Gangotri Dham, located at the mighty Himalayan range in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is one of the four pilgrimage sites, which together comprise the Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. The shrine holds a special place in the hearts of Hindus. It is located at an altitude of around 3,100 meters in the midst of stunning natural beauty. The origin of the river, Gaumukh, can be accessed by a 16 km trek from Gangotri. As per the legend, Gangotri is the site where river Ganga descended from heaven after being released by Lord Shiva from his locks.
The present shrine was built by a Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa in the early 18th century. Since ages, the river Ganga has always been a holy source of purity and has been revered as Goddess by Hindus. A trip to Gangotri Dham is not just for those who are seeking spirituality but also for those seeking serenity amid fascinating natural beauty.
Altitude: 3293 m
Temperature :
Summer: Max. 20 °C Min. 6 °C.
Winter: May to June and September to October.
Clothing :
April to August: – Light woolen
Sept to March: – Heavy woolens
Language/Dialects: Garhwali, Hindi & English
Best Season: May to June and September to October.
Gangotri Dham occupies a special position amongst the other pilgrimage sites of the Chota Char Dham because it is the origin of the Ganges, the holiest river for the Hindus. It is said that Bhagirath, the grandson of King Sagara, to free his ancestors from the curse of Sage Kapila, undertook penance for 1000 years to please Ganga to descend on earth.
At last, his endeavors proved to be fruitful, and River Ganga, satisfied by his commitment, arrived on earth. This is the reason; Ganga is also called Bhagirathi. Because of her pride, and the way that the earth would be crushed if Ganga descended in her full power, Lord Shiva kept her in his locks. The holy stone close to the temple is the place where Ganga first descended on earth. According to Hindus, taking a dip in the river Ganga frees people from their sins.
Apart from the main Gangotri shrine, there are numerous other sublime and sacrosanct temples in the complex, for example, Vishwanath Temple, Bhaironnath ji Temple, and more. There are several kunds and springs in Gangotri. Gauri Kund, Surya Kund, and Gangnani warm springs have a deep historic and religious significance. A large number of pilgrims bathe in these springs to rejuvenate their mind and body before offering Puja to Goddess Ganga.
13 Nights / 14 Days
9 Nights / 10 Days
13 Nights / 14 Days
