Ensconced in the Garhwal Hills lies Gangotri, the origin of the mighty River Ganga.
Located at a height of 3048 meters above sea level, the temples of Gangotri are open only from May to November.
According to myth, King Bhagirath did immense penance to bring the Ganga down fron heaven to earth. Pleased with his devotion Lord Shiva allowed Ganga to descend but he knew that if she came down in her full force then mankind would be annihilated. To prevent this he caught her in his locks of hair and proclaimed that only when Goddess Parvati, his wife, would bathe in the river daily, would the Ganga be allowed to finally reach earth. In fact the stone that marks the point where the Ganga first touched earth can still be seen.
Areas of interest The Submerged Shiv ling - As the legend states that Lord Shiva caught Ganga in his locks to prevent her from destroying mankind with her tremendous force, there is a natural shiv ling made of rock at the very point where this is said to have happened. The shiv ling is visible only in the early winter months when the water level goes down.
Gangotri Temple - Located at the spot where the Ganga descended to earth, this temple was constructed in the 18 th century. Some people also believe the Pandavas also performed the Deva Yagna here to atone the deaths of all their kin who died in the Mahabharata. The temple is an imposing structure made of white granite and 20 feet high.
Gangotri is also the starting point for many excursions. Some of the important ones include -
Nandanvan Tapovan - Nandanvan is the base camp for the Bhagirathi peaks, while after a trek across the Gangotri Glacier you reach Tapovan where the beautiful meadows are a breathtaking sight
Uttarkashi - Located 99 km from Gangotri, Uttarkashi is 1150 meters above sea level. Home to many important temples like the Vishwanath Temple, Ekadash Rudra Temple, Kuteti Devi Temple and the Gyaneshwar Temple, Uttarkasi is also the site for the annual Magh Mela.
Kedar Tal - At a distance of 18 km from Gangotri lies Kedar Tal a beautiful lake situated at an altitude of 4425 meters above sea level. It is accessible after a grueling trek and the majestic Thalaiyasagar peak forms a dramatic backdrop to the lake.
Gaumukh - This is the source of the Ganga River and a very popular pilgrimage destination.
Dayara Bugyal - Bugyal means meadow and the Dayara Bugyal is a beautiful flower laden meadow located at an altitude of 3048 meters above sea level. During the winter season Dayara Bugyal is also a great skiing destination.
Nachiketa Tal - This beautiful retreat is surrounded by dense forests. It is at a distance of 131 from Gangotri.
Gangotri is well connected by road to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Delhi. The closest railway station is in Rishikesh (249 km from Gangotri) and the nearest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun (226 km from Gangotri).
The best season to visit Gangotri is from April to November.
