Gangotri Tourism

3.5 / 5 Hills Valleys, Rivers Lakes,

Ideal Duration : 1-2 days Best Time : April to June, September to November
Visit 17 Places

Top Things to do in Gangotri

"Char Dham: Source of River Ganges" Gangotri Tourism This pilgrimage destination situated inUttarkashiis mostly famous for the four religious centers, or as they say, the Char Dham spots. Mythological stories will have you believe that following King Bhagirathi's penance spread over centuries, Goddess Ganga transformed herself into a river to wash away the sins his forefathers. Lord Shiva then gathers Ganga into his matted locks to minimize the immense impact of her fall, and ever since the Himalayan glacier from which Ganga emerges has also been called Bhagirathi. Ganga derives its name after the river passesDevprayagand merges into the river Alaknanda." Download Gangotri PDF Guide > What's Great? Famous for its alluring beauty and sanctity, Gangotri is located on the banks of river Bhagirathi. Excellent view of the snow clad Himalayas. What's not so Great? The region is prone to heavy snowfall during the winters, often disrupting the communication and transport facilities. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly unavailable. For Whom Gangotri is a great destination for people who want to enjoy a divine, as well as an adventurous experience. Ideal for the braveheart pilgrims.

The Beauty of Gangotri Gangotri can easily be described as nature?s nest, and a thorough wonderland of pines, deodar trees and snow covered mountains peeking from far off, as one drives their way on top of the mystic hills when the rays of the sun pierce through the mountain peaks looks heavenly. If one hikes to the glacier from Gangotri, they may even experience snow all around and minimal vegetation - unlike, the areas of dense forestation in the lower parts. At the height of 3,100 metres (or 10,200 feet) above sea level - Gangotri is a beautiful pilgrim town for a pleasant and peaceful stay, along with the perks of getting to see the origins of the Holy River in its purest form. The flowing waters of the river are ice-cold, but that doesn?t deter the pilgrims and tourists alike, to dip in them to wash away their sins. An interesting belief around this area is that after a pilgrim comes back from Ganga darshan in Gangotri, they have to give up one piece of eatery from their food habit forever. It can be a certain fruit, vegetable and rice, or whatever that one wishes to chuck. All said and done, truly spending some quality time alone on the banks of river Ganga, is sure to give anyone the perfect opportunity to introspect, think deep and be wrapped in the sanctity of this place that is enough to calm the soul and please the heart. The Legend of Gangotri Set in the dense forests of the Greater Himalayan Range, with a mystic view that one is bound to gasp at in awe, Gangotri - a town in the Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttrakhand, is truly a heaven for travellers, hikers and most of all, for hindu pilgrims - who consider Gangotri, sacrosanct for being on the banks of the Holy river Bhagirathi and most of all, for being the place of origin of the Goddess River Ganga. Gangotri holds, as a sanctuary for pilgrims, immense mythological importance and probably, this is why the Gangotri temple is considered amongst the four sacred sites of the Chaar Dham pilgrimage temples. The ancient and fascinating legend of Gangotri is that, for many-a-century, King Bhagirath undertook a series of severe self-mortifying rituals as a way to show outward repentance of the sins carried out by his predecessors. He performed a very harsh penance, in order to bring nirvana to his ancestors who were said to have been burned to ashes due to a sage?s curse. The Daughter of Heaven, River Ganga, who only flowed in the heavens before this, then decided to descend into the Earth, after Bhagirath?s prolonged meditation. However, it was said that once the Ganga starts flowing, no one on the face of the Earth could stop the Goddess?s mighty tides and flow which had the power to sweep the entire planet away. It was then that Lord Shiva, on the day of Gangavataran or Ganga Dussehra, decided to rise and channelise the waters with his valour and took the Ganga in the locks of his hair and released one of the strands of his hair in Gangotri. Ganga then flowed down, in the form of 12 streams of water from here - which were later called its tributaries. Hence, Gangotri is that place where the Holy River Ganga, touched Earth for the first time and has been worshipped for thousands of years, ever after. Gangotri Dhaam Yatra The pilgrimage to Gangotri is a part of the Char Dham Yatra and is considered one of the most sacred pilgrimage tours in India. It is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The holy river Ganga originates from the Gangotri and flows through the snow covered Himalayas. Gangotri is often associated with numerous legends. It is believed that Goddess Ganga was lured to Earth by acts of penance and deep meditation performed by King Bhagirtha. It was only then that Goddess Ganga descended on the Earth as the mighty 'River Ganga'. This is also perhaps the reason for the river being known as 'Bhagirathi' before it meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag and picks up the name 'Ganga' there onwards. Set amid tall Deodar forests, Gangotri makes for the picture perfect holy city, flooded with tourists.Treat your eyes to the magnificent view of the majestic Himalayas and the mystical Ganga, all at the same time!

Itinerary Day 1-Reach Uttarkashi. Check into the hotel and relax for the remaining day to acclimatise and refreshen yourself for the next day's journey. Day 2- Start for Gangotri after having breakfast. It takes almost 8 to 10 hours by road to reach the destination. Stop at Gangnani hot springs on the way for a quick halt. Arrive at Gangotri. After freshening up at the hotel head towards the Gangotri temple for the famous Arti.Day 3-Keep the third day for the trek along the Bhagirathi river to Gaumukh, the physical source of river Ganga. Start early and take a major halt at Bhojbasa which is situated at a trekking distance of 14 km from Gangotri.Day 4-Have breakfast and head back to Uttarkashi.

Restaurants and Local Food in Gangotri Gangotri does not have an elaborate menu but does house a number of local eating joints, stalls and restaurants as well as ashrams that serve typical Indian platters. One also finds a handful of places serving Chinese here. Since the region has immense religious and spiritual significance for Hindus, non-vegetarian food is not available and alcohol, prohibited.

Apr-Jun, Sep-Novis the best time to visit Gangotri April to June and September to November make for the best time to visit the place. Summers are pleasant and the region receives heavy rainfall between July and August. Winters are extremely cold and not the best time to visit the place. You can only visit Gangotri when the temple is open and the dates are typically announced by the government. Weather in Gangotri Loading... Gangotri in Summer (April - June) Summers in Gangotri are pleasant with the average temperature around 25 degrees Celsius.The snow starts to melt and the temple doors open during summers. Hence it's a great time for the pilgrimage. Gangotri in Monsoon (July - September) Monsoon in Gangotri brings heavy rainfall with chances of a landslide. Hence, transport facilities are disrupted and there are major chances of road accidents. Gangotri in Spring (September - November) Spring is the best time to visit Gangotri. With all the flowers and vegetation in full bloom, the trekking route has much to offer the trekkers. Gangotri in Winter (December - March) Winters in Gangotri are very harsh and extreme. The heavy snowfall prohibits the travellers and trekkers from entering the glacier region. Transport and communication facilities come to a standstill. Monthly Weather in Gangotri Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 1 13 February 4 19 March 7 21 April 11 26 May 14 28 June 16 28 July 21 28 August 20 27 September 18 28 October 11 26 November 4 20 December 2 17

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