Gangotri is a town in the northern state of Uttranchal and it is considered as one of the holiest places in India as it is the source of the Holy River Ganga which is known as Bhagirathi until it reaches Deoprayag. Gangotri is a part of the Char Dham circuit which includes Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri also and is the holiest pilgrimage circuit in India. Gangotri is situated at an altitude of 3042 metres above sea level and the famous Gangotri temple here was built by Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh Thapa, in the early 18th century. Gangotri is located in the Garhwal hills and is approximately 300 km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 100 km from Uttarkashi.

 History:

Like other Pilgrimage in India Gangotri too has a legend associated with it. According to an old legend, Lord Shiva rewarded King Bhagirath after his penance and Ganga came down to earth. However, due to her pride, and the fact that the earth would be devastated if Ganga came down in her full force, Lord Shiva caught her in his locks. It was then proclaimed that Goddess Uma or Parvati, Shiva's consort, would bathe in the Ganges daily and only then would she descend on the earth. The sacred stone near the temple denotes the place where Ganga first came down to earth. This is why Ganga is also called by the name of Bhagirathi.

Best For:

• Temples
• Trekking

Gangotri can be visited between May and November. From the months of November to April the route to Gangotri is closed due to heavy rainfall. The summer temperatures average to a maximum of 20 deg.C and a minimum of 6 deg.C. During winter temperature may fall below 0 degrees and snowfall is common. It is advisable to carry woolen clothes while traveling to Gangotri as the temperature can be quite low, especially during the nights. A comfortable pair of shoes is also a must.

No permits are required to travel to Gangotri , other than a visa for India.

By air: Nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport which is 17 kms from Rishikesh, 24kms from Dheradun (which have a daily flights operating from New Delhi) and 288 kms from Gangotri. The nearest international airport is the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi.

By rail: The nearest railhead to Gangotri is at Rishikesh which is 271 kms from Gangotri.

By road: Gangotri is accessible by road from the nearest places Dharasu which is 129 kms from Gangotri, Yamunotri (224 kms from Gangotri), Mussorie (224kms from Gangotri), and Rishikesh (271kms from Gangotri).There are regular bus services available (government as well as private) which operate from these nearby towns. For the ones who don’t prefer traveling by buses, taxi services can be availed.

Gangotri temple: The Gangotri temple is the main attraction of this town. The Aarti ceremony takes place on the banks of the Ganga and the temple rituals are supervised by the Semwal family priests. The Aarti ceremony is a grand ritual not to be missed. The Gangotri temple is visited by around 2.50 lakhs Hindus every year. It opens on the auspicious day of “Akshay- Tirth”, generally in the first week of May, and closes on Diwali. During wintertime the Goddess retreats 12 km downstream to the winter abode at Mukhba.

Submerged Shivling: As the legend goes, the submerged Shivling is situated at the place where Lord Shiva sat while receiving the Ganga in his locks. This is a natural rock Shivling and is visible only during early winters when the water level is low.

Surya Kund, Vishnu Kund and Brahma Kund are other pilgrimage places near Gangotri.

Nandan Van- Tapovan: After a grueling 6 kms trek from Gangotri one reaches the Nandanvan - the base camp for the Bhagirathi peaks, which offers a breath taking view of the Shivling peak. A trek from Gangotri also leads to Tapovan known for its beautiful meadows.

Gaumukh: Gaumukh is the source of the Bhagirathi River and resembles a cow’s snout hence the name. Devotees come here to take a holy dip in the ice cold water. It is at a distance of 18 kms from Gangotri and the distance can be covered on foot or one can take a pony. 

Kedat Tal: Kedar Tal forms a base camp for trekking to the nearby peaks. There is a beautiful lake here and the view of the Thalaiyasagar peak from Kedar Tal is simply spectacular. Kedar Tal is accessible only through a mountail trail and a local guide is needed for the trek.

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What To Eat:

Alcohol and non vegetarian food is strictly prohibited in Gangotri. There are dhabas (local eating joints) scattered around the town which offers good vegetarian food at reasonable rates.

 What To Stay:
There are large number of dharamshalas and ashrams which are ideal for stay in Gangotri. The room facilities are basic, the food is simple wholesome vegetarian, and the rooms are easy on the pocket. Sri Ganga Purohit Ashram, Gangotri Mandir Dharamshala , Kali Kamli Dharamshala , Punjab & Sind Dharamshala, Dandi Ashram and Krishna ashram are few of the innumerable ashrams in Gangotri. Guest houses and hotels are also available here. Forest rest house, Tourist rest house and PWD inspection house are managed by the government.

Harsil: Situated about 28 kms from Gangotri known for scenic landscapes and delicious apples. Sat Tal or seven lakes, about 2 kms from here is known as a popular picnik spot.

Gangnani: Gangnani about 59 kms from Gangotri has hot water springs. Pilgrims on the way to Gangotri from Uttarkashi take a dip in these springs here, known as Rishikund.

Uttarkashi: Situated about 100 kms from Gangotri, Uttarkashi forms the base camp for a trek to Gangotri. Uttarkashi is also popular for its adventure sports activities like mountaineering and trekking. The second Nehru Institute of Mountaineering was set up here. An important pilgrimage center for Hindus, the Vishwanath temple and Shakti temple attract thousands of tourists to Uttarkashi.

Dayara Bugyal: Dayara Bugyal when translated means high altitude meadow. Situated at a distance of 32 kms from Uttarkashi and at an elevation of 10,000 ft above sea level, Dayara Bugyal offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas. There is a small lake in the vicinity. It is located about 93 kms away from Gangotri.

Nachiketa Tal: A lake with a small temple and green surroundings adds to the charm of Nahiketa Tal. Nachiketa, the son of saint Uddalak, is said to have built the lake, hence it is named after him.It is situated about 131 kms from Gangotri.  

Dodital: Dodital is 123 kms away from Gangotri. The lake has the Himalayan trouts and angling is allowed in the lake. Permit for fishing can be had from the Divisional Forest Officer, Uttarkashi.