Gangotri Dham Yatra:
Gangotri is a small town centered around the Gangotri Temple and one of the holy places in the Char Dham.
It is the highest and most important temple of river Ganga which is worshiped as a goddess in India.
Gangotri is the place where the holy river Ganga descended on earth. Gangotri Dham is located in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India.
It is situated amidst high Garhwal Himalayan peaks, glaciers, deep forests and is one of the holiest pilgrimage centers in India. Gangotri is home to many ashrams, small temples and shrines.
Gangotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and is situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi. It is situated close to the sacred rock or "Bhagirath Shila" where King Bhagiri worshiped Lord Shiva.
The actual source of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri Glacier, 19 km from Gangotri and can be reached by trekking.
The water of Gangotri is taken as an offering to Lord Shiva and is said to contain nectar that soothes Shiva's throat after he swallows poison.
Story behind Gangotri Temple:
The picturesque pilgrimage site of Gangotri in the hinterland of the Himalayas is the most sacred place where the river of life Ganga first touched the earth.
The temple was built in the early 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa, a Gorkha commander.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga took the form of a river to wash away the sins of King Bhagiratha's predecessors after many centuries of severe penance. To reduce the immense impact of his fall, Lord Shiva got absorbed in his hair. She came to be called Bhagirathi at her mythological source.
King Sagara after slaying the demons decided to stage an Ashwamedha Yagya as a declaration of his supremacy over the earth. The horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth was to be accompanied by 60,000 sons of the king born to queen Sumati and one son Asamanja born to another queen Kesani.
Indra, the supreme ruler of the gods, feared that he might be deprived of his celestial throne if the 'yagya' was successful and then took the horse and tied it to the hermitage of Kapil Muni, who was in deep meditation at that time.
The sons of King Sagara searched for the horse and finally found it tied to the meditating Kapil. Sixty thousand angry sons of King Sagara attacked the hermitage of Sage Kapil. When he opened his eyes, 60,000 sons had perished due to the curse of sage Kapil.
King Sagara's grandson Bhagiratha is believed to have meditated to please Goddess Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his forefathers and grant them moksha or salvation to liberate their souls.
Another legend: Ganga, a beautiful young woman, is said to have been born from the kamandalu (water vessel) of Lord Brahma. There are two versions about this particular birth. One states that after ridding the universe from the demon Bali in his rebirth as Vamana, Brahma washed the feet of Lord Vishnu and collected this water in his kamandalu.
Another legend has it that the Ganges came to earth in a human form and married King Shantanu, the ancestor of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata, and bore seven children, all of whom were thrown back into the river by her in an unexplained manner. The eighth Bhishma was spared due to the intervention of King Shantanu. However, Gang then leaves her. Bhishma plays an important role in the grand epic of Mahabharata.
Mysteries of Gangotri Dham:
1. Before Gangotri, there is also an ancient temple of Bal Shiva, which is also known as Bal Kandar Temple. This is the first place of worship of Gangotri Dham.
2. The forest area around here has been declared as Gangotri National Park and it extends till the Indo-China border.
3. The temple was built 250 years ago by Amar Singh Thapa, a Nepalese general of Gorkha origin, popularly known as the Lion of Nepal.
Singh reached the foothills of the Himalayas during a war with the Punjabi ruler Chand Katoch. The temple was later restored and renovated by the royal house of Jaipur in the nineteenth century.
4. The temple has been constructed in white granite, amidst the beauty of deodar and deodar trees. The temple building consists of pyramid style towers connected to each other in a trinity with a triangular roof at the centre. Each pyramid is decorated with bulbous urn-like golden urns with attached tower chambers and windows. The red sandstone carvings at the bottom give an artistic touch to the architecture.
5. Since the temple remains comfortably covered in snow during winters, the idols of Goddesses Ganga, Saraswati and Annapurna are taken to the Mukhba Valley located near Harsil village and kept.
6. Around the temple, a Shivalinga is partially submerged in the Bhagirathi river. It is said that the water contained nectar and it soothed the throat of Shiva who drank the poison. It is also believed that whoever drinks or bathes in this water, his sins are absorbed and purified by Goddess Ganga.
What to see in Gangotri Dham?
1. Gangotri temple:
Gangotri is located in the northern part of Uttarkashi district and very close to the Indo-Tibet border. It is about 300 km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 105 km from Uttarkashi.
Situated at an altitude of 3,100 metres, the Gangotri Temple, the highest temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is one of the four Chota Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. Goddess Ganga is an incarnation of the revered river Ganga. The peaceful white temple is surrounded by deodar and pine and the Greater Himalayan Range. The holy river Bhagirathi, one of the two major streams of the Ganges, flows alongside the Gangotri temple.
2. Gaumukh:
Gomukh Gangotri Dham in Uttarkashi is one of the most popular tourist places to visit near the temple. It resembles the mouth of a cow; That's why this place is named Gaumukh.
This mesmerizing place is situated near Shivling Shikhar. It is not only an important religious tourist destination but also important for trekkers and nature lovers.
