With alarm bells ringing over the rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, the Uttarakhand Government has decided to regulate tourist flow to the protected areas of Gangotri National Park, including Gomukh.

The Government would now restrict the number of tourists visiting the origin of the holy river Ganga to 150 per day.

The new regulations would come into effect from the next season beginning in April, said Chief Forest Conservator of Uttarakhand B. S. Barfal.

According to officials, on a single day in the annual Kanwad season (July-August), nearly 2,000 to 3,000 Kawadias, devotees of Lord Shiva, visit the area causing ecological concerns.

The entry of mules and horses has also been banned in Gangotri area, Barfal said. To discourage tourists from visiting Gangotri regularly, the entry fee is also being hiked.