Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
+91 8078656096
hello@advenchar.com
Mt Shivling stands at an exhilarating altitude of 6,543 m in the Western Garhwal Himalayas. This easily distinguishable tooth-like jagged peak resembling the holy structure of Shiva Lingam is proudly referred to as the Indian Matterhorn in the mountaineering fraternity.
Known for its spiritual appeal and unimaginable beauty, climbing Mt Shivling is on the bucket list for most aspiring climbers worldwide!
The climb to the abode of Lord Shiva is more than just a trek. It is a technical and very challenging endeavor that requires good knowledge of using mountaineering equipment like rope, ice-axe, crampon, jumar, etc.
One also needs an excellent trekking skillset to navigate through heavy snow, giant boulders, and sharp-cutting narrow ridges, along with a certain level of determination and physical and mental health to survive at such high altitudes in such demanding terrain!
The exhilarating altitude and the unpredictable and ever-changing 21-day trek to Mt Shivling all add to this impeccable adventure! So, it is reserved only for experienced high-altitude trekkers preparing for high-altitude climbing.
The best time to plan your expedition to Mt Shivling is between May – June, and September-October. Avoiding the monsoons and peak winters would be ideal.
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
8 A.M.
Distance: 245 km
Time Taken: 8-10 Hours
Altitude: 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
Our adventure to Mt Shivling begins at Dehradun. At around 7 am, we will assemble at Dehradun and take an 8-hour drive to reach the holy mountain city of Gangotri.
Besides the long scenic road journey, our day is uneventful. But even then, we will embark on our journey early.
Hilly roads are very unpredictable, and sudden delays need to be considered so we can reach our destination before it gets dark.
Moreover, we should also keep ample time to get sufficient rest, prepare our bodies for a thrilling trek, and explore the dream-like beauty of Gangotri!
The second day of our expedition will also be spent in Gangotri.
The serene city of Gangotri is famous for several reasons! Firstly, it is a Himalayan city situated on the banks of River Bhagirathi, blessing this area with an ethereal landscape!
Secondly, we all know the holy river Ganga originates from here. According to the legend, Gangotri is where Goddess Ganga descended when Lord Shiva unleashed the river from the locks of his hair.
Besides natural beauty, Gangotri’s rich heritage and mythological significance will surely draw you in and keep you asking for more!
So, use your rest day wisely and explore every aspect of this diverse city!
Use this opportunity to get to know your trekking mates and guides better.
You will also be briefed about the proceedings of the trek do’s and don’ts and some tips to stay safe at the higher altitudes.
Distance: 14 Km
Time Taken: 6-8 Hours
Altitude: 3,775 m (12,385 ft)
The trekking starts today.
Starting our day early, we will head towards Gomukh, the snout of the Gangotri. On our way, we will come across Chirbasa (3,600 m).
The piercing blue river of Bhagirathi will keep you company along this trail! The thriving and gushing water of the Bhagirathi is sure to refresh and rejuvenate your soul!
After a lunch break at Chirbasa, we now move towards Bhojwasa, our campsite for the day.
The trail sheds its vibrant character and gives way to barren and desolate landscapes! This drastic change will come as a shock, a pleasant one!
A breathtaking view of the Bhagirathi ranges will open up in front of your eyes as you come closer and closer to Bhojwasa.
We will be at our campsite by dusk, just in time to witness a mesmerizing sunset over the lofty peaks of Bhagirathi!
The overall trek isn’t too tiring, but after all that walking, your body deserves a nice rest!
We’ll spend the night in tents!
Distance: 13 Km
Time Taken: 6-8 hours
Altitude: 4,460 m (14,650 ft)
We start our day just at the break of dawn. After witnessing the most beautiful sunrise over the Bhagirathi range, we will start trekking toward Gomukh.
Just like the previous day, the pure waters of Bhagirathi will be by our side during this trek.
On reaching Gomukh, we explore the ‘mouth of cow’ (literal translation of Gomukh, because of its appearance) and catch a breath!
Time to keep going up the trail to reach Tapovan, one of the finest alpine meadows of the Himalayas.
The trail keeps getting steeper from this point on. At the same time, the gorgeous views of the Himalayan mountain range of Bhagirathi seem to be coming closer at every step!
