We all are spiritually as well as emotionally connected to River Ganga. River Ganga comes with lots of religious importance for the Hindus and has been flowing for centuries nurturing and nourishing millions of lives. Ganga assumes the stature of Mother Goddess. She forgives our sins and purifies us. We all would definitely want to visit the sacred source of Mata Ganga high up in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand...Won’t We? And, that is what makes Gangotri Dham one of the most visited Chota Chardham pilgrimage destinations for all devout Hindus.
Gangotri Dham has a pristine temple built
to Goddess Ganga. Gangotri Dham is the second of the Dhams in the Chota
Chardham Pilgrimage Circuit. If you are planning to Travel to Gangotri this Yatra season this Gangotri Travel Guide
will be of great help to you...Read on.
Location
Gangotri Dham is perched atop the Garhwal Himalayas at about 3100 meters elevation from sea level. Uttarakhand’s
Uttarakashi district houses the temple of Ganga Ji. The town in which the
temple stands is referred to as ‘Gangotri’; a Nagar Panchayat. The town is laid
out along the banks of River Bhagirathi which is another name of River Ganga.
The latitudinal extent of holy Gangotri town is 30.9947° N and the longitudinal
extent is 78.9398° E. Uttarkashi is the
nearest town to Gangotri Dham. Gangotri Dham is just 4 hours drive from
Uttarkashi.
Weather
Summers in Gangotri start in the month of
April and continue till June. During that time, the maximum daytime
temperatures could be around 20-degree centigrade. However, after evening
temperatures may drop to 15-degree centigrade. After summers, the monsoons
follow starting from the month of July and continuing until September. Heavy
rains lash the region during the Monsoons.
The autumn season in Gangotri spans across months September, October and
November. During that time temperatures could be around 10-degree centigrade.
After November, the winter sets in. The sharp temperature drop is experienced by
the region during winters. Heavy snowfall cloaks the entire region in white.
The winters start in December and continue till mid-April.
How to Reach
Those who plan to avail the air Route need
to board a flight to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. It is the nearest airport to
Gangotri Dham, located at about 260 km away from Gangotri Dham. Regular flights
connect Dehradun to some of the major cities of the country such as Mumbai,
Delhi, and Bengaluru. On reaching Dehradun by flight you could take a bus to
Gangotri from Dehradun’s ISBT Bus stop or could book a cab to Gangotri from the
airport.
Those planning to take the rail route need
to board a train to Rishikesh railway station located at about 250km from
Gangotri. Rishikesh is connected to all parts of India through a robust railway
network. From Rishikesh, you can book a cab to Gangotri.
Buses to Gangotri are available from all
major cities of Uttarakhand such as Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Mussoorie,
Rishikesh etc. Both private and government buses plus cabs ply on these roads.
So, it is not much of a problem if you wish to opt for road transport.
When to Visit
The summers and the Autumnal season are the
best time to visit Gangotri. During that time, the weather is fit for
traveling. Thus, Months falling between April and June plus those falling
between September and October are the best time to travel to Gangotri. Monsoons
and winters need to be avoided. Monsoons increase the risk of landslides and
winters are too harsh to be tolerated.
Temple and Puja Timings
The white temple of Goddess Ganga stands
along the banks of River Bhagirathi. The temple enshrines the silver idol of
Goddess Ganga. Every year the temple shuts down on Diwali day and remains
closed until the month of May. During that time the idol of the Goddess is
shifted to Mukhba village and enshrined at the Mukhyamath Temple. The
Mukhyamath Temple is the Goddess’s winter retreat. Priests from Mukhba Village
worship at the temple. The timings of the temple are: 6.15 am to 2.00 pm and
3.00 pm to 9.30 pm. During the time periods when the temple remains open devotees
can pay tribute to the Goddess. The ritual of Ganga aarti practiced at the
temple is indeed a sight worth visualizing.
Other Places to Visit
Apart from Gangotri Temple, the other
sightseeing places at Gangotri are:
- Jalmagna Shivling:
This partially immersed Shivling lies in the vicinity of Gangotri Temple.
According to myths, this is exactly the place where Goddess Ganga was
received by Lord Shiva on his locks as she arrived on to this earth from
Heavens
- Bhagirathi Shila:
This stone lying outside the Gangotri Temple is said to be the rock
sitting on which King Bhagirath is said to have meditated in order to move
Goddess Ganga with his dedication. He wanted the river goddess to flow on
earth instead of the heavens. Her waters actually had the power to absolve
the sins of Bhagirath’s ancestors, set them free from Sage Kapil’s curse
and bring them salvation or Moksha. That’s the reason Bhagirath prayed to
Goddess Ganga most dedicatedly.
- Pandava Gufa: This the mystical and serene cave is said to be the place where Pandavas had meditated on their way to Kailash. A 1.5 Km trek from Gangotri can make you reach the Pandava Gufa.
- Gangotri National Park: This is a wildlife sanctuary in the vicinity of Gangotri Dham. You
can view some unique animal species at the park such as Musk Deer, Brown
Bear, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Monal, Himalayan
Snowcock, Ibex, and Koklass.
Accommodation
Ashrams such as Krishna Ashram, GMVN
Tourist lodges and low budget hotels can offer you a decent stay at Gangotri.
There are many good hotels at Harsil. Gangotri is less than an hour drive from
Harsil. Also, you could put up at Kailash Sangam Yoga Institute. It comes with
remarkably good accommodation facilities.
Food
There are some good dhabas and roadside
restaurants that serve pure vegetarian food to tourists and pilgrims. You can
sample delicious Garhwali Thalis and snacks at these eateries. The best food
joints at Gangotri are Saket Restaurant, Hotel Gopi Krishna, Shirsh, Ganga
Niketan, Chakal Punga, Panchpuri Sadan. Non-Vegetarian food and Alcohol is
strictly prohibited in the Gangotri Dham region.
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