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Gangotri:Visited
by hundreds of thousands pilgrims every year, this 18th
century temple constructed by Gorkha General Amar Singh
Thapa , is near the spot where the goddess Ganga is said
to have first descended on earth from heaven, in answer
to the prayers of King Bhagriath. The revered shrine of
Gangotri, situated at an altitude of 3,200 mts.
about sea-level amidst sylvan surroundings, constitutes
one of the most important pilgrimages for the devout
Hindu. Lord shiva received her into his matted locks to
break the great force of her fall. From there it emerged
into many streams and the one which started from
Gangotri was called Bhagirathi. The Pandavas, it is
said, came here to perform the great 'Deva Yajna' to
atone for the deathof their kinsmen in the epic battle
of Mahabharat. The temple itself is situatedon the right
bank of the Bhagtathi .There are a number of ashrams
lockedonthe other side of the ashrams locked on the
other side of the Bhagirathi, many of which provide
accommodation facilities to the travellers. Places of
Religious Interest.
Gangotri is an ideal location for the tourists looking
for peace and adventure. Located in the hills, 18 kms
downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri. It is an important
pilgrim site located at 3,048 m above sea level.
Gangotri is situated in the northern part of the state
of Uttaranchal and is very close to the Indo-Tibetan
border. Gangotri glaciers, the original source of the
sacred river Ganges, attracts tourists in large numbers
every season. Discover the daunting rivers and attempt
to reveal the mysteries of the natural world, which are
rare to find elsewhere. Along with the thrill of
exploring nature, what one experiences here is the aura
that India is totally Indian.
At Gangotri there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga
and the sacred stone where Raja Bhagirath is believed to
have worshipped Lord Shiva. Submerged in the river here
is the natural rock Shivalinga where Lord Shiva is
believed to have received the Ganges (called Bhagirathi
here) in his matted locks. It is visible in the winter
months when the water level recedes.
Major Tourist Attractions in Gangotri
The shrine of Gangotri is around 300 years old.
Renovated in the 20th century, the shrine is a 20-feet
high structure of white granite. During the winters the
statue is taken to Mukhimath village where it is
worshipped. There is a natural rock Shivalinga, called
the Jalamagna Shivalinga. This is the place where Lord
Shiva received Ganga in his locks. Visible only during
winters.
Gangotri Adventures:
Gaumukh Glaciers (18 km.)
- The famous site nearby is the Gaumukh glacier, which
is at an altitude of 4200 m above sea level. It is the
geographical origin of the Ganges and is at a distance
of 18 km from Gangotri uphill. Here Ganges is known as
the Bhagirathi. The sourse of the Bhagrithi for a dip in
its icy waters is dip in almost a must for pilgrims; and
to the temple of Bhairavanth at Bhaironghati, (10 km.).
GMVN Tourilst Bungalow is located at Bhojbasa, about 14
km., from Gangotrli, on the road to Uttarkashi, at thle
confluence of the Jat Ganga and Bhagirathi
rivers.Pilgrlims also trek to Nandanvan (6km) and
Kedartal (18km) from Gangotri.
Cheedvasa & Bhojvasa: From Gangotri is Cheedvasa
at a distance of 28 kms. Bhojvasa, is at a distance of
22 km, both are an ideal camping site.
Nandanvan: Nandanvan is a 6 kms trekking route
along the glacier and gives a spectacular glimpse of the
Shivalinga. Across the Gangotri glacier is the Sylvan
Tapovan, which is known for its greenness encircling the
base of the Shivalinga peak. From here, one can go to
Vasuki Tal, Kalindikhal, at a height of 5590 m to reach
Badrinath.
The Shrine of Gangotri opens during the last week of
April or the first week of May, on the auspicious day of
Akshaya
Tritiya. The temples opening is preceded
by a special Puja of Ganga both inside the temple as
well as on the river bank. The temple closes on the day
of Diwali followed by a formal closing ceremony amidst a
row of oil lamps. It is believed that the Goddess
retreats to Mukhwa, her winter abode (12 km downstream).
In summer,
Gangotri Temple is open for devotees from
6:15 am to 2 pm
and 3 pm to
9:30 pm
As winter
approaches the Gangotri Temple open from
6:45 am to 2 pm
and 3 pm to 7
pm
Mangalaarti is done by priests at 6 am behind the closed
doors and it is not open for public.
Sandhya Aarti is performed at
Gangotri at 7:45 pm
during summer and at 7 pm as winter approaches. Special
pooja is done on Janamshtami, Vijaydashmi and Diwali
HOW TO REACH
BY AIR - The nearest airport is that of Jolly Grant, which is
approximately 270 km from Gangotri, via Rishikesh.
BY RAIL - The nearest railway station is Rishikesh, to
which one can get trains from Dehradun and Delhi. We
would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for
the local transportations and also for the intercity
drives too.
Chardham-yatra-hotels.com provides complete information
about tourism in Gangotri. Chardham-yatra-hotels.com
offers various tour packages to make your visit
comfortable. You can pick the one that suits you most.
Area
: 1 sq. km.
Population : 1180 (1991 census)
Altitude : 10,250 ft. above sea level.
Season : May-June, September - October
Clothing Summer : Woollens
Clothing Winter : Heavy Woollens
Language : Hindi, Garhwali, English
Local Transport : Buses/Taxis/Cars
STD Code : 01381
Quick Getaways: Joshimath - 42 km,
Haridwar - 321 km, Karnprayag - 123 km, Rudraprayag -
155 km, Deoprayag - 225 km, Dehradun 343 km.
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