Discover India's Wild Heritage

Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks

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High Himalayan National Park | Bhagirathi Headwaters

Gangotri National Park

Glaciers, Peaks, and the Source Landscape of the Ganga

Uttarakhand

Image: Gauravkaintura1234 / CC BY-SA 4.0
High Altitude and Terrain
Visitors should acclimatize and plan carefully for cold, exposure, and steep trails.
Permit-Led Trekking Landscape
Travel here is permit-and-trek based, not vehicle safari tourism.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Gangotri National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Gangotri visits depend on trekking permits, season, and mountain-route conditions; verify these before leaving Uttarkashi or Gangotri.

Lodging

Gangotri
Seasonal lodges and pilgrim facilities provide the main base for short park-linked travel.
Uttarkashi
Useful for acclimatization, supplies, and staging before mountain travel.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Uttarkashi Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

Gangotri / Uttarkashi Forest Contacts
Gangotri approach zone • Office hours
Current permit and route guidance for trekking in the park.

Rules & Regulations

  • Carry required permits and identity documents
  • Do not camp outside permitted areas
  • Carry back all waste
  • Respect altitude and weather safety guidance
  • Avoid disturbing fragile alpine habitat

Accessibility

This is a demanding mountain park with limited season, altitude exposure, and little barrier-free infrastructure.

Basic Information

About This Park

Gangotri National Park protects one of India's grandest Himalayan landscapes, stretching from conifer valleys near Gangotri toward glaciers, snowfields, and rugged high peaks. The park is inseparable from the cultural geography of the upper Bhagirathi and the pilgrimage route to Gaumukh, while also serving as habitat for mountain mammals and alpine biodiversity.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Trekking Season (May - Jun)Early mountain departuresReturn to camp or lodge
Post-Monsoon (Sep - Oct)Clear-weather trekkingReturn before night cold intensifies

Gangotri, Gaumukh, and beyond operate within trekking and permit systems rather than conventional park tourism.

Closure PeriodWinter snow and monsoon conditions limit higher-altitude access for large parts of the year.

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
Entry/PermitAs notified by Uttarakhand authorities
Guide / Trek LogisticsVaries by route, porter support, and camping plan

Always verify current trekking permits, camping rules, and daily carrying-capacity limits before departing for Gangotri.

Weather

☀️ Summer
May - June
2°C - 18°C
Short trekking season with snow still visible at higher elevations.
🌧️ Monsoon
July - August
5°C - 15°C
Rain, landslides, and cloud cover complicate mountain travel.
❄️ Winter
October - April
-15°C - 10°C
Very cold with snow and severe limitations on access.

Contact Information

Authority
Uttarakhand Forest Department / Tourism authorities

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Gangotri National Park, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand

31.0882° N, 79.1455° E

✈️

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is the main airport for onward road travel.

🚂

By Train

Rishikesh and Dehradun are the main railheads.

🚗

By Road

Travel by mountain road through Uttarkashi to Gangotri, with onward trekking into the park's interior.

🚐

Local Transport

Use mountain taxis or organized trekking support from Uttarkashi or Gangotri.

Things to Do

🥾
Gaumukh Trek
Follow one of India's iconic high-altitude trekking routes toward the Bhagirathi glacier source zone.
📸
Mountain Photography
Photograph glaciers, cliffs, birch forest, and alpine valleys.
🐾
Wildlife Tracking
Watch for signs of high-altitude mammals and birds in quieter sections.
🧭
Pilgrimage-Landscape Interpretation
Understand how Himalayan ecology and sacred geography overlap in the upper Ganga basin.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Snow LeopardHimalayan TahrBlue SheepMusk DeerBlack BearMonalLammergeierHigh Himalayan Birds

Flora

Conifer forest, birch, alpine scrub, meadows, glacier-fed valleys, and sparse high-altitude vegetation.

Fauna

Gangotri supports mountain ungulates, high-altitude carnivores, pheasants, and birds across one of Uttarakhand's largest protected Himalayan systems.

Learn About the Park

History

Gangotri National Park was established in 1989 to protect the upper Bhagirathi basin, its glaciers, and a major stretch of Uttarakhand's high Himalayan ecology.

Quick Facts

Established
1989
Area
2,390 sq km
State
Uttarakhand
Designation
High Himalayan National Park

References

  1. Gangotri National Park official visitor information Uttarakhand Forest Department / Tourism authorities
  2. Gangotri National Park overview Wikipedia
  3. Gangotri National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  4. Gangotri National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons