Pilgrimage in Garhwal
Panch Kedar Trek 
The Great Garhwal Pilgrimage
Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath are four major shrines in Garhwal Himalaya. Gaumukh is the source of River Ganges which is nearly 19 Kms from the road head of Gangotri. Valley of Flowers Hemkund Sahib and Panch Kedar circuit is one of major attraction in Garhwal Himalaya.
Home : Pilgrimage in Garhwal : The Great Garhwal Pilgrimage
Season: Days 1-14 : April/mid June and mid Sep/Oct.
Days 15-20 : After July only
Duration : 2-day drive, 18-day trek
Grade : TM 2 - TM 3
The trail touches three of the great Hindu pilgrimage centres of Garhwal - Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri - sources of the Mandakini, Bhagirathi and Yamuna respectively, which form the Alakananda that later joins the great Ganges. At Kedarnath the temple of Lord Kedar (Shiva) dates back to the 8th century AD The temple of the Goddess Ganga at Gangotri and the temple of the Goddess Yamuna at Yamnotri draw thousands of pilgrims each year. The pilgrimages begin in the middle of May when the temples are declared open, following a colourful ceremony with music and dancing. The differing habitats support a host of Himalayan fauna. There is a profusion of wild flowers, ferns, orchids and mushrooms on the forest floor.
Day 1
Drive DEHRA DUN to GAURIKUND (6,600 ft/1,982 m) - 7 hours: Follow the Ganga upstream to Devprayag, at the confluence of the Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers. The road then continues along the Alakananda river, through Shrinagar, the ancient capital of the Garhwal Rajas, to Rudraprayag, the confluence of the Alakananda and Mandakini rivers. Follow the Mandakini river to Gaurikund. Overnight in simple Tourist Huts.
Day 2
Trek GAURIKUND to KEDARNATH (11,500 ft/3,456 m) and back to GAURIKUND - 7 to 8 hours: Trek or take a pony ride to Kedarnath temple near the source of the Mandakini river. Return through beautiful pine and birch forests to Gaurikund. A long but rewarding day, spent amongst pilgrims from all parts of India. Return to Gaurikund for the night.
Day 3
Trek GAURIKUND to MAGGU CHATTI (9,360 ft/2,811 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Trek through oak and rhododendron forests, passing the village of Triyugi-Narayan where Shiva and Parvati are said to have been married. Camp is set by an old pilgrim dharamshala on a high meadow.
Day 4
Trek MAGGU CHATTI to PANWALI MEADOWS (11,435 ft/3,434 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Trek over the Kyunkhola Khat (11,770 ft/3,535 m) and then along a ridge to Panwali. Continue up to and above the tree-line, along ridges and bugyals (high altitude pastures). This portion provides spectacular views of the central Himalayas from Kedarnath to Trishul, including the magnificent Nanda Devi. Overnight camping.
Day 5
Trek PANWALI to GHUTU (5,075 ft/1,524 m) - 5 hours: Descend steadily through oak and rhododendron forests to the little town of Ghutu, where camp is set on the banks of the Bhilangara river.
Day 6
Trek GHUTU to TOLA CHATTI (6,600 ft/1,982 m) - 6 to 7 hours: The trail climbs through chir pine plantations to a ridge above Bhairon Chatti (8,350 ft/2,500 m) and then descends to the meadows at Tola Chatti where camp is set for the night.
Day 7
Trek TOLA CHATTI to PANGRANA (7,100 ft/2,134 m) - 6 to 7 hours: Descend to the village of Buda Kedar (4,445 ft/1,335 m) through a good plantation of deodar (Himalayan cedar). The village was once the seat of feudal authority. Then climb along a clear stream to Pangrana meadows. The ancient forest of Mori Oaks that surrounds Pangrana abounds in wildlife. Overnight camping.
Day 8
Trek PANGRANA to MALA (4,900 ft/1,474 m) over BELKHAL - 6 hours: Ascend through oak forests to Belkhal pass (8,120 ft/2,439 m), from where you get a beautiful view Bandarpunch (21,035 ft/6,317 m). Descend into the Bhagirathi valley and reach Gangotri Road. Camp is set at Mala by the river.
Day 9
Drive MALA to GANGOTRI: Drive from Mala to the hot springs at Gangnani. Have a wonderful relaxing bath and then proceed up the lush green Bhagirathi valley. The road winds up to Sukhi, from where you get an excellent view of the spectacular Harsil valley. Wide, open and extremely fertile, this valley is full of fruit, apples, apricots and walnuts being the main produce. From here you continue through deodar (Himalayan cedar) forests to Lanka.
Walk down to the river bed where the Jathganga joins the Bhagirathi and then climb up to Bhairavghat. This incredibly beautiful walk will take about two hours. Continue along the road to Gangotri, walking through pine and deodar forests, with beautiful views of the peaks in the area. Overnight camping.