The Gaumukh-Tapovan-Nandanvan circuit is one of the most classic and popular treks you can try. This beautiful trek will take you through the Gangotri Glacier which is the origin of the holy river Ganga.
You will also see the high peaks of Shivling, Kedar Gumbad and Bhagirathi group of peaks. Gaumukh is counted among the holiest places for Hindus and is only 18 km from the holy Gangotri temple.
3. Surya Kund:
Surya Kund is a revered pilgrimage site near the famous Gangotri temple in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Pilgrims and devotees visiting the Gangotri temple also visit the Surya Kund Falls to pay obeisance to the Sun God.
4. Submerged Shivling:
Jalmagna Shivling is a famous Shivling which remains immersed in Gangotri during summer, is one of the major attractions of Gangotri.
This natural Shivling located near Gangotri temple is visible only during winters, when the water level goes down. It is believed that Lord Shiva held the river Ganges in his hair at this holy place.
5. Kedar Taal:
If you are looking for serene places in Gangotri then Kedar Lake is one such place that will not disappoint you. It is situated at an altitude of 4425 meters above sea level and is one of the most popular treks here.
If you are an adventure freak and are looking for some interesting expedition in this area then a trek to Kedar Lake will surely be the best time for you. It is one of the most enchanting lakes of Uttarakhand.
6. Kalindi Khal Trek:
Nestled amidst surreal landscapes and spectacular natural beauty, Kalindi Khal is an adventurous and challenging trek for the brave hearted. Though the arduous trek to the top may take a few hours, you will be mesmerized by the breathtaking views that await you at the top.
The trail is mesmerizing throughout, and you will be accompanied by the pristine backdrop of the beautiful Himalayas as you trek through gushing streams, alpine meadows and lush green meadows.
7. Gangotri National Park:
No trip to Gangotri is complete without a visit to the national park. Also known as Govind National Park, this lush green expanse is said to be the place from where Lakshmana kept watch over Lanka. It is one of the largest national parks in Uttarakhand and the untouched beauty of this national sanctuary attracts several hundred botanists and nature lovers annually.
Home to many medicinal plants, which are used to make life-saving medicines, this national park was established in the year 1955. It is spread over 958 square kilometers and is said to be home to white leopards and many other exotic wildlife, flora, fauna.
8. Harshil:
Harshil is known for its immaculate beauty as this offbeat place in Gangotri is known for mesmerizing views. Nestled amidst the Himalayas and surrounded by tropical forests with the refreshing sound of river Bhagirathi makes this place one of the most picturesque places in Uttarakhand.
You can also see apple orchards in this village. If you are on a romantic holiday then you must visit this place. If you are looking for mountaineering in Uttarakhand then this place will not disappoint you.
9. Kashi Vishwanath Temple:
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi. It is said that the temple was built by sage Parashurama and later renovated by Maharani Khaneti, wife of Sudarshan Shah in 1857.
Built in a traditional Himalayan temple architecture style, it is surrounded by majestic lofty peaks. The Shiva Lingam here is 56 cm high and its face is inclined towards the south. This holy temple is a must visit during your trip to Uttarkashi.
10. Pandava Cave:
Pandav Shila is an ancient tourist attraction which can be reached after a 1.5 km climb from Gangotri. The scenic spot of Pandav Shila is said to be the area where the Pandavas meditated on their way to Kailash Dham.
The views around the Pandav cave are very picturesque. You will see lofty Himalayan peaks, lush green hilly terrains and beautiful forests that are worth capturing on your lens. This is one of the best places to visit near Gangotri Dham Temple.
How to reach Gangotri Dham?
By Air:
The nearest airport to Gangotri is Jolly Grant, located just 26 km from Rishikesh. From the airport, travelers have to either take a taxi or a luxury bus to reach Gangotri.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is located at Rishikesh, which is approximately 249 kilometers away, from where one has to hire a taxi or take a luxury bus to reach Gangotri.
Rishikesh is not connected by fast trains and Kotdwara has very few trains. Thus if you are traveling to Gangotri by train then Haridwar is the best railway station. Haridwar is well connected by many trains from all parts of India.
By Road:
Gangotri is easily accessible by road from most major cities of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and NCR region. It is situated at a distance of 452 km from Delhi and 229 km from Rishikesh.
Best time to visit:
The climate of Gangotri is pleasant for most of the year, but fluctuates between extremely cold to moderately hot.
During the months of January, February and March, the entire region receives heavy snowfall and the temperature remains close to 0 degrees Celsius even during the day. At this time, the Gangotri temple remains closed and the hotels here also shut down for a few months as the locals move to lower areas to escape the harsh winter.
Spring arrives in April and both the city and the temple reopen to receive tourists and devotees. The weather is very pleasant during April and later in the months of May and June. Nights will still be cold but days will be clear and sunny.
It starts raining here in late June and the next two months are the wettest time of the year. Gangotri receives heavy rainfall every year and sometimes it can rain non-stop for several days.
The weather can be really extreme during the monsoon season and the Kedarnath floods of 2013 are testimony to the same. Landslides and barricades become a common sight in the months of July and August.
