Etheasua at 10:29, 15 November 2023

2023-11-15T10:29:42Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox glacier
| name = Gomukh
| other_name = ''Gaumukh'' or ''Gomukhi''
| photo = View of Gaumukh.jpg
| photo_caption = Gomukh, "Face of a Cow", the pout of the glacier along the river
| location = [[Uttarkashi district]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| coords =
| area =
| length =
| thickness =
| terminus =
| status = Retreating
}}
'''Gomukh''', also known as "Gaumukh" or "Gomukhi" ([[Hindi]]: गौमुख or गौमुखी ''';''' [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: গোমুখ or গোমুখী), is the [[Glacier terminus|terminus]] or pout of the [[Gangotri Glacier]] and the source of the [[Bhagirathi River]], one of the primary headstreams of the [[Ganga River]]. The word ''Gomukh/Gaumukh'' (''go/gau''=cow, ''mukh''= face) literally means "Face of a Cow."

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 one of the largest in the Himalayas with an estimated volume of over 27 cubic kilometers.

It is a holy Hindu pilgrimage site, along with [[Gangotri]], as well as trekking destination.<ref name="Malhotra1983">{{cite book|author=S. S. L. Malhotra|title=Gangotri and Gaumukh: a trek to the holy source|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2TNuAAAAMAAJ|page=139|year=1983|publisher=Allied Publishers}}</ref><ref name="Bisht1994">{{cite book|author=Harshwanti Bisht|title=Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya: With Special Reference to Mountaineering and Trekking in Uttarkashi and Chamoli Districts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6C6DGU73WzsC&pg=PA83|year=1994|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-006-4|pages=83–}}</ref>

In 1972, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam the then Prime Minister of [[Mauritius]], brought the holy [[Ganga]] water from Gomukh and mixed it with the water of [[Ganga Talao|Grand Bassin]] in Mauritius and renamed it as Ganga Talao for the [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Mauritian Hindus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.defimedia.info/how-lake-became-sacred-ganga-talao|title=How a lake became the sacred Ganga Talao|access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

In 2013, due to [[cloudburst]] in Uttarakhand, huge cracks had emerged on the glacier. 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 ancient times==
[[File:Gaumukh Gangotri glacier.jpg|200px|thumb|A small shrine at [[Gaumukh]], Gangotri glacier.]]
Gomukh is mentioned in the [[Puranas]]. It is said there that, searching a lost sheep, a boy reached near a glacier in [[Gangotri]], the snout of which exactly looked like the face of a [[Cow]], and thus it got its name 'Gomukh'. From then many holy saints, sages, sadhus, hermits, adventure seekers, as well as religious people and adventure seekers also went there to worship the place. It is also rumored that, if anyone visits Gomukh/ Gawmukh with evil intentions or polluted body or mind, his ancestors fall in Burning Hell and that person experiences grave horrors and deep melancholy surrounds him.

== Geography ==
[[File:Gomukh the source of Ganga.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Gomukh, [[Glacier terminus|terminus]] of the Gangotri glacier. The Bhagirathi peaks rise in the background.]]
Gomukh is 18 km from Gangotri in the foothills of Bhagirathi at a height of 4255m. It is the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. 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 clayey snow of the glacier.

The Gomukh snout is rapidly moving backwards. According to the modern research the snout has moved 1 km in 70 years.<ref>[https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/ganga-gangotri-glacier/#:~:text=Rate%20of%20Gangotri%20glacier%20retreat,Sharma%20of%20Jawaharlal%20Nehru%20University. Rate of Gangotri glacier retreat]</ref>

== Trek route ==


The first and foremost thing for Gomukh trek is that you must have permission from (D.F.O.) District forest officer, Uttarkashi. Only 150 permits are issued per day, permission can be taken via fax also.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.shivprasad.in/gangotri-and-gomukh/|title=Gangotri and Gomukh - D Shiv Prasad Blog|date=2016-08-18|newspaper=D Shiv Prasad Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref> The trail to Gomukh begins from Gangotri, about {{convert|18|km|mi|abbr=on|1}} from Gomukh. It was heavily damaged by rockslides by the [[2013 North Indian Floods]] as was road access to Gangotri.

9 km ahead of Gangotri is Chirbasa, the abode of Chir trees. After 3 km of Chirbasa comes the dangerous Gila Pahar, the place well known for its [[landslide]]s even prior to the 2013 destruction of much of the trail here; near-sheer cliffs down to the river must now be traversed. Here the Bharals, a type of mountain antelope are sometimes seen. The Bharals are found above the altitude of 10,000 ft. Only 4 km from here is Bhujbasa, the only night halting place on the way with buildings. One can stay at the GMVN Bungalow, or at the Lalbaba's Ashram or at Ram Baba's ashram.<ref>both ashram charge Rs 350 for a day that includes lodging and food.</ref> After trekking 4<sup>1/<sub>2</sub></sup>km from Bhujbasa, one reaches Gomukh, the snout of the Gangotri Glacier.A little before Gomukh, the majestic view of [[Shivling (Garhwal Himalaya)|Mt. Shivling]] welcomes the trekkers to the place.

On the trail no [[horse]]s are allowed, so one must take preparations to walk on foot.
The trek to Tapovan and Nandanvan starts from here.
[[File:Terminus of Gongotri Glacier in 2014, Gomukh Trek.jpg|thumb|Snout point of Gongotri Glacier, Gomukh]]

The route after 'Bhojbasa' can be quite difficult, more so since the 2013 floods. One has to cross a boulder zone to reach the Gomukh snout.
The trek beyond Gomukh is quite difficult. Crossing the glacier & going towards Tapovan has become quite dangerous nowadays (because of the landslides). There is no track and one must have a guide and should be prepared to face any type of accident which can even be a life-threatening one. The last climb to reach [[Tapovan]] is very stiff, within 2 km a climb of around 1500 foot and is quite a challenging experience.

You may apply for an online permit,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swsuttarkashi.com/Home/DashBoard |title=Office Of District Magistrate Uttarkashi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102064446/http://www.swsuttarkashi.com/Home/DashBoard |archive-date=2 January 2019}}</ref> even with an online permit you would still need to get it verified at the district magistrate Uttrakasi office.

In October 2023, Himalayan Dream Treks organized the Gaumukh Marathon, with 60 participants. The marathon began at Gaumukh Glacier and concluded at Gangotri Temple, spanning a distance of 18 kilometers.<ref>[https://himalayandreamtreks.in/blog/the-gaumukh-marathon-by-himalayan-dream-treks/ The Gaumukh Marathon 2023 by Himalayan Dream Treks]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Hydrography of Uttarakhand}}

{{coord|30.92678|N|79.08079|E|region:IN-UL_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Glaciers of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Geography of Uttarkashi district]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]

Gomukh - Revision history

Etheasua at 10:29, 15 November 2023