Vasuki Tal Trek via Tapovan, Gangotri
The Gangotri Tapovan, Nandanvan Trek offers a view of the beautiful peaks of the Gangotri region namely Shivling, Bhagirathi hovering over you throughout the trek. The campsite of Tapovan has Shivling towering over you. It is also the base camp of over 5 -6 himalayan peaks. Whie on this trek, one can get an up close view of Mt. Shivling, Bhagirathi I; Bhagirathi II; Bhagirathi III; Mt. Meru; Mt. Satopanth and Kedar Dome.
The Gangotri Tapovan Vasuki Tal trek falls under the Gangotri National Park. The restriction increases the trek operation cost and it often puts the cost out -of-proportion for smaller sized groups, but looking towards the benefits of restricting over sized trek groups and permit fees levied even on the locals.
Vasuki Tal Trek Routes
Route 1 (Via Kedarnath)
Dehradun – Rishikesh – Narendranagar – Chamba – Tehri – Ghansali – Chibitiga – Mayali – Tilwada – Agastyamuni – Kund – Guptkashi – Phata – Gaurikund – Kedarnath – Chorabari – Bamak glacier – Vasuki Tal.
Route 2 (Via Tapovan)
Dehradun – Gangotri – Chirbasa camp – Bhojbasa camp – Gomukh – Tapovan camp (Nil Tal and Shivling base camp) – Nandanvan camp – Vasuki Tal – Nandanvan – Bhojbasa camp – Gangotri- Dehradun
The trek to Vasuki Tal is generally completed in the day itself from Kedarnath, with trekkers returning to Kedarnath to spend the night. Vasuki Tal is just 900 metres downhill from the Vasuki Top.
Mythology of Vasuki Tal
The entire Vasuki lake is outlined with the unique and beautiful Himalayan flowers known as Brahma Kamal. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu had descended onto the earthly realm into this lake for a holy bath during the auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Best Time to Visit Vasuki Tal Trek
Visiting this place and trekking at this place should be preferred to be done during the summer and spring months of May to mid-June and mid-September to mid-October. Since the lake is situated on an extremely high altitude, this place experiences low temperatures during the winter months along with freezing weather conditions and even snowfall on some occasions. Trekking activity is not possible during the winter months. Trekking during rainy and winter seasons is not allowed since the entire region becomes prone to unpredictable landslides.
Best Places to Visit During Vasuki Tal Trek
Gaumukh : It is located in the Uttarkashi district of the state Uttarakhand. It is located where the Gangotri Glacier ends at a height of 13,200 ft. Gaumukh is the second-largest glacier of India, the first one being Siachen. One of the most popular and rewarding treks in the Garhwal Himalayas, Gaumukh – Tapovan – Nandanvan Circuit not only gives you the opportunity to camp at the foot of lofty Himalayan peak but it also involves crossing the massive Gaumukh Glacier, the origin of Ganga River. The Himalayan peaks visible during this trek are Shivling, Sudarshan, Meru, Bhagirathi sisters, Kharchkund and more.
Tapovan : Tapovan is perched at an elevation of 4463 metres about 14,640 feet above sea level and is situated near the famous Gangotri shrine. At the foot of Shivling peak, Tapovan is a seasonal home to several sadhus living in caves, huts etc. The meaning of Tapovan is a tranquil holy place, where sages meditate to attain spirituality. It is a high altitude meadow at a height of 4,500 m. It lies on the bank of massive Gangotri glacier and at the base of lofty Shivling peak. However, Tapovan trek starts from Gangotri and goes through some adventurous regions of the Himalayas, taking one to the base of Mt. Shivling.
Guptakashi : It is located at an elevation of 1,319 metres (4,327 ft) in Garhwal Himalayas of Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The name Gupt Kashi means “Hidden Benares,” and the town’s sacred identity plays on its identity with the more famous pilgrimage site. The temple town is located on the way to the Kedarnath, one of the Chota Char Dhams and Panch Kedars. It has the scenic backdrop of the snow-covered peaks of Chaukhamba and enjoys a salubrious weather throughout the year. Its religious importance is considered next to that of Varanasi, believed to be the most pious of all Hindu pilgrimage places.
Phata : On the route to Kedarnath in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand, Phata is a small village located strategically and commercially on the Gopeshwar- Gaurikund road. At an altitude of 1500 mts it is famous for having a helipad used by pilgrims visiting Kedarnath Dham, situated 32 km from Kedarnath. From Phata, there will be an 8 minutes journey to Kedarnath Dham in a chopper. Phata becomes a resting stop for the pilgrims who want to stay the night or for refreshments while on their way to visit Kedarnath. This place also serves as a centre point to many other various beautiful and popular destinations.
Gaurikund : Situated at an elevation of 2,650 mts above sea level, Janki Chatti is familiarly known for its hot water springs. Janki Chatti encompasses the last village in the region and it acts as the major hub for the pilgrims travelling to Yamunotri. The thermal springs of Janki Chatti act as an inevitable part of the Yamunotri pilgrimage. Ponies and palanquins are available at Janki Chatti. Janki Chatti is surrounded by mountains on all sides and lies in close proximity to the Indo-China border.
Nandanvan : It lies at a height of 15,780 feet at the base of Bhagirathi massif. Therefore, the journey connects many Hindu holy sites and takes one to the source of River Ganga “Gomukh which is the snout of Gangotri glacier. During the Nandanvan Trek, get the thrilling experience of crossing Gangotri glacier. Nandanvan is a beautiful lavish meadow located on the base of Bhagirathi Group 1, 2, 3 with the magnificent views of Mt. Shivling, Mt. Kedar Dome and Mt. Meru. The campsite is windy and offers great sight of snow covered peaks. Set up your camps here and settle for the day.
