City-information for Gaumukh

Temples Accomodation Travel City Information Map

This glacier is the actual source of the Ganges. Gaumukh means cow's face, which the glacier is supposed to look like. It is a hundred metres (328 ft) high wall of grey snow. It is 30 km (18.85 miles) long and two to four km wide. Years ago the glacier is said to have reached all the way down to Gangotri.

The best time to visit is between June to September. Before June and after the second week of October there is too much ice and snow on the path to be able ta reach it. There is a rocky path, marked white on one side. It is 19 km (some say 23 km) northeast of Gangotri at a height of 4,200 metres (14,000 ft). Mount Shivling, 6,543 metres (21,470 ft), towers above the source of the Ganges. The waters of the Bhagirathi gush out from the glacier with great force and cut a funtastic gorge out of the mountains. The climb is difficult and treacherous.