it. We will have a lot of time on the way to sit and admire the scenic beauty the surrounds this place. The camp is set up with a clear view of Mt Thalay Sagar.

Kedar Kharak to Kedar Tal

The trek on this day is not tough, not so much in the steepness of the ascent but in that one has to cross several sections of moraine. However, the distance is relatively short and the views at the end of the trail are bountifully rewarding. The sights of Thalay Sagar reflected in the lake, the majistic Brigupanth and the Jogin Massiff are breath taking. We camp next to the lake and go for a walk along the lake and admire mother nature.

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Har Ki Doon Trek

In a time when Gods walked among men and great battles were fought for honour a mythical mountain found its way into the hearts of the people. A mountain that became the path that the Pandavas and Draupadi took to ascend to heaven. To this day this mountain, Swargarohini, held scared in the hearts of millions exudes an undeniable allure. It is this pull that you will experience as we walk closer to getting a glimpse of it.

Short Itinerary

Day	From	To	Distance/Time	Altitude
Day 1	Dehradun	Sankhri	196km/6hrs (by car)	1900m
Day 2	Sankhri	Seema	(10km by car) 13km/7hrs	2559m
Day 3	Seema	Har Ki Doon	11km/5-6hrs	3566m
Day 4	Har Ki Doon (Walk to Har Ki Doon rest house and surrounding areas.		5km/4hrs
Day 5	Har Ki Doon	Seema/Osla	11km/5-6hrs	2559m
Day 6	Seema/Osla	Taluka	13km/4-5hrs
	Taluka	Dehradun	196km/6hrs (by car)

Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate

Best Months: Mid April to Mid June; Early September to Mid December

Detailed Itinerary

Sankhri to Taluka to Seema

From Sankhri we take a local taxi to Taluka even though it is only 10km it takes about an hour to get to Taluka as the road is not metaled. The trek from Taluka to Seema takes about 7 hours and the entire walk is wooded. The gradient this day is not steep and the walk through the forest is a mixture of gentle ascents and descents.

Your path no matter how far it may take you will meander across quaint villages, romantic fields and forests of Oak, Willow and Walnut. Forests change as the altitude increases and Oaks give way to Pines and Rhododendron.

Seema to Har Ki Doon Camp Site

We start walking from Seema and go past the village of Osla which is a marvel in itself. The architecture and culture of Osla is very different from that of the other areas in Garhwal and gives us a brief glimpse into the vast and varied cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. After we go past the village of Osla we come to flattish areas where the villagers of Osla have their fields. Once past this area we come to steep inclines that continue for over and hour. The last climb is up a ridge called Kalkatidhar. Past Kalkatidhar we reach a mixed Rhododendron and Pine forest, the walk now becomes gentle again. Reaching the camp site we have to descend down from the high point of Kalkatidhar.

Har Ki Doon Camp Site to Har Ki Doon

We camp 2km below the actual area known as Har Ki Doon next to a stream and in a clearing surrounded by trees and shrubs. We walk from here to Har Ki Doon and spend the day either walking around the area or if you so choose just sitting and enjoying the picnic was shall arrange.

The valleys, ridges and meadows hide unimaginable treasures here. Meadow walks reveal lakes, glaciers and magnificent Himalayan views that not only take your breath away but also drive home the immense beauty hidden in the world of nature.

The terrain too changes systematically almost as if it were mimicking the moods of the plant life around it. Steep patches of forest suddenly turn into rolling slops of grassy meadows. This trek stays true to the legend of Swaragarohini and shows you the path to heaven.

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Gaumukh Trek

This trek will take you to Gaumukh, the source of the river Ganga, on the Gangotri Glacier which is believed to be one of the most spiritual places in India.

The walk to Chirwasa from Gangotri is slightly steep off the bat for about 500 meters and then smoothes out to a very gradual incline. Chirwasa is also a forest department outpost. The campsite is located in a beautiful wooded area right next to the river Bhagirathi.

The walk from Chirwasa to Bhojwasa is also a mix of gentle inclines and dips. It is an exposed walk all the way to Bojwasa.

