A flight of steps alongside the temple
at Gangotri leads upto join a large pony path that rises
gently, providing stunning mountain vistas, towards the
Gangotri Glacier, which has long been regarded as one of
the most beautiful and acdesible glaciers in the inner Himalayas.
Sadly, it is retreating at the rate of almost 1km a year.
Two kilometre into the treak, the forest checkpoint demands
Rs. 100 (refunded on return) and rather disconcertingly
also searches your rucksack., allegedly for potential litter.
The Gangotri glacier is situated in the Uttarkashi District
of Garhwal Himalaya. The Glacier has been receding at the
rate of 10-30 metres per year over the second half of this
century. While the rate of retreat was nominal between 1935
and 1956, it started to increase rapidly after that.
This glacier, source of the Ganga, is one of the largest
in the Himalayas with an estimated volume of over 27 cubic
kilometers. The glacier is about 30 kilometres long (19
miles) and 2 to 4 km (1 to 2 mi) wide. Around the glacier
are the peaks of the Gangotri Group, including several peaks
notable for extremely challenging climbing routes, such
as Shivling, Thalay Sagar, Meru, and Bhagirathi III. It
flows roughly northwest, originating in a cirque below Chaukhamba,
the highest peak of the group.
The Gangotri glacier is a traditional Hindu pilgrimage site.
Devout Hindus consider bathing in the icy waters near Gangotri
town to be a holy ritual, and many make the trek to Goumukh
and Tapovan.