Day 10
AT GANGOTRI: Spend the day exploring the Gangotri valley. You will find the Gaurikund, the waterfall and the marvellous canyon that has been carved by the river in the rock. The Gangotri temple and the several sages who live in this area lend a special charm to the valley. Overnight camping.
Day 11
Trek GANGOTRI to BHOJBASA (11,675 ft/3,506 m) - 6 hours: Follow the Bhagirathi towards Gaumukh. Camp at the last pilgrims' halting place, where a holy man offers free tea.
Day 12
Trek BHOJBASA to GAUMUKH (13,195 ft/3,963 m) and back to BHOJBASA - 6 hours: Trek to Gaumukh (cow's mouth), the glacial snout of the river Ganges, set in a spectacular ampitheatre of peaks. You can see Shivling and the Bhagirathi peaks very clearly from here.
Day 13
Trek BHOJBASA to GANGOTRI (10,150 ft/3,048 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Retrace the trail to Gangotri.
Day 14
Trek GANGOTRI to SUKHI VILLAGE (8,935 ft/2,683 m) - 6 hours: Trek to Lanka where vehicles await you for the drive to Sukhi village, the night's camping spot.
Day 15
Trek SUKHI to JAMNI THATAR (13,320 ft/4,000 m) - 6 hours: Leave Sukhi and cross a 10,800-foot (3,250 m) pass. Climb down to the junction of Sor Gad and Chaiyyan Gad. Continue along Chaiyyan Gad and climb up to the slopes of Lohori Nag Dhar to camp in an alp. Above Sukhi you walk through alpine pastures and then climb down through pine forests which last through the initial stages of the journey up Chaiyyan Gad. Above 11,165 ft (3,353 m), you climb through juniper-covered slopes and alpine pastures.
Day 16
Trek JAMNI THATAR to BAMSARU KHAL (15,300 ft/4,595 m) - 7 hours: Throughout the day, you walk through high Himalayan landscape which offers beautiful views of the Gangotri massif and other high peaks of western Garhwal. The aim today is to cross the Bamsaru Khal and camp at the headwaters of the Hanumanganga valley. You may be stretched a little but the views offered are well worth the trouble.
Day 17
Trek BAMSARU KHAL to HANUMANGANGA (13,320 ft/4,000 m) - 4 to 5 hours: An easy day. You walk in the shadow of Banderpunch, visible throughout the day, to the campsite.
Day 18
Trek HANUMANGANGA to KHARSALI (8,090 ft/2,430 m) - 6 hours: Make your way through high alpine pastures, rugged mountain terrain and pine forests to the village of Kharsali, where camp is set for the night.
Day 19
Trek KHARSALI to YAMNOTRI - 4 to 5 hours:, drive DEHRA DUN - 6 hours: The walk up to Yamnotri where vehicles await you for the drive to Dehra Dun.
Day 20
A spare day has been built in to allow for any unforeseen events that may occur on a trek of this nature.
Days 15-20 : After July only
Duration : 2-day drive, 18-day trek
Grade : TM 2 - TM 3
Day 1
Drive DEHRA DUN to GAURIKUND (6,600 ft/1,982 m) - 7 hours: Follow the Ganga upstream to Devprayag, at the confluence of the Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers. The road then continues along the Alakananda river, through Shrinagar, the ancient capital of the Garhwal Rajas, to Rudraprayag, the confluence of the Alakananda and Mandakini rivers. Follow the Mandakini river to Gaurikund. Overnight in simple Tourist Huts.
Day 2
Trek GAURIKUND to KEDARNATH (11,500 ft/3,456 m) and back to GAURIKUND - 7 to 8 hours: Trek or take a pony ride to Kedarnath temple near the source of the Mandakini river. Return through beautiful pine and birch forests to Gaurikund. A long but rewarding day, spent amongst pilgrims from all parts of India. Return to Gaurikund for the night.
Day 3
Trek GAURIKUND to MAGGU CHATTI (9,360 ft/2,811 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Trek through oak and rhododendron forests, passing the village of Triyugi-Narayan where Shiva and Parvati are said to have been married. Camp is set by an old pilgrim dharamshala on a high meadow.
Day 4
Trek MAGGU CHATTI to PANWALI MEADOWS (11,435 ft/3,434 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Trek over the Kyunkhola Khat (11,770 ft/3,535 m) and then along a ridge to Panwali. Continue up to and above the tree-line, along ridges and bugyals (high altitude pastures). This portion provides spectacular views of the central Himalayas from Kedarnath to Trishul, including the magnificent Nanda Devi. Overnight camping.
Trek PANWALI to GHUTU (5,075 ft/1,524 m) - 5 hours: Descend steadily through oak and rhododendron forests to the little town of Ghutu, where camp is set on the banks of the Bhilangara river.