Short Itinerary

Day	From	To	Distance/Time	Altitude
Day 1	Dehradun	Uttarkashi	120 km/6hrs (by car)	1158m
Day 2	Uttarkashi	Gangotri	90km/4hrs (by car)	3100m
Day 3	Gangotri	Chirwasa	9km/4hrs	3142m
Day 4	Chirwasa	Bhojwasa	5km/4hrs	3775m
Day 5	Bhojwasa	Gaumukh	3km/1.5hrs	4255m
	Gaumukh	Bhojwasa	3km/1.5hrs	3775m
Day 6	Bhojwasa	Chirwasa	5km/3hrs	3142m
Day 7	Chirwasa	Gangotri	9km/4hrs	3100m
	Gangotri	Uttarkashi	90km/4hrs (by car)	1158m
Day 8	Uttarkashi	Dehradun	120 km/6hrs (by car)

Trek Grade: Moderate to Extreme

Best Season: May to June and Early September to End October

Detailed Itinerary

Gangotri to Chirwasa

Gangotri is situated at the height of 3100mt in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Driving to Gangotri itself is a beautiful experience and walking from Gangotri to Gaumukh is a holistic experience. An inner peace and tranquility can be achieved in this trek. Walking along the river Bhagirathi and the massive mountain views the can be seen as soon as you start walking is a paradise for all who are spiritual and for those for whom trekking in itself is spiritual. As soon as you start walking the first view that can be seen is that of Mt Sudharshan and as we walk further Mt Bhagirathi I, II and III, Thelu as well as Mt Shivling are added to the horizon. The walk is quite gradual with up and downs till you reach Chirwasa. Chirwasa has a beautiful camp site right next to the river Bhagirathi. After finishing the first day’s walk it is good place to relax and rejuvenate your energy for the next day.

Chirwasa to Bhojwasa

The walk from Chirwasa to Bhojwasa us just 5km, it is a day to take things easy and soak in the magnificence around you. As you reach the camp site you relax and walk around a bit to acclimatise as you have reached a height where one needs to acclimatized well. You can sit back and enjoy the massive view of Mt Shivling right in front of you.

Bhojwasa to Gaumukh

Gaumukh is the source of the river Ganga. The walk to Gaumukh is easy at the beginning from Bhojwasa but gets a little tricky towards the end because of the glacier and the river. Once you reach Gaumukh the massive glacier in front of you can give you goose bumps. The feeling of being in the inner Himalayas surrounded by massive mountains standing in front of you makes you feel like a small happy baby coupled with a elated feeling of having achieved your goal.

We walk back to Chirwasa the same day.

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Mt Gangotri Base Camp Trek

Our trek starts from Gangotri and it is a two day march to the Gangotri Base Camp. At Gangotri we cross the Bhagirathi River and start walking down away from the town and towards the Rudu Valley. The Base Camp is a staging area for many peaks in the area. The three peaks in the Gangotri Massiff, Gangotri I (6672m), Gangotri II (6590m) and Gangotri III (6577m) are all approached from this Base Camp. The technical trekking expedition to the Auden’s Col also has this as their Base Camp.

Short Itinerary

Day	From	To	Altitude	Distance/Time
Day 1	Dehradun	Harsil	2620m	200km (by car)
Day 2	Harsil	Gangotri	3140m	15km (by car)
	Gangotri	Nala Camp	3658m	8km/5hrs
Day 3	Nala Camp	Gangotri Base Camp	4500m	7km/5hrs
Day 4	Gangotri Base Camp
Day 5	Gangotri Base Camp	Nala Camp	3658m	7km/4hrs
Day 6	Nala Camp	Harsil	2620m	8km/4hrs (15km by car)
Day 7	Harsil	Dehradun		200km (by car)

Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate

Best Season: Early April – Mid June; Early September to Early November

Detailed Itinerary

Gangotri – Nala Camp

The walk for the day starts from the holy town of Gangotri. Ganotri is one of the “Char Dhams” of Uttarakhand. After offering your prayers at the Gangotri Temple you will walk past the magnificent fall called Surya Kund on the Bhagirathi river towards the Rudugaira Valley. A gradual decent takes you past the Pandav Gufa, where the Pandavas are supposed to have stayed at a point in their lives.

Here there are deep gorges in the mountainside and a pleasant shaded forest walks. After walking for a couple of hours you will reach the Rudugaira Gard. This small mountain stream has a log bridge on it. After crossing the Gard there is a gentle uphill climb to the Nala Camp. The Nala Camp as the name suggests is on the banks of a stream.

Nala Camp – Gangotri Base Camp

Starting early in the morning from Nala Camp you will start walking towards the Gangotri Base Camp. Soon after the walk starts you will leave the tree line behind and lush green meadows of the Rudugaira Valley greet you. This up and down meadow walk continues till about a hour before Base Camp. The last hour of the walk is in rocky moraine type terrain and on the remnants of a glacier. This is the Rudugaira Glacier.

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