Gaumukh

Gaumukh is the snout of the Gangotri Glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas, where the Bhagirathi River, which later becomes the Ganga, first emerges. The name means cow's mouth, a reference to the shape of the ice from which the meltwater flows. Pilgrims regard the water as purifying and have made the journey for centuries, while trekkers come for the glacier and the surrounding peaks.

The site lies within Gangotri National Park and can be reached only on foot, along a designated trail through alpine country, forest and rocky ground. A permit is needed before setting out. Heavy snow cuts the area off for much of the winter, so the trek is done in the months when the weather is settled.