Gomukh, Gangotri, Uttarakhand
Gomukh, also known as Gaumukh or Gomukhi, is the terminus or
snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of
the Bhagirathi River, one of the primary
headstreams of the Ganges River. The place is situated at a
height of 13,200 ft (4,023 m) in Uttarkashi district in the state
of Uttarakhand, India. It is a
popular Hindu pilgrimage site, along with Gangotri,
as well as trekking destination.
Legends
Bhagirathi:
According to legends Kind Bhagiratha did severe penance,
pleased Lord Shiva and asked for the holy river Ganga to come to earth in order
to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors. Goddess Ganga agreed and came to
the earth in the form of Gangotri glaciers and travelled all the way to
Haridwar and granted salvation to King Bhagiratha's ancestors. Since it
was Bhagiratha who brought Ganga to the earth, the river is called
Bhagirathi.
Etymology:
The word Gomukh/Gaumukh (go/gau=cow, mukh= mouth)
literally means Mouth of a Cow. According to some sayings, earlier the snout
exactly looked like the Mouth of a Cow.
History
The Gangotri glaciers are one of the biggest glaciers of
the Himalayan regions. On 26 July 2016, following heavy rains in Uttarakhand,
it was reported that the front end of Gomukh was no more, as a large chunk of
the glacier had collapsed and was washed away. In 2013, due to cloud burst in
Uttarakhand, huge cracks had emerged on the glacier. According to the modern
research the snout has moved 1 km in just 70 years.
Gomukh
Gomukh is a beautiful place which marks the end of the
Gangotri Glacier. This place is situated near the Shivling Peak. The place is
situated near the Tapovan meadow and enchants visitors with its natural
glory. Gomukh is a snout of the Gangotri Glacier at an elevation of 13,200
ft. It is one of the largest in the Himalayas with an estimated volume of over
27 cubic kilometers.
River Bhagirathi, an important tributary of River Ganga,
originates at Gomukh. The Bhagirathi river here is pretty speedy. Around the
snout, nature presents a wild topography. There are boulders scattered here and
there with some pieces of broken snow, along with the hard clay snow of the
glacier. The Gomukh snout is rapidly moving backwards.
Best Time to Visit
Summer
(May, June): Weather remains
salubrious, mild and pleasing during the day time while the nights are
relatively chilly in comparison.
Autumn
(September, October): Perhaps
the best time to go for trekking as this is when there is an onset of snowfall
and landscapes starts looking picturesque. If planning to visit during the
autumn season, one should do booking in advance as there are very less
accommodation options.
Trekking & Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location
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