Which glacier's terminus, Gomukh, is the source of the Bhagirathi River?

The glacier whose terminus, Gomukh, is the source of the Bhagirathi River is Gangotri Glacier. Gomukh—also spelled Gaumukh—means “mouth of a cow,” a reference to the shape traditionally associated with the glacier’s snout.

Gangotri Glacier is in Uttarakhand, India, near the border with Tibet. It is about 30 kilometers long and up to roughly 2 kilometers wide, making it one of the major glaciers of the Himalayas. Meltwater emerging at Gomukh forms the headwaters of the Bhagirathi, one of the two principal rivers that become the Ganges.

The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet at Devprayag, after which the combined river is called the Ganges. This creates a common source-related confusion: Hindu tradition often regards the Bhagirathi as the Ganges’ source, while hydrologists may identify the longer and larger Alaknanda system as the main headstream. Gomukh is also an important Hindu pilgrimage destination, reached by trekking from Gangotri.