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Gangotri in December
Uttarakhand, India
December Gangotri is under snow. The town is completely abandoned. The temple is locked. The road is impassable. The Bhagirathi valley belongs to snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, and the glacier. There is nothing here for tourists. The Ganga flows from under the ice, beginning its 2,525km journey to the Bay of Bengal with no one watching.
The December story
Gangotri is completely inaccessible in December. The town is under snow, the road is buried, and the valley is one of the most remote and inhospitable places in the Indian Himalayas. The Ganga continues flowing from the glacier โ it has done so for millennia and will continue regardless of human presence. If the idea of Gangotri in December appeals to your imagination, channel that into a properly planned May-October visit. The Char Dham yatra registration website opens months in advance. The Gaumukh trek permit requires advance planning. The journey from any major city to Gangotri takes minimum 2 days. This is a destination that rewards planning with an experience that changes perspective on what rivers, glaciers, and faith mean.
Why December scores 0/5
Weather
Temple closed, deep winter. Valley under heavy snow. Road blocked. No access until late April. Winter worship continues at Mukhba village downstream.
Roads & Access
self drive: Difficult โ narrow with steep drops. Experienced hill drivers only. road condition: Narrow mountain road from Uttarkashi, single lane. Landslide-prone. Road rebuilt each May. public transport: GMOU buses from Uttarkashi during season. Shared taxis available. from nearest city: Uttarkashi โ 100km, 4hr. Rishikesh โ 265km, 10hr. last km difficulty: hard
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 2/5. rescue: ITBP rescue post, SDRF โ helicopter if weather permits. helpline: 100 (police), 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Temple committee vehicle. 108 unreliable. police station: Gangotri outpost โ seasonal. nearest hospital: PHC Gangotri โ first aid only. Uttarkashi District Hospital โ 100km. Airlift for emergencies
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL only and unreliable. No signal beyond Gangotri towards Gaumukh
Kids
Not ideal for kids โ Sacred Ganga origin โ spiritual value, Scenic drive through mountains
Elevation
3,100m โ Moderate altitude
Who should go
- โTravelers with basic fitness
- โNobody โ completely inaccessible under snow
- โLong-term planners booking next May-October visits
- โArmchair travellers researching Ganga's source
- โUttarkashi visitors for winter Himalayan town experience
Who should think twice
- โThose with mobility issues
- โEveryone โ buried under snow, completely inaccessible
- โNo exceptions for any category of visitor
- โThe valley is life-threatening without expedition equipment
- โPlan for May-October instead
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Temple closed. Valley buried under deep snow. NH-108 blocked beyond Uttarkashi. No access or facilities. Entire area in winter hibernation. |
| February | 0/5 | Temple closed. Heaviest winter month. Avalanche risk in surrounding valleys. Road clearance won't begin for weeks. Completely inaccessible. |
| March | 0/5 | Temple closed. Snow melting at lower elevations. BRO begins road clearing. Gangotri town still inaccessible. Gaumukh glacier trek impossible. |
| April | 1/5 | Temple may open Akshaya Tritiya (late April). Road clearing ongoing โ delays common. Gaumukh trek not yet safe. Only visit if confirmed open. |
| May | 5/5 | Best month, 5-20ยฐC. Temple open, Gaumukh glacier trek accessible. Bhagirathi River clear blue. Snow peaks dramatic. Pilgrim season building. Book early. |
| June | 4/5 | Warm 10-22ยฐC. Peak Char Dham pilgrimage season. Gaumukh trek busy. Late June brings early monsoon showers. Visit first half for best conditions. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon 12-20ยฐC. Heavy rain, landslides on Uttarkashi-Gangotri road frequent. Gaumukh trek dangerous. River in brown spate. Road closures likely. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Road to Gangotri among most dangerous in Uttarakhand this month. Multiple landslide zones. Pilgrims stranded regularly. Avoid completely. |
| September | 3/5 | Rain clearing, 5-16ยฐC. Roads stabilizing. River calming. Gaumukh trek cautiously resumes. Fewer pilgrims โ peaceful darshan. Autumn colours starting. |
| October | 4/5 | Last open month, 2-14ยฐC. Stunning autumn โ golden birch forests along Gaumukh trail. Snow dusts surrounding peaks. Uncrowded, spiritual, photogenic. |
| November | 0/5 | Temple closes after Diwali-week ceremony. Snow begins. Valley emptying out. Murti moved to Mukhba village for winter worship. Season over. |
| Decemberviewing | 0/5 | Temple closed, deep winter. Valley under heavy snow. Road blocked. No access until late April. Winter worship continues at Mukhba village downstream. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Uttarkashi โ 100km, 4hr. Rishikesh โ 265km, 10hr. Roads: Narrow mountain road from Uttarkashi, single lane. Landslide-prone. Road rebuilt each May. Self-drive: Difficult โ narrow with steep drops. Experienced hill drivers only. Public transport: GMOU buses from Uttarkashi during season. Shared taxis available. Last stretch: hard
Elevation
3,100m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in December
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