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Uttarakhand

Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)

Road end in the Bhilangana valley below Khatling glacier

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Best time to visit Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: May to June and October to November
  • Shoulder: March to April and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to August

Planning a specific month? MayJuneOctoberNovember

Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier) season by season

Winter December to February Quiet, but open

Dec to Feb the village is cold but open at 1540 m; the Sahastra Tal and Khatling routes above are under snow, so keep the walks low.

Summer March to May Prime time

May and June are the season: 12 to 24 C, the Bhilangana loud with melt and the five day walk to the Khatling snout finally clear.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

July and August close the Ghansali road with slides for days and make the stream crossings dangerous; September usually settles.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct and Nov bring the clearest air of the year over Thalaysagar and Jogin, cold nights and the homestays almost to yourself.

What Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier) is actually like

Two lodges, a forest rest house and a few homestays; porters, shepherds and no phone signal past the last shop

Getting to Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)

Rishikesh to New Tehri by bus 4 h, then shared jeep through Ghansali to Ghuttu, 3 h more on a single lane road

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
4 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
1540 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
30.5289, 78.7902

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)?

May to June and October to November is peak season in Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier). March to April and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to August. May and June are the season: 12 to 24 C, the Bhilangana loud with melt and the five day walk to the Khatling snout finally clear.

How many days do you need in Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)?

4 days is the usual stay. Two lodges, a forest rest house and a few homestays; porters, shepherds and no phone signal past the last shop.

How do you get to Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier)?

Rishikesh to New Tehri by bus 4 h, then shared jeep through Ghansali to Ghuttu, 3 h more on a single lane road. Practical ways in: road.

Is Ghuttu (Khatling Glacier) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Nearby, and where to go next

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