Gangotri Temple
About Gangotri Temple
Far From City: 0 kms from city center
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About Gangotri Temple
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Time Required:1 day
Open Time:6:15 AM - 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Cost:No entry fee
History and Legend of Gangotri Temple
The Gangotri temple was built by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa, in the 18th century and later renovated by the Royalty of Jaipur. According to the legend of Gangotri, Indra, the supreme ruler of the Gods, feared he might lose his throne when King Sagara decided to perform an Ashwamedha Yajna to announce his supremacy after killing the demons on the planet. Indra, therefore, captured King Sagara's horse and hid it in an ashram where Sage Kapil was meditating.
King Sagara and his 60,000 sons searched for the horse all around. When the sons found the horse in Sage's ashram, they attacked the sage but when the sage opened his eyes, he cursed all the sons, and they all perished in no time. King Sagara's grandchild, Bhagiratha, is said to have meditated and performed penance to seek forgiveness and moksha for his ancestors. The Gangotri temple is supposed to be situated close to the holy rock or the Bhagirath Shila where King Bhagirath had worshipped Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva knew that the earth would be devastated if Ganga descended with her force. Hence, he captured the Ganges in his locks and let it fall in five streams instead of one. Gangotri is believed to be the place where river Ganga descended from heaven when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his hair to wash off the sins of King Bhagiratha. The location where Lord Shiva locked Ganga is the place where now lies a Shivling that is partially submerged in the river water near the Gangotri Temple.
Architecture of Gangotri Temple
The architecture of Gangotri Temple is traditional 18th-century architecture. Its simplicity reflects in the white granite stone that composes the entire structure. The temple stands 20 feet tall and has a Sabha Mandap that leads to the shrine where the Goddess Ganga's Idol has been placed. The top of the temple has three main and some smaller domes or cupolas with golden Shikharas. The Gangotri temple is a simple and humble structure that withstands the extreme climatic conditions in the region and possesses a divine quality that draws people from all over the world.
Best time to visit Gangotri Temple
The best time to visit the Gangotri temple is between May and October as the temple remains open till Diwali every year and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall.
How to Reach Gangotri Temple
One can walk to the temple or hire a taxi or take a bus ride within Gangotri to reach the temple.
Top Tourist Places in Gangotri
Kedar Tal
Dodi Tal
Gangotri Temple
Harsil
Auden's Col
Dayara Bugyal
All Tourist Places in Gangotri
Where to Stay
If one wishes to spend a day at Gangotri, they can choose from a number of Guest Houses and small-scale Hotels to choose from. The cost ranges from INR 1500 to INR 5500. Some Ashrams provide accommodation at cheaper rates between INR 200 to INR 1200 per night.
Tips
1. Avoid travelling to the area in monsoons as the risk factor multiplies due to frequent landslides.2. Carry adequate warm clothes as the weather remains chilly throughout.3. Do not litter and pollute the temple area and the river banks.4. There is an area allocated for parking vehicles. From there, the visitors need to walk to the temple premise.5. Drive cautiously as there could be unexpected torrential rains and landslides.6. If you are planning to stay at Gangotri overnight, do book rooms well in advance.
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