Tapovan, an area which has been attracting people for centuries is a trekking site that starts from the 18th century temple of Gangotri and goes beyond the source of Ganga to the meadow of Tapovan, favourite spot for sadhus meditating in the Himalayas. Gaumukh, the snout of the glacier, Tapovan and the mighty peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas definitely make it a special trek. Tapovan is a point where sages of the ancient era used to meditate.
It is believed that Tapovan was famous for Basmati Rice. Villagers told that earlier as per decree of King of Tehri, only Tapovan Basmati was cultivated in the entire village for consumption by the royal family. Later ownership of land was shifted to Mahant (Head Priest) of Bharat Mandir at Rishikesh. Then entire Basmati rice of the village was used for bhog (offering) at the temple. When poor farmers of the village became owners of these lands their financial problems forced them to shift from single to multiple cropping system resulting in decline in fertility of land. In absence of any seed production program farmers are using their own seed since ages which has resulted in seed admixtures leading to decline in grain quality, yield, and area under cultivation of Tapovan Basmati.
Source: Department of Plant Pathology, G B PantUniversity of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar 263 145, Uttaranchal, India
Tapovan is famous for White Water Rafting, Kayaking, adventurous activities like mountaineering & trekking. Tapovan is an ideal location for the tourists looking for peace and adventure. It is located at an altitude of 4463m / 14640ft above sea level and is base camp for Shivlinga peak in Uttaranchal hills. One can also have a nice view of Bhagirathi peaks from Tapovan meadow. Located in the hills, 18 kms downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri which 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.
Gangotri glaciers, the original source of the sacred river Ganges, attracts tourists in large numbers every season. Discover the daunting rivers and attempt to reveal the mysteries of the natural world, which are rare to find elsewhere. Along with the thrill of exploring nature, what one experiences here is the aura that India is totally Indian.
Gaumukh is where the waters of Ganga trickle down from the glaciers. The sages called it 'Gaumukh', because in the distant past, it probably appeared like a cow's mouth; though today it no longer appears so. From Gangotri we move along the beaten track towards Chirbasa, which is on the tree line. From here, we can get a clear view of the BhagirathiPeak.
Indian Rupees is the best form of currency and it would be a better idea to exchange currency at Dehradun or any bigger city.
Gangotri,Rishikesh, Dehradun, Bhojwasa. There are ideal spots for camping and also base camps for Bhagirathi, Shivling, Meru, Kedardom, Kharchakund, Satopant, Kalindi Khal and many other snow peaks.
