First up Bhrigupanth
Bhrigupanth (6,772 m), above Kedar Kharak, was first climbed in 1980 by an Indian-American women's expedition led by Arlene Blum.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Kedartal is short but steep: nearly 1,600 m of climbing from Gangotri, with an exposed rock slab on the way.
4,750m
Kedartal
6,904m
Thalay Sagar, above it
38km
Walking, over 4 days
60°
The Spider Wall
💪 Moderate–hard🌸 May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🎫 Park permit
Day by day
Seven days, step by step
This is Bikat Adventures' plan, whose days add up to 38 km. Wikipedia gives 17 km one way.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Arrive at GangotriVia Uttarkashi~245 km from Dehradun🛏️ Guest house
- Day 2GangotriAcclimatise🛏️ Guest house
- Day 3Gangotri → Bhoj KharakOver the Spider Wall8 km🛏️ Tents · 3,930 m
- Day 4Bhoj Kharak → Kedar KharakPast the landslide zone7 km🛏️ Tents · 4,410 m
- Day 5Kedar Kharak → Kedartal → Kedar KharakBoulders and cairns8 km🛏️ Tents at Kedar Kharak
- Day 6Kedar Kharak → GangotriAll the way down15 km🛏️ Guest house
- Day 7Gangotri → DehradunThe drive home243 km
Stories and nature
Shiva's lake
Amar Singh Thapa's Gangotri
The Gangotri temple was built by the Nepalese general Amar Singh Thapa. It closes on Diwali.
Gangotri National Park
The route lies in Gangotri National Park (1989), home to snow leopard, bears, musk deer, tahr and monal.
When to go
Two short windows
The park is open April to November.
May–June
Snow is possible even in May, and the lake can still be frozen.
July–August
Heavy rain and landslides: not recommended.
Sep–Oct
Clear and cold.
Winter
The park is closed.
Plan your trip
Getting to Gangotri
Gangotri is 99 km beyond Uttarkashi.
- Dehradun🚌 ~245 km via Uttarkashi and Harsil
- Gangotri
The nearest ATMs are in Uttarkashi. There's no phone network beyond Gangotri.
Cost
Bikat Adventures charges ₹18,000 + 5% GST, Gangotri to Gangotri.
Permits
A Gangotri National Park permit (about ₹150 for Indians in 2026), checked at the Kedartal post near Surya Kund.
Grade
Moderate (BRS 4), for trekkers with high-altitude experience. Falling rock is a hazard.
Altitude sickness
The lake is at 4,750 m. Tell your leader about any symptoms, and go down if they get worse.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Which SIM
BSNL and Airtel work best in the region. Both have signal in Gangotri. Bikat Adventures
Charge in Gangotri
Gangotri rooms have plugs. After that there is none, so carry a power bank of 10,000 mAh or more. Keep batteries warm in your sleeping bag. Himalayan Dream Treks
Food on the trail
Three vegetarian meals a day, plus evening tea and snacks. Eggs on some days. Bikat Adventures
Toilets
Dry pit toilet tents at camp. On hard treks they may not go up to the highest camp. Bikat Adventures
Weather
In May–June, days are 15 to 20 °C lower down and 5 to 10 °C up high. High camps drop to −5 °C at night. Bikat Adventures
Nearest hospital
The nearest hospital is the District Hospital in Uttarkashi, near Vishwanath Chowk. Himalayan Dream Treks
Offloading
A porter for your bag costs ₹3,570 with Bikat, ₹3,600 with Trekkaro. Bikat Adventures
Bus or shared taxi
Buses for Uttarkashi and Gangotri leave the Pahadi bus stand near Dehradun railway station. Shared taxis leave from Rispana Pul; change at Uttarkashi. Bikat Adventures
Shared cab cost
A Bikat Sumo from Dehradun for 5–6 people costs ₹9,000 each way. A Tempo for 11–12 costs ₹14,000. Bikat Adventures
Rescue
Rescue is by road from the trailhead. Its cost is not in the trek fee, so get trek insurance. Bikat Adventures
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device. Items with a red price can be rented.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Himalayan Dream Treks: Kedartal packing list.
Rent or buy
Where to get gear
Many operators lend tents, sleeping bags and spikes. Ask yours before you rent.
Dehradun before you leave
DecathlonBuy · thermals, socks, fleece, gloves, torch, polesPlot 1591, Haridwar Bypass Road · Website
Himalayan Dream TreksRent · shoes, jackets, bags, poles, gaiters, power banks10 B Mothorowala Road, Dharampur · +91 80896 93825 · Website
Gangotri at the start of the trek
Himalayan Dream Treks storeRent · per day: shoes ₹200, jacket ₹100, bag ₹100, pole ₹50, power bank ₹100+91 80896 93825 · Website
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 7 operators with a Kedartal page in October 2026. Only Trekkaro shows an open batch before May 2027.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.