Bamak Glacier : One of the most visited glaciers is Tiprabamak in Uttarakhand. Bamak is the local name of Tipra Bamak glacier which is a long glacier about 5 km of the Bhyundar Ganga basin in the Alaknanda catchment. Run in this basin almost 16 glaciers varying shapes and sizes, adjoining the Ratanban glaciers are of significance and out of Tiprabamak. From the single ice cave emerges the melted ice of the Rataban glacier and Tiprabamak glacier at the snout of Tiprabamak. Karnaprayag, Khatyari, Nainisain, Kausani and Kandara are the nearby cities of Tiprabamak Glacier. At the foothills of the Kagbhusandi mountain ranges will lead you to the popular valley of flowers from there a 4 km trek.
Bhojbasa : Arranged at a height of 3,775 mts above ocean level. Bhojbasa can be reached by a 14 kms trek that begins from Gangotri. The trek experiences tough territories alongside the Bhagirathi River. Bhojwasa is the last and the only point of accommodation on the trek to the sacred Gaumukh Glacier. It is located 5 kms before Gaumukh Glacier, the source or origin of the Ganges. Transports to Uttarkashi and Gangotri are very easily available from Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Chirbasa : Chirbasa, a dense thicket of lofty blue pine or chir trees is located about 9 km ahead of Gangotri. This magnificent place is perched at an altitude of 3,580 metres above sea level. Girdled by the Elysian natural beauty, Chirbasa makes a perfect campsite for the trekkers heading to Gaumukh-Tapovan trek.
How to Reach Vasuki Tal
Via Kedarnath
- The Kedarnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 3586 metres near the head of river Mandakini where Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is perched at an elevation of 14,200 feet above sea level on the charming hills of Kedarnath Dham Vasuki Tal. The trekking journey starts from Gaurikund to the holy Kedarnath Dham temple. From Kedarnath you will trek your way to the Vasuki top, from here the Vasuki Tal is located at a 1 km downward trekking distance.
- The motorable road to Kedarnath stretches till Gaurikund. From Gaurikund, there is a 18 km trek to the temple. Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport to Kedarnath situated at a distance of 238 km. From here one can hire a taxi or take a bus to Gaurikund. Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath, at a distance of 215km. This railway station is well connected to major cities of India. Trains are also available from Haridwar (238 km), Dehradun (257 km) and Kotdwar (246 km) and many other destinations.
Via Gangotri
- Gangotri is located at an altitude of 3048 mts in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, north of Uttarkashi District and very close to the Indo-Tibetan border. The Gaumukh Tapovan nandanvan vasuki tal campsite is surrounded by mountains like Bhagirathi I, II, III. The winding trail along with Chaturangi glacier and the stunning landscapes takes you to the final destination of Gaumukh tapovan nandanvan vasuki tal trek. Where you can also enjoy the mesmerising view of the lake. Once you reach the Gaumukh tapovan nandanvan vasuki tal trek also offers the view of the placid lake and one may spot the state flower of Uttarakhand ‘Brahma Kamal’. After exploring the beautiful sight, trek back to Nandanvan campsite.
- It is approximately 300 km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 105 km from Uttarkashi. Well connected by motorable roads. You can easily reach Gangotri Dham by road, you can also reach by driving your own car because it is well connected by roads. It is well connected to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Kotdwar, Roorkee, Chamba, Tehri, Barkot, Hanuman Chatti and Janki Chatti. There are bus services of Samyukt Rotation Yatayat Vyawastha Samiti available as well which connects Gangotri with many major centres in the region like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Tehri, Uttarkashi etc. The nearest airport from Gangotri is Jolly Grant, which is located just 26 km from Rishikesh. From the airport, the travellers need to take either a taxi or the luxury buses to reach Gangotri. The nearest railway station is located at Rishikesh, about 249 kms away, from where one has to hire a cab or take a luxury bus to reach Gangotri. Haridwar serves as the best railway station if you are visiting Gangotri by train.
Why Visit Vasuki Tal Trek During Chardham Yatra
There is a long ceremonial puja at the time of opening of Kedarnath shrine Kedarnath. The Kapaat opening day is one of the auspicious moments for many pilgrims visiting Kedarnath from all round the country and the world. The gates open for the pilgrims to take darshan only after first opening Puja at Kedarnath Temple by priests. The opening date and time of Kedarnath Temple depends on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritya and is declared on the Maha Shiva Ratri.
The shrine is also closed for 6 months. The town, built around the revered Kedarnath temple, is located at an altitude of 3,580 m, near Chorabari glacier, which is the source of the Mandakini river. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ancient temple has exquisite architecture and is built of extremely large but evenly shaped grey stone slabs. The Kedarnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a part of Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India.
One of the char dhams (the most sacred pilgrimage circuits in northern India with four holy destinations), Gangotri, in Uttarkashi, is a small town with the temple of Goddess Ganga at its heart. According to Hindu legends, the most sacred of all rivers, Ganges (or Ganga), descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri, when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his locks. The actual origin of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 km away from Gangotri and is accessible by trekking. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name ‘Ganga’ after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devprayag.
While on a Kedar Dham and Gangotri Yatra of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, adventure lovers can plan a trekking trip to Vasuki Tal as well.
