Gangotri

One of the four Dhams, Gangotri, is situated in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. Being the origin point of river Ganga (Gaumukh), this temple is dedicated to goddess Ganga. However, the Gomukh, the actual source of Ganga, is about 19 km away from the temple in the Gangotri Glacier. Nestled amidst the Himalayas, dense forest, and glaciers, the Gangotri temple offers picturesque landscapes and divine atmosphere. It is one of the highest pilgrimage sites, perched at an height of 3415 meters above sea level.

The temple, standing 20 feet tall, is made of white granite and offers an enchanting view with snow covered mountains in the backdrop. Beauty and piousness of this temple draws lakhs of pilgrims every year, to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of deity Ganga Maa. Among the Chota Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath), this religious site holds significant importance among devotees.

Gaumukh, where the holy ganga originates in the form of Bhagirathi, is situated around 19 km from this temple. Devotees on the pilgrimage of Char Dham collect the holy Bhagirathi water here and offer it at Kedarnath temple. Afterwards, they take Bhasma from Kedarnath and offer it at Badrinath, where they collect Tulsi rosaries and pray for their salvation. Legends has it that, Mother Ganga descends to Earth from the dreadlocks of Lord Shiva to absolve the sins of King Bhagirathi ancestors, who performed penance to Shiva. That’s why Ganga is considered the epitome of purity for mankind. It is said that there is a stone near the river where King Bhagiratha performed his penance.

The significance of this temple is also linked with Pandavas. As per the legend, post Mahabharata war, the Pandavas visit here to perform Deva Yajna to atone the death of their kinsmen. Performing ancestral rites on the river Bhagirathi frees the ancestor’s spirit from the cycle of rebirth, and a holy dip may cleanse all your sins committed from past to the present. Gangotri Dham shrine portal remains open until Diwali, and reopens on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritya. During the six months, the idol of the deity is kept at Mukhba Village near Harshil.

Apart from Gangotri temple, there are some prominent sites that pilgrims can visit during their pilgrimage. Among them Gauri Kund, Surya Kund, Kedartal, submerged Shivling (often visible during early winter when the water level is low), Pandav Cave, Tapovan, Bhairon Valley, and Gaumukh are prominent. Initially, the Gangotri temple was built by the Nepalese General Amar Singh Thapa and was restored later in the 19th Century.

Located around 237 km from Dehradun, a blissful 9 hours journey by road will bring you to this holy place. Devotees can access this temple by road using various modes of transportation. Temple has a history of more than 1200 years. Earlier, devotees visited the temple on foot. However, a road was constructed during 1980, which makes the pilgrimage easier for the devotees. Ample accommodations are available near the temple for pilgrims to rest and commence their pilgrimage.