Gomukh

Ganges has many streams which are gradually combining into full-fledged Ganges. But the most famous is Gomukh located 23 km northeast from Gangotri. On the way to Gomukh - the glacier which is a source of Ganges. On the way one can see 6000 high peaks of Himalayas. The peaks of nearby mountains at sunrise. Ganga's valley. Water running down the rocks creates pleasing bubbling sound. It has excellent taste ("I am the taste of water," says Krishna in Bhagavad-gita.). One of many inflow of Ganges coming from nearby mountains. In the lower part of the picture one can see the road from Gangotri to Gomukh. The best time to visit this place is from June to second week in November. After that there is too much snow and too many icy places on the way. In some places there are dangerous rocky eaves and escarpments hundreds of meters deep. Sometimes one can see wild animals coming to drink water from the river. (Enlarge it!) The valley is most beautiful at the end of September and in the beginning of November. The way up to Gomukh is 23 km long, but the natural scenery is so enchanting that one doesn't mind. But it is better to have a guide, since it is almost impossible to reach Gomukh from Gangotri in one day and return back in daytime. Chirbhasa is a camp with fireplace and few tents where one can stay over night. It is in the midway to glacier. Just a little further from Chirbhasa is a disintegrating rock cliff with falling stones where many serious accidents took place. Therefore it is better to be more careful. When the sun rays appear from behind the clouds, one can feel pleasantly warm even in altitude 4000 above sea level. Bhoja-bhasa is another small camp where one can stay over night. The glacier is 5 km from here underneath Bhagirat mountain shown in the middle on the horizon. Night in Bhoja-bhasa camp 5 km from glacier. Sunrise. Only 3 km away from glacier. Shivling Mountain (gigantic shiva-lingam) is 6543 m high. The mountain is representing Lord Shiva. Shiva's devotees are coming to this place to perform penances. Lord Shiva is worshipped in many temples in his small lingam (stone) forms, but in this place the shiva-lingam is whole mountain. Mount Shivling can be seen only from nearby area of the Gomukh. Siva's devotee Vysa-giti under the Shivling Mountain. The tent of another Shiva's devotee. Small alter with shiva-lingam. Gomukh A sight on Bhagirath Mountain and Gomukh glacier beneath it from Bhoja-bhas camp. The Bhagirath is also more than 6000 m high. The Gomukh glacier. Ganges is springing from it. "Go" means "cow" and "mukh" means "face" or "mouth". "Gomukh" (or "Gaumukh") literary means "cows face" or "cows mouth". The glacier is called thus, since it looks like that. Gomukh is 100 m thick glacier 30 km long and 4 km wide. It is located 23 km northeast from Gangotri, 4200 m above the sea level. Although it seems that on this picture is rock, most of it is actually ice from glacier. The guides: climber, she-climber and baby climber.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Time to time a piece of ice falls off from the glacier and it gives nice cooling refreshment after long way up.