Gangotri
Be it man's urge to placate the Gods above or to quench his desire for adventure,
Gangotri is an ideal location. Gangotri, the origin of the sacred river Ganges,
attracts tourists in large numbers every year. The confrontation with the
daunting rivers and attempts to unravel the mysteries of the supernatural
world are ubiquitous sights here. Along with the thrill of conquering nature,
what one experiences here is the mystical aura that India is so famous for.
Location
Couched in the magnificent Garhwal hills, Gangotri is at an altitude of 3048
meters above sea level. It is on the northernmost part of the state of Uttar
Pradesh and is very near the Indo-Tibetan border. It is approximately 300
km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 105 km from Uttarkashi. The summers
are relatively cool and winters are freezing cold, with rains in the months
of May and June. For the devotees and tourists, the gates of the temple are
open only in the months of May to November.
Mythological Legend
According to an old legend, Lord Shiva rewarded King Bhagirath after his penance
and Ganga came down to earth. However, due to her pride, and the fact that
the earth would be devastated if Ganga came down in her full force, Lord Shiva
caught her in his locks. It was then proclaimed that Goddess Uma or Parvati,
Shiva's consort, would bathe in the Ganges daily and only then would she descend
on the earth. The sacred stone near the temple denotes the place where Ganga
first came down to earth. This is why Ganga is also called by the name of
Bhagirathi.
Unique Pilgrimage Attraction
Submerged Shivling
The natural rock Shivling, submerged in the river, is an amazing sight reinforcing
the power of the divine. According to mythology, Lord Shiva sat at this spot
to receive the Ganaga in his matted locks. The shivling is visible in the
early winters when the water level goes down. The picturesque pilgrimage in
the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the most sacred spot where Ganga, the
stream of life, touched earth for the first time.
Mythological Mystery
According to mythology, Goddess Ganga- the daughter of heaven, manigested
herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath's predecessors,
following his severe penance of several centuries. Lord Shiva received into
his matted locks to minimise the immense impact of her fall. She came to be
called Bhagirathi at her legendary source.
Prime Pilgrimage Attraction
Gangotri Temple
The 18th century's temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga is located near a sacred
stone where King Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva. Ganga is believed to have
touched earth at this spot. According to another legend, Pandavas performed
the great 'Deva Yagna' here to atone the deaths of their kinsmen in the epic
battle of Mahabharata. The temple is an exquisite 20 ft. High structure made
of white granite.
Gangotri Reservation Form