Located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Gangotri is a beautiful place for pilgrimages and travelers. It lies in the Himalayan ranges at an altitude of 3750 meters above sea level, on the banks of the Bhagirathi river. Gangotri Glacier is a holy place for both Char Dham and Do Dham pilgrimages. According to mythology, Goddess Ganga took the ‘avatar’ of Ganga to wash away the sins of King Bhagirath and his ancestors. Lord Shiva held it in his locks to save the earth from flowing. The source of river Ganga or ‘Gaumukh’ is situated 19 km away from Gangotri. The river ‘Ganges’ is known as ‘Bhagirathi’ at its origin.
The watershed of the Bhagirathi river is located in dense forests. This region has snowy mountains, glaciers, long mountain ranges, deep valleys, steep cliffs, and narrow valleys. The altitude of this place is between 1800 to 7083 meters above sea level. Tourists get an opportunity to witness alpine coniferous trees, alpine shrubs, and lush green meadows here. This forest area is declared Gangotri National Park and extends to the Indo-China border.
The Gangotri region is famous for its ancient temples and religious beliefs. The Gangotri Temple is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site. It was built by the Gorkha king, Amar Singh Thapa, in the 18th century. A large number of devotees visit this temple to worship Goddess Ganga. Tourists also visit ‘Dnyaneshwar Temple’ and ‘EkadashRudraMandir.’ The latter temple is famous for the celebration of EkadashRudrabhishekam Puja.
Many religious beliefs are associated with Bhagirathi Shila and the submerged Shivling of Gangotri. This natural Shivling is visible only when the water level decreases during the winter season. Bhagirathi rock is a piece of stone, and it is believed that King Bhagirath meditated while sitting on it. Tourists can enjoy a view of the beautiful GauriKund and Surya Kund located near the Gangotri temple.
The local people here are Brahmins of Brahma BharadwajGotra of Semwal caste, who are also priests of Gangotri temple. They have lived here since the 9th century. These people come to Mukhba village during the winter months.
Gangotri is the divine beauty of Uttarakhand. one must visit this place once in their lifetime.