A Handy Guide to Conquer Tawang’s Gorichen Peak

The unassailable charm of Arunachal Pradesh draws thousands of tourists to the state every year. With a pristine landscape, uncharted wildlife, inviting lakes, enchanting peaks, and exhilarating mountain passes, it truly is a land of unlimited travel opportunities. However, what attracts many die-hard trekkers to this place is not just the travel opportunities, but the opportunity to combine trekking & rock climbing with travel which is a very rare combination to get in the lists of treks in India. In fact, an Adventure in Tawang along with camping, trekking & rock climbing is a long cherished dream for many trekkers. If the lure of trekking to the Gorichen Peak in Tawang is beckoning you, you need to set off for the trek during the months of April to June or September and October. However, you must remember that trekking to the Gorichen is vastly different from scaling the Gorichen. If you are just a seasoned trekker with experience in rock climbing, it is a good idea to trek till Chokersam, the base camp of Gorichen. Here is a Gorichen Peak (Tawang) Guide for you to get the best out of your trek to witness the peak of Gorichen and enjoy the landscape.

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Gorichen Peak

At 6858 metres this is the highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh and is situated on the border with China in Tawang District at a distance of 164 kilometres from Tawang township. For trekkers, a trek to Chokersam (14,700 feet) base camp can offer a mesmerizing view of the Gorichen Peak. A word of caution – a trek to the Gorichen Peak is only for the seasoned climbers as it is a rocky and icy peak that is known to challenge even the best mountaineers. Despite being a treacherous trek, it is one of the best attractions in Tawang. Though most of the tourists to Arunachal Pradesh can get a glimpse of the peak during their travel from Bomdila to Tawang, for the seasoned trekkers a visit to Arunachal Pradesh is incomplete without some tough trekking & rock climbing en route to the peak. Apart from the alluring peak and its surroundings, you can also get to see the Monpa tribe who inhabit the villages along the trekking route. For this tribe, the Gorichen peak is a sacred peak that protects the locals from all evil and hence, is locally referred to as Sa-Nga Phu which translates to the Kingdom Of Deity.

The Journey

 To go to Arunachal Pradesh an Indian national needs to acquire an Inner Line Permit. However, foreigners need to acquire a Protected Area Permit. Indians mostly procure their Inner Line Permit from the Deputy Resident Commissioners office at Guwahati. One can also get the Inner Line Permit from the Resident Commissioner Office or Liaison Office of the Government of Arunachal Bhavan located at New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Tezpur, and other cities.

After procuring the permit you can go straight to Bomdila since it is at this place that most of the travel agents who are specialists in organizing treks are located in Arunachal Pradesh. Permits are likely to be checked on the border of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a good idea to procure porters and supplies from Bomdila. However, you can also get it from Dirang village or other villages’ en-route to Chokersam.

The road starting from Bomdila winds up to a ridge leaving the pristine Bomdila Monastery below. You can drive up to Dirang since there is a motorable road to this village. It is situated at a distance of about 43 kilometres from Bomdila, and you may have to wait for around one and a half hours or less to reach Dirang. Situated on the banks of the Kameng River at a height of 4900 feet, this is a picturesque and tiny village with a very limited number of inhabitants. Many trekkers select this village for starting not just for the ease of starting, but also for the experience of camping by the river side.

 For the first leg of your journey, you have to take the highway leaving the new town of Dirang by the river below. However, the road follows the Dirang River and will take you to the Dzong. Beyond this point starts the trekking trail. You have to cross the Dirang River over a rickety footbridge and then start your ascent. It is a steep climb and it may well test your trekking capabilities. After a span of the continuous climb, you can reach the top of the hill at 7380 feet. You can get a beautiful view of the Namshu village from the top.

 From the top of the hill you have to go down along the trail and after about half an hour you can get to the monastery outside Namshu village. It is a picturesque village with abundant farming and two monasteries. This place is nice for camping.

Next day, you can start from Namshu. On the way, you will come across the other monastery. Beyond the monastery starts the trekking trail. It is a steep climb from there through trees and foliage and then a steeper climb to the top of the hill. From there the path is winding and broad, unlike the steep climb. This is the track that goes to Chander through various hairpin bends.

 Beyond one of these bends, the view of the majestic Gorichen Peak soaring into the sky would suddenly catch your attention. As you move forward through the winding trail and get into Chander, the view of the Gorichen would become even clearer and more beautiful. This is another great spot for camping.

From Chander you need to make a steady climb till Thungri for about 12 kilometres. The trail traverses through yak pastures and forested land with some superb views of the Gorichen and other snow-clad mountains. You can do overnight camping at Thungri situated at a height of 3200 metres.

From Thungri to Changla it is a distance of about 13 kilometres. The trail traverses through coniferous forests and is a steep climb. It is a combination of trekking and rock climbing through this stretch. You can get awe-inspiring view of the Sela range on points along this path. Changla is a good place for camping.

From Changla to Potok it is again a steady climb for about 14 kilometres, but this time the forest would become scattered. Potok is the picture-perfect alpine pasture situated at a height of 4200 metres that you will immediately fall in love with.

From Potok, trees become more scattered and rarer until you reach Lahap. It is a steady uphill track crossing the Tse La Pass. The view of the mountains, the valleys and the ensemble from here is just breathtaking.

The next day you can go from Lahap to Mago. It is a trek for about 4-5 hours on a trail stretching to about 12 kilometres. Mago is a beautiful village where you can stop for camping and sightseeing.

From Mago to Chokersam is your final trek, but it is a trek from a height of 12100 feet to 14700 feet which means it is a steady elevation with sudden steep climbs. This stretch will test your trekking and rock climbing skills. However, once you end up at Chokersam, the view that you are offered of the Gorichen Peak will blow your mind away and make you forget the strenuous and arduous trek. Behold the majestic Gorichen, experience the beauty and enjoy the environment. After a while, you will start feeling cold because of the windy weather and high altitude. After you are done taking in the grandeur of the peak and capturing it in your GoPro and smartphone camera it is time to get down and get a cup of coffee at the base camp.