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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 kms.
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