About Gangotri

The district is mentioned in Kedar Khand of Skand Puran as “Kedar Kshetra” (sacred region) and contains the origins of the most sacred rivers of India, the Ganga and the Yamuna.The Ganga is believed to have first descended to earth at Gangotri ('Ganga' + ’Uttari’ which means descended) 99 km from Uttrarkashi, situated at height of 3140 meters.A shrine dedicated to the Goddess was built some 250 years ago by Amar Bahadur Thapa, the Gorkha Commander.Near the temple is a great stone slab-the ‘Bhagirath Shila’ dedicated to Bhagirath, whose penance is believed to have brought the Ganga down from the heavens.

Other spots to watch nearby are Surya Kund, Gauri Kund, Patangna, Bhairav Jhap etc.At Gangotri, the confluence of the Bhagirathi with Kedar Ganga takes place.Gomukh(4200 meters), the identified source of the holy river Ganga, is 18 kms. further uphill from Gangotri. The trek to Gomukh is gradual and several pilgrims undertake the journey to pay homage the river at its known source. Enroute accommodation is available at Bhojwasa in Tourist Rest House.Further up from Gaumukh are Tapovan,Nandanvan, Chaukhamba - where famous peaks like shivling,Bhagirathi I,II,III, Kalindi are located and are scaled by mountaineers.

The Gangotri temple is visited by roughly 2.50 lakhs Hindus annually. It opens on the auspicious day of “Akshay- Tirth”, generally in the first week of May, and closes on Diwali. During the winter, Gangotri is snowbound and so the deity is taken 25 kms. downstreams, to Mukhva, home to the main Pandas of Gangotri.

Furhter downstream,10 km from Gangotri, is the picturesque forested halting place of Bhaironghati. There exists a small temple of Bhairon, appointed by Shiva to safeguard this region which gives the place its name. The bridge over the Jhanvi river at Bhaironghati is said to be the highest in Asia. Another 16 km downstream lies the township of Dharali, where again it is told that Bhagirath had undergone penance. There one may see the submerged remains of a temple, termed Kedar Kund.

Hot springs are encountered at Gangnani, 56 km from Gangotri on the road to Uttarkashi, near the tank called Rishi-Kund is a temple dedicated to the Parasher, believed to be the father of Ved Vyas, author of the Mahabharat.

After crossing the tahsil headquarters at Bhatwari,one arrives at Uttarkashi a pilgrim center of great importance. At the fringes of the town is the temple of Laksheswar. The main temple in the town is that of Vishwanath,flanked by the temples of Durga and Hanuman. Other important temples in the town are those dedicated to Parshuram, Dattatrya, Annapurna, Bhairav and Ekadashrudra.

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