Gangotri is not just a destination in the Indian Himalayas, it is also a haven that lures lakhs of pilgrims from across the country. It is an abode of serenity, and is believed to abundantly bless devotees by the divine mother Ganga.

Located around 550 km from Delhi, Gangotri is a paradise located an hour away from Uttarkashi. Beautiful, snow-capped Himalayan mountains and deodar forests surround the temple at Gangotri.

What makes Gangotri a significant pilgrimage destination?

As per the legends, in a different epoch, there lived a king named Sagar, a descendant of the Sun, who was known for his greatness. Once, when he was performing the Ashwamedha Yajna, as was customary, a bedecked horse was let loose by the king, guarded by a retinue of his soldiers.

According to the rules of the sacrifice, whichever territory the horse trespassed, the king of that country had to willingly accept the imperial sovereignty of King Sagar. As fate would have it, the wandering horse entered Kapila Muni’s ashram. The 60000 sons of Sagar were following the horse, and on entering the sylvan asylum of the sage, they began bothering the meditating saint. Perturbed, the great muni opened his eyes and burnt the sons of Sagar with the blazing energy emanating from his eyes.

Generations later, when Bhagiratha, was born in the line of Sagar, he performed intense austerities to receive the grace of the gods so that his ancestors’ soul could be liberated. The task was finally accomplished when the holiest of all rivers, Ganga, descended from heaven in the form of powerful energy. This energy was received by Lord Shiva first to prevent it from shattering the Earth into pieces. The place, where Ganga transformed into a river is called Goumukh, and her temple in Gangotri is located about 14 km from this site.

Ganga as Bhagirathi in Gangotri

The holy shrine of Goddess Ganga is located on the banks of the river. In Gangotri, the river is called Bhagirathi, and is addressed as Ganga only after it merges with Alaknanda river in Devprayag.

Best time to visit

Gangotri temple opens every year on Akshaya Tritiya. In 2019, the date set for the reopening of the shrine is May 7. There is a huge rush of pilgrims on this day and festivities galore to celebrate the occasion. However, those who are unable to make it to the shrine of Goddess Ganga in Gangotri during this time may do so on any day till Deepawali.

How to plan your itinerary?

Ideally, tourists can plan a road trip from Delhi/Haridwar/Rishikesh. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. Buses, taxis and trains ply from Delhi and other parts of India to Haridwar and Rishikesh. Travellers can stay for a night in Haridwar to witness the Ganga Aarti and visit the nearby temples. The next day, start for Uttarkashi via Chamba.

The journey from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Uttarkashi is a joy ride due to the beautiful valleys that come enroute. From Haridwar to Uttarkashi, the distance is about 200 km and it takes 6-7 hours to reach the destination. On reaching Uttarkashi, you may either choose to spend the night to relax in a tourist lodge or proceed towards Harsil and Gangotri. It takes 2.5 hours to reach Gangotri Temple from Uttarkashi. Tourists, with some time to spare can spend a day to explore Sat Tal, Wilson Cottage and the hot water spring called Gangnani in Harsil.

Where to stay in Gangotri?

Due to the large number of pilgrims that arrive in Gangotri every month, there is a sufficient number of tourist hotels, lodges and dharamshalas in Gangotri. Alternatively, the GMVN Tourist Lodge can be booked at least 10 days in advance before the scheduled date of visit.