Day 6
Trek GHUTU to TOLA CHATTI (6,600 ft/1,982 m) - 6 to 7 hours: The trail climbs through chir pine plantations to a ridge above Bhairon Chatti (8,350 ft/2,500 m) and then descends to the meadows at Tola Chatti where camp is set for the night.
Day 7
Trek TOLA CHATTI to PANGRANA (7,100 ft/2,134 m) - 6 to 7 hours: Descend to the village of Buda Kedar (4,445 ft/1,335 m) through a good plantation of deodar (Himalayan cedar). The village was once the seat of feudal authority. Then climb along a clear stream to Pangrana meadows. The ancient forest of Mori Oaks that surrounds Pangrana abounds in wildlife. Overnight camping.
Day 8
Trek PANGRANA to MALA (4,900 ft/1,474 m) over BELKHAL - 6 hours: Ascend through oak forests to Belkhal pass (8,120 ft/2,439 m), from where you get a beautiful view Bandarpunch (21,035 ft/6,317 m). Descend into the Bhagirathi valley and reach Gangotri Road. Camp is set at Mala by the river.
Day 9
Drive MALA to GANGOTRI: Drive from Mala to the hot springs at Gangnani. Have a wonderful relaxing bath and then proceed up the lush green Bhagirathi valley. The road winds up to Sukhi, from where you get an excellent view of the spectacular Harsil valley. Wide, open and extremely fertile, this valley is full of fruit, apples, apricots and walnuts being the main produce. From here you continue through deodar (Himalayan cedar) forests to Lanka.
Walk down to the river bed where the Jathganga joins the Bhagirathi and then climb up to Bhairavghat. This incredibly beautiful walk will take about two hours. Continue along the road to Gangotri, walking through pine and deodar forests, with beautiful views of the peaks in the area. Overnight camping.
Day 10
AT GANGOTRI: Spend the day exploring the Gangotri valley. You will find the Gaurikund, the waterfall and the marvellous canyon that has been carved by the river in the rock. The Gangotri temple and the several sages who live in this area lend a special charm to the valley. Overnight camping.
Day 11
Trek GANGOTRI to BHOJBASA (11,675 ft/3,506 m) - 6 hours: Follow the Bhagirathi towards Gaumukh. Camp at the last pilgrims' halting place, where a holy man offers free tea.
Day 12
Trek BHOJBASA to GAUMUKH (13,195 ft/3,963 m) and back to BHOJBASA - 6 hours: Trek to Gaumukh (cow's mouth), the glacial snout of the river Ganges, set in a spectacular ampitheatre of peaks. You can see Shivling and the Bhagirathi peaks very clearly from here.
Trek BHOJBASA to GANGOTRI (10,150 ft/3,048 m) - 5 to 6 hours: Retrace the trail to Gangotri.
Day 14
Trek GANGOTRI to SUKHI VILLAGE (8,935 ft/2,683 m) - 6 hours: Trek to Lanka where vehicles await you for the drive to Sukhi village, the night's camping spot.
Day 15
Trek SUKHI to JAMNI THATAR (13,320 ft/4,000 m) - 6 hours: Leave Sukhi and cross a 10,800-foot (3,250 m) pass. Climb down to the junction of Sor Gad and Chaiyyan Gad. Continue along Chaiyyan Gad and climb up to the slopes of Lohori Nag Dhar to camp in an alp. Above Sukhi you walk through alpine pastures and then climb down through pine forests which last through the initial stages of the journey up Chaiyyan Gad. Above 11,165 ft (3,353 m), you climb through juniper-covered slopes and alpine pastures.
Day 16
Trek JAMNI THATAR to BAMSARU KHAL (15,300 ft/4,595 m) - 7 hours: Throughout the day, you walk through high Himalayan landscape which offers beautiful views of the Gangotri massif and other high peaks of western Garhwal. The aim today is to cross the Bamsaru Khal and camp at the headwaters of the Hanumanganga valley. You may be stretched a little but the views offered are well worth the trouble.
Day 17
Trek BAMSARU KHAL to HANUMANGANGA (13,320 ft/4,000 m) - 4 to 5 hours: An easy day. You walk in the shadow of Banderpunch, visible throughout the day, to the campsite.
Day 18
Trek HANUMANGANGA to KHARSALI (8,090 ft/2,430 m) - 6 hours: Make your way through high alpine pastures, rugged mountain terrain and pine forests to the village of Kharsali, where camp is set for the night.
Day 19
Trek KHARSALI to YAMNOTRI - 4 to 5 hours:, drive DEHRA DUN - 6 hours: The walk up to Yamnotri where vehicles await you for the drive to Dehra Dun.
A spare day has been built in to allow for any unforeseen events that may occur on a trek of this nature.
Copy Right © Connecting Horizons Travel Services All rights reserved.