Once you reach Tapovan, resist the urge to pinch yourself because everything you are witnessing is real!
The lush green stretches of alpine meadows dotted with rare wildflowers, the bubbling streams of water, and herds of blue mountain goats (known as Bharal) feeding on the velvety grass!
On reaching Tapovan, take some time to absorb the awe-inspiring beauty around you. You can even meditate for a little bit! After all, Tapovan is one of India’s most famous meditation spots, and for a good reason!
Set up your tents to camp in this sacred site for the night!
We will take up a rest day at Tapovan for several reasons.
Firstly, we need to give our body time to acclimatize to the drastic change in altitude along with a considerable drop in temperature and oxygen levels.
Second, we will take this time to distribute technical gear besides training and ice climbing practice.
Take this day easy and prepare mentally and physically for continuous heavy trekking for the next few days.
Max Altitude: 6,543 m (21,467 ft)
From the 6th day onwards, our expedition begins!
The conditions at such a high altitude are very unpredictable; thus, we must keep readjusting our plan to adapt to the situation at that time.
Therefore, from here on, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide a systematic day-wise schedule, as our itinerary is susceptible to several last-minute changes.
But, we will still follow proper procedure and have a rotation between the different camps, which is the standard for acclimatization.
We have the Base Camp, the Summit Camp, and in between, three other camps for our Mt Shivling Expedition.
These are the Advanced Base Camp (4700m), Camp 1 (5300 m), and Camp 2 (5850 m).
We will make multiple rounds between these camps using the rule of thumb for survival and safety in high-altitude treks.
First, we ferry our load up to a higher camp, leave it there and then come back down to spend the night at a lower camp.
The next day, we go back up, pitch our tents, and spend the night at the next camp, where we previously left our luggage.
In this way, the trail not only becomes familiar and thus easier to traverse, but you also can divide the load you carry so that you don’t have to trek with heavy baggage at once.
After rounds of the three camps, our goal would be to reach the Summit Camp by Day 13 so that we can make the summit attempt on Day 14 and descend to the base camp by day 15.
After a rest day at the base camp, by day 17, we will be back in Bhojwasa. On day 18, we will make our way back to Gangotri.
Distance: 245 km
Time Taken: 8-10 Hours
Altitude: 640m (2,100 ft)
On day 19, we will depart from Gangotri and return to our daily lives!
Despite having a detailed itinerary, uncertainties can knock on our doorstep anytime.
If unforeseen circumstances delay our schedule and forbid us from reaching the summit, we will use these reserved days.
Mount Shivling expedition climbs up to a whopping altitude of 6543 m. The challenges faced should not be underestimated. It requires technical climbing skills, rigorous physical fitness, endurance, stamina, and proper acclimatization. Only 18+ candidates who are seasoned trekkers having prior experience in expeditions scaling heights above 5500 m and having no prior altitude-related health issues should attempt this expedition.
Mt Shivling expedition is best attempted in May-June or September-October. Monsoons should be avoided, as should winters, due to heavy snow accumulation and drastic temperature drops.
Rucksack with rain cover, waterproof & high ankle trekking shoes, one fleece jacket, one down feather/holofoil jacket, raincoat/poncho, three pairs of quick-dry T-shirts and trek pants, 5-6 pairs of socks, balaclava, waterproof hand gloves with liner, a daypack, sunscreen SPF 50+, scarf, towel, lip balm, headlamp/torch, two water bottles of 1 liter, and personal medicines.
You can make your booking at our website www.advenchar.com or you can contact us at hello@advenchar.com.
You must be at least 18 years old to make a booking with us. After the booking, our team will send you a confirmation of the booking.
We understand that you may have to change your travel plans due to the Covid-19 situation, so considering this we have introduced a Book Now, Pay Later facility for all the participants. However, you will be required to pay the full amount at least 15 days prior to the departure date.
If you wish to cancel/modify your existing booking, you can do so by logging in to www.advenchar.com, and pay through the dashboard or you can drop us a mail at hello@advenchar.com with all the details of your booking, and we’ll cancel it for you.
You can claim a 100% refund if you choose to cancel your booking before 15 days. The refund will primarily be in the form of a voucher valid for 12 months. You can also opt for a cash refund provided the booking is not part of a promotional offer or a coupon code provided by Advenchar.
Refund
