Char Dham Yatra :

The campsites of Tapovan and Nandanvan, 6km beyond Gomukh on slightly divergent glacier-side routes, are popular objectives for lightweight trekking and mountaineeering, and as a rule best attempted using guides engaged from gangotri or Bhojbasa.

A difficult track leads past the last teashop at gomukh to ascend the moraine on the left edge o the glacier, following it for 1 km before crossing the glacier diagonally towards a high point in the middle, in line with Shivling. Depending on the season, this stage can be confusing and dangerous; heavy snow can conceal deep crevasses and the cairns that mark the way. From the high point, you should be able to see a stream coming down the high bank opposite. use this as a marker; an extermely steep and strenuous clib up unstable ground runs to its left, to top out eventually on the grassy meadow of TAPOVAN, where you are greeted by the fantastic sight of Shivling towering above.

Tapovan is an ideal location for the tourists looking for peace and adventure. Located in the hills, 18 kms downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri. It is an important pilgrim site located at 3,048 m above sea level. Gangotri is situated in the northern part of the state of Uttaranchal and is very close to the Indo-Tibetan border.

Nandanvan lies on a similar but less frequented meadow below the Bhagirathi Peaks, at the junction of the glacier known as the Chaturang Bamak and the Gangotri Glacier. From here you get magnificient views of Bhagirathi Shivling, and the huge snowy mass of Kedar Dome hiding a steep sheer rocky face.