Lying at the head of the Gangotri glacier, Chaukhamba is a mountain massif in the Gangotri Group of the Garhwal Himalaya in Indian state of Uttarakhand, west of the Hindu holy town of Badrinath. Chaukhamba has four summits, along a northeast-southwest trending ridge, and ranging in elevation from 7,138 metres (23,419 ft) to 6,854 m (22,487 ft). Mana Pass is the key col for Chaukhamba I.
- Chaukamba I 7,138 m (23,419 ft)
- Chaukamba II 7,070 m (23,196 ft)
- Chaukamba III 6,995 m (22,949 ft)
- Chaukamba IV 6,854 m (22,487 ft)
HISTORY
After unsuccessful attempts in 1938 and 1939, Chaukhamba I was first climbed on 13 June 1952, by Lucien George and Victor Russenberger (Swiss members of an otherwise French expedition). They ascended the northeast face, from the Bhagirathi-Kharak Glacier.
CLIMBING ROUTES
- Northeast Face via Bhagirathi-Kharak Glacier
- West Face
- Northwest ridge
- Southwest Face
HOW TO REACH
The trek to Chaukhamba massif commences from the holy town of Badrinath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
- ROAD: Being a revered Hindu pilgrimage site, Badrinath has good connectivity of roads from cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun. One can reach to these places from Delhi and get a bus or shared taxi to Badrinath. The buses usually leave early morning from places like Haridwar and Rishikesh.
- RAIL: Badrinath doesn’t have a railhead. Nearest railway station to Badrinath is situated in Haridwar. Haridwar is connected with major cities like Delhi, Ahmadabad and Dehradun.
- AIR: The nearest airport to Badrinath is Jolly Grant situated in Dehradun. From there, one can opt for a bus or a taxi to reach Badrinath.