In recent months, many developments have happened in the Adventure Tourism Industry in Uttarkashi. After the tragic incident at Shastra Tal this June, where nine lives were lost, the authorities of Uttarkashi have been advocating for an SOP for all trekking agencies and guides in Uttarkashi.
The SOP is in the final stage, and various parties and associations from the Ganga, Yamuna, and Tons Valleys are working together to put forward an accepted SOP.
With all these updates, there have been changes to the Gaumukh Yatra and permit process. The permit portal was offline for several weeks following reports of damage to the Gaumukh Yatra route caused by heavy rainfall. On the evening of September 10, 2024, the Gaumukh Permit portal on SWS was brought back online after being offline for several weeks. There have been changes to the permit process, below are the following updates:
a) Earlier, you could get a Gaumukh permit offline, but now that’s not the case. The permit will be applied for via SWS by the approved agency only.
b) To apply for the permit, a trekking agency needs to be involved.
c) Documents like insurance, medical certificates, and self-declaration forms are now mandatory for submission.
d) The permit will be applied for via a trekking agency and approved by the tourism authority of Uttarkashi. Once approved, only then will the permit be issued.
e) A guide is now mandatory, and the guide will need to submit AMC, BMC, trek insurance, and a medical certificate.
f) The Gaumukh trek has been shifted from a moderate trek to a tough trek on the SWS portal.
g) Trekking agencies need to submit a hard copy of an affidavit to the DM of Uttarkashi.
These are the updated guidelines, and those in need of a Gaumukh permit must follow them accordingly. Uttarkashi Tourism Officials has stated that these changes are temporary and will be reverted. With all these updates we at Himalayan Dream Treks have also revised service charges for our permit service. Connect with the team for any query.
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