Garhwal: Mount Koteshwar Climb

Detailed Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrive Delhi

   Delhi

   After clearing Customs and Immigration, step into the receiving area, where our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel.

   On arrival, check into the hotel.

   Overnight at hotel (No Meals)
2. Day 2 Delhi

   Delhi

   Delhi is a dynamic city where the past coexists with the present. While historic evidence shows that the area around Delhi was first occupied around 2,500 years ago, Hindu mythology predates that by another 500 years. The British captured the city in 1803 and when they decided to make it the capital of India in 1911, they commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to draw up the plans. The result is slightly surprising with spacious tree-lined avenues punctuated with architecture which is among the most striking in the world.

   On the tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people, and inexpensive and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).

   Drive past India Gate, a 42-meter archway built-in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War, and Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy. Today, it is the official residence of the President of India.

   Thereafter, visit the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi. It was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, a 17th-century Indian ruler. It is open to people of all faiths, castes or creeds. The premises house a sacred pond in which devotees bathe. They believe that this would wash off their misdeeds and thus allow them to attain peace of mind. The 'Langars' or the community kitchen proves to be the ideal example of the prodigious hospitality of the Sikhs. Anyone and everyone can have scrumptious meal irrespective of caste, color or class.

   Conclude the day by visiting Delhi's most striking monument, The Qutub Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was constructed in 1192 by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. Built-in red sandstone and marble, it has a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft) and contains 379 stairs. A Soaring conical tower, it is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture and is the tallest minaret in India.

   Overnight at hotel (B)

   

   Bangla Sahib

   Sikh Temple

   

   Chandni Chowk

   

   Old Delhi Cultural Rickshaw ride

   

   Qutub Minar

3. Day 3 Fly Delhi – Dehradun & Drive To Uttarkashi (1150 M) 6 Hours’ Drive

   Uttarkashi

   (Indigo Flight # 6e-7334 Delhi/Dehradun Etd: 07:20/Eta: 08:20 Hrs.)

   Early morning check-out from the hotel and drive to New Delhi airport to board the flight to Dehradun.

   Arrive Dehradun and drive to Uttarkashi which is also known as Barahat, literally meaning "a big market place". Uttarkashi has a number of ashrams for the sanyasis and mendicants who occupy the banks of the holy river for penance and prayers. Uttarkashi also has the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) which conducts various mountaineering courses.

   On arrival, check into the hotel.

   Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
4. Day 4 Drive To Gangotri (3048 M) 4-5 Hour’s Drive

   Gangotri

   The first half of the drive from Uttarkashi to Gangotri is now seeing a lot of development & construction activities caused by the Loharinag Pala Hydroelectric power project, which fortunately has been stopped by protests from various environmentalists. Once we cross Gangnani hot water springs the drive becomes very scenic and climbs up to a small pass called Sukhi Top which offers great views of the river Ganga with the snow-capped mountains in the background. We drive past Harsil and on to the pilgrim town of Gangotri.

   Arrive and check-in to the Guest House.

   Overnight at guest house (B, L, D)
5. Day 5 Trek From Gangotri To Chirbasa (3548 M) 4 Hour’s

   Chirbasa

   The walk begins with a gradual ascent through pine forests alongside the roaring Bhagirathi River with towering cliffs on the left. We pass a check post for the Gangotri Conservation Project. Chirbasa means home of pine trees! From here you get superb views of Manda peak (6,511 m), Bhrigu Parbat (6,000 m), Bhagirathi I, II and III (6,856 m, 6,512 m, & 6,454 m respectively).

   Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
6. Day 6 Trek From Chirbasa To Bhojbasa (3784 M) 2 ½ Hour’s

   Bhojbasa

   It is a two hour trek to Bhojbasa (3784 m) which has an ashram, a tourist guest house and a police outpost. Bhojbasa is named after birch (Bhojpatra) forests in the area. It is presently totally denuded of the Bhojpatra trees. Today, the dead woods of Birch remind us of the past glory of the Birch forest. Since the area has been declared as a National Park & the number of people entering the park has been restricted one can notice early signs of re-forestation. After lunch we walk up to Gaumukh, the snout of the river.

   Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
7. Day 7 Trek From Bhojbasa To Raktvan Glacier Bc (4510 M) 5-6 Hour’s

   Bhojbasa

   Mount Koteshwar lies in between two glaciers. On the eastern side lies Swetvarn Glacier and on the western side lies Thelu Glacier. Both these glaciers join Raktavarn Glacier on the south. Finally Raktvarn drains itself at Gangotri Glacier near Gomukh and from there emerges as the Bhagirathi River one of the main tributaries of river Ganga. Cross the Gaumukh and continue trekking along the lateral moraine of the Gangotri Glacier, climbing all the way to reach Raktvan under the shadows of Mount Bhagirathi 2. Camp at a height of 4,460 meters.

   Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
8. Day 8 Rest Day At Rakvan (Bc) Preparation Day

   Bhojbasa

   Day’s excursion and load ferry to the Advance Base Camp along the Raktvan Glacier to help in acclimatization. The glacier located between the towering peaks of Bhagirathi 2 in the East and Koteshwar to the West. Looking to the South one can see the towering peaks of Shivling, Meru, Brighupanth and Thalay Sagar. The climb to the ABC is at a height of 4,880 meters and offers lovely views of Mount Sudarshan Parbat (6,507 meters).

   Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
9. Day 9 Trek ABC

   Bhojbasa

   Trek up the Raktvan Glacier to occupy the Advance Base Camp enjoying a spectacular sunset on the surrounding mountains including the towering massif of Mount Bhagirathi.

   Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
10. Day 10 Abc Camp To Camp 1 (5305 M)

    Bhojbasa

    Climb up the Thelu Bamak (glacier) on a scree and moraine slope to an altitude of 5,305 meters and set up the camp I surrounded by Mount Koteshwar to the East, Mount Sudarshan to the North and Mount Bhagirath 2 to the East. Study the summit route together and complete the preparation and planning accordingly. It will be an early night as the next morning will be a very early departure.

    Overnight at Camp (B, L, D)
11. Day 11 Camp 1 To Summit Camp (5455 M)

    Bhojbasa

    A climb up the scree slopes for just 105 meters to help in acclimatization and overcome some scree slopes to reach 5,455 meters.

    Overnight at camp (B, L, D)
12. Day 12 Summit To Camp 1

    Bhojbasa

    Climb up the scree and snow slopes starting at 2 AM so that maximum climbing can be done over hard frozen snow slopes which is easier than when the sun rises and the snows become soft, making the climbers sink in deep. Reach the summit at a height of 6,080 meters and enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the entire surrounding Gangotri Glacier ranges spanning from Mount Chaukhamba, Kedarnath, Kedardome, Shivling, Meru, Bhagirathi massif, Thalay Sagar, Sudarshan Parbat and many more. Return climb down to Camp 1.

    Overnight at camp (B, L, D)
13. Day 13 Camp 1 To Base Camp At Raktvan

    Bhojbasa

    Climb down to the Raktvan glacier after a successful summit climb to the top of Mount Koteshwar which will give a feeling of a lot of satisfaction having climbed to the top of a Himalayan peak.

    Overnight at camp (B, L, D)
14. Day 14 Trek Base Camp To Bhojbasa

    Bhojbasa

    Return trek along the Gangotri Glacier crossing the Gaumukh and reaching the Bhojbasa campsite located near the ashram of the saint how had made that his home.

    Overnight at camp (B, L, D)
15. Day 15 Trek To Gangotri (5-6 Hour’s) And Drive To Uttarkashi (4 Hour’s Drive)

    Uttarkashi

    It is a 5-6 hour trek from Bhojbasa to Gangotri from where we have a 4 hour drive to Uttarkashi. We aim to get to Uttarkashi early enough so we can get our much needed hot showers and relax in the evening.

    Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
16. Day 16 Drive To Rishikesh (6-7 Hour’s Drive)

    Rishikesh

    After a relaxed breakfast we set off for a long drive to Rishikesh.

    We reach our hotel in the late afternoon and get our much needed showers and some rest.

    In the evening we will get time enough to explore the bustling township of Rishikesh and attend the famous Ganga Aarti – prayer ceremony on the banks of the river Ganges.

    Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
17. Day 17 Rishikesh To Dehradun & Fly To Delhi

    Delhi

    (Indigo Flight # 6E-726 Dehradun/Delhi ETD: 15:25/ETA: 16:10 Hrs.)

    After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Dehradun Airport in time to fly to Delhi.

    Arrive Delhi, you will be transferred to the hotel.

    Overnight at hotel (B)
18. Day 18 Delhi & Departure

    Delhi

    On-time check-out from the hotel and transfer to the Airport to connect with the departure International flight.

    (B)