The Divine Beginning, Gomukh

The Divine Beginning

Explore the soaring Himalayas and steamy lowland jungles to discover the revered temples and quiet ashrams that hark to immerse your soul in the wilderness of the heavenly abode. Gain the eventual hike to the innocent hamlets, atop the highlands, away from the cacophony of the bustling cities, teeming down below. Experience the nature in its never before enticing and diverse state, with some of India’s best trekking trails, all tucked into one sweet little corner of the country. As you will scale the heights of Uttarakhand – the Land of Gods, will reveal its dramatic terrain treasured with holy mountains, lakes and rivers. Twisting roads and high-altitude hiking trails lead to spectacular pilgrimage sites, where tales from the Hindu epics are set. And something of these ancient stories seems to have been absorbed by the land, which exudes a subtle sense of actually being sacred. Be here for the mystic vibe, to unveil the pristine power of the place to attain a spiritual height. Located at the snout of the Gangotri Glacier and River Bhagirati, at an elevation of 13,200 ft. in Uttarkashi, the place is a sacred geographical wonder that used to appear in its bygone past; exactly like a mouth of a holy cow, thus adapting its name as Gaumukhi, Gaumukh, or Gomukh, the very primary source of the holiest of holy waters in India, the Ganges.

To make your headway into this spiritual trekking, an ideal base would be Hardwar. Thereafter drive to Rishikesh, a 45 minutes’ drive, which can be reached even before the evening. As the twilight fades into the descending dusk, set out for the banks of River Ganga to witness the spectacular and poignant ritual Ganga-Aarti. It is a spectacle of sights, sounds and vibration. Enjoy the well-known scenic beauty and satisfy in the spiritual experience of Rishikesh. Flanked by the Shivalik range of the Himalayas, now you are in the fabled being of Rishi Raibhya, who did a hard penance, upon which God appeared as "Hrishikesh". In drifts of time, the place eventually, became popular as Rishikesh, literally means the Locks of the Sage. Follow the ancient trail along the narrow valleys of Ganges and Bhagirathi, through which many holy travellers and explorers treaded since antiquity. This road towards Uttarakashi goes past the sacred confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers at Devaprayag, where there is a Lord Rama temple called the Raghunath Mandir, celebrated by the revered Hindu philosopher - Adi Shankaracharya in 300 CE.

Since pre-independence days, the place has been the home to the second best observatory of Astronomy and Astrology in the nation. In the course of your spiritual journey, stop by this Nakshatra Vedh Shala to lay your hands on the tools of the modernity, which the people from our history have already had their access to. The observatory in Devaprayag treasures many important tools and antiques, which reflects the scholastic essence of the place that had lifted the spirit of the knowledge since the days of the Vedas. This part of your journey will reflect the richness of India’s fabric of conscience; she had harked, as her oldest calling – its consciousness. Perhaps, that is why, the place Uttarakashi, literally mean, North of Varanasi. As you move closer to the abode of God, it will create the spiritual connections in its temples and natural beauty. Like one of the best stopovers for the pilgrims moving towards Gangotri, it has also, evolved as an important spot for adventure sports. Before you immerse in the heaven, spend some time to entice your senses in the thrill of adventure sports.

As you move towards Gangotri witness and admire the beautiful Gorge at Bhairon Ghati over which there is a steel girder bridge. Beyond the bridge, awaits the holy land of Gangotri, where the Goddess Ganga descended on Earth from Heaven, with a Temple of Goddess Ganga marking the spot where the Goddess descended to the Earth, at an elevation of 3200 m surrounded by Deodars (Cedar) and Chir (Pines). Ashrams and Dharamshalas are located on the far side of the river. Visit the "Bhagirath Shila", where it is believed that Raja Bhagirath used to worship Lord Shiva on a slab of rock, situated near the temple. Submerged in the river there is a natural Phallic Stone, where, according to legends, Lord Shiva sat when he want to receive the Goddess Ganga in his matted locks. And, further a day's trek will take you to Gomukh, the source of the mighty Ganges.

Hereafter, you can have the plethora of serine surprises as you move towards Bhojwassa via Chirvasa (3600mt) along a well-trodden and well laid path following a gentle incline along the picturesque Gangotri valley. The entire trek on this day is along the roaring Bhagirathi River, which will set the rumble in your heart. Bhojvasa is the last oasis on this route and has a lot of trees. Beyond this point, the terrain becomes totally desolate and barren. In fact, it has been compared to the Arctic Tundra by many trekkers. From Chirvasa continue to ascend higher towards Bhojwasa,- the last inhabited place on this route.

The arrival at Bhojwasa is heralded by a descent that continues for a good 750 meters approximately, to arrive at a small temple and a potential campsite near the river. This will be your place to hit the sack for the night! Exploration of the surroundings and photography are a must do for the remainder of the day. Enjoy the excellent sunset on Bhagirathi group of peaks.

Enjoy the panoramic view of Bhagirathi peaks, while you enjoy your Breakfast. Trek to Gomukh (3890mt), to discover the holy source of the Ganges. It is the spot where the Ganges trickles down from the glaciers of the highest mountain peaks of the world, to descend into the Gangotri valley and beyond, to empty on the largest delta of the world. Explore the area and trek to Tapovan, one of the finest high altitude alpine meadows in the area. It is an ascent crossing over the Gaumukh glacier, and as you climb, the view of the surrounding peaks becomes dearer, with beautiful meadows that encircle the base camp of the Shivling peak. It is a grassy meadow, with wild flowers; as far as your eyes can see, mingling with innumerous bubbling streams, making it a spectacular location to trek and camp. Meet the herds of Bharal - blue mountain goats - a common sight, as they clamber the precarious mountain ridges. On the far side of the glacier the Bhagirathi I, II, III (6454mt), provide an equally impressive backdrop.

Spend the entire day at leisure to acclimatize, relax and enjoy the magnificent snow clapped peaks, flora & Fauna and the mountain landscape afar. This would be a golden opportunity for you to photograph around. Explore the Kriti & Meru Glacier, as you send your time in Tapovan. Enjoy the view of the golden rays of sunrise on high peaks, and the crisp and dazzling morning sunshine on the campsite, as you make a swift descent down to Bhojwasa, covering the seemingly endless trek in a matter of hours. Arrive at Bhojwasa and camp. Enjoy your presence in the shadow of the mighty Shivling peak, draped in the colour of the rising sun, before you trek down to Gangotri - a continuous downhill path. As you reach the holy town of Uttarkashi, visit the revered temple of Ma Ganga and witness the soulful morning Aarti of mother Ganges. Spend the rest of the day exploring the town that draws parallels to revered city of light – Benares or Kashi, as known in its past. After an enthralling trek, brace yourself for your onward journey to New Delhi.

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