Perched amongst the thick greenery of the Greater Himalayan ranges at an elevation of 3,100 meters above sea level by the banks of the holy river Bhagirathi, is the incredibly stunning white marble Dham of Gangotri. The temple is created by the iconic Nepalese general Amar Singh Thapa, this gleaming white marvel serves as the seat of goddess Ganga and marks the spot where the heavenly river had descended to the earthly realm as a response to the prayers and penance performed by king Bhagirath to provide salvation to his ancestors and bring their soul to peace. This is one of the very few temples in the entire subcontinent that is dedicated to goddess Ganga and is also a crucial part of the Chota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand along with Kedarnath, Badrinath and Yamunotri. A visit to Gangotri Dham remains incomplete since it is a part of the holy Gangotri Yamunotri Do Dham Yatra.
Legend:
There are a number of legends pertaining to the creation of this Dham however here is the most widely accepted belief:
It is said that after slaying all the demons on earth, the great king Sagar decided to stage an Ashwamedha Yajna in order to showcase his superiority and supremacy. This Yagya was interrupted by 60,000 sons of King Sagara who were misled into entering and disturbing the sage Muni who was in deep meditation. On opening his eyes, the sage cursed every son that their soul will not attain moksha until their remains have not been absolved in the holy heavenly river of Ganga and they all perished immediately. In order to get rid of this curse King Sagar’s grandson – King Bhagirath performed intense meditation to Goddess ganga who finally came down to the earthly realm granting moksha to all his bygone ancestors.
Excursion Places:
Harsil
Located on the highway heading towards Uttarkashi, Harsil is known for its scenic beauty and is a wonderful place if you want to savor some splendid sights of the blue open skies and lush greenery. Also known for its gleaming apple orchards Harsil is the ideal location of have some peace of mind amongst natural surroundings.
Dodital
Situated at an altitude of 3,024 metres above sea level in the district of Uttarkashi, Dodital is a high altitude freshwater lake which is also known for being the abode where Lord Ganesh is believed to have resided. It is the home to a specific type of Himalayan fishes ‘Dodi’ that is only available here.
Gangnani
This small scenic town falls enroute to Gangotri Dham and is known for being one of the most adored and scenic spiritual destination among people seeking a sense of spirituality in nature. Famous for its thermal hot water springs and overlooking mountain peaks, this place is truly a jewel in Gangotri.
Tapovan
After covering an arduous trek alongside the Gangotri glacier you will reach a clearing which is surrounded by picturesque views of the Gangotri landscape like tall green trees, clear open skies and a colorful collection of flowers that line every space. The place is named so since ever since the ancient ages sages and saints have visited this place for meditation.
How to Reach:
By Bus – Gangotri Dham is connected through a network of motorable roads which serves state run buses connecting a number of major as well as minor towns and cities. Taxis are available from different nearby locations like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal etc.
By Train – The closest rail head is located in the nearby holy destination of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun and it caters to regular trains from different big and small destinations from all over India.
By Air – The nearest airport to Gangotri Dham is located in Dehradun which is the ‘jolly grant airport’ and it caters to flights from various different parts of India. From the airport you will be required to hire a cab service or beard a bus heading for Gangotri Dham.
By Helicopter – If you want to go on Gangotri Dham Yatra but have only limited time with you or you have someone who is unable to go on the Yatra on foot then a helicopter Yatra is advised for you.
Best Time to Visit:
Being located at a great height Gangotri’s temperature remains cold and freezing throughout the year. The best time to visit Gangotri Dham is recommended to be between the summer months of April and June, September and October. These months are quiet pleasant and is considered to be the most ideal time to pay your prayers and offering to the goddess. Monsoon months are not advised for pilgrims since this is the time when the entire region is covered in unexpected torrential rains and for some days even the heli services are suspended keeping in mind the safety of the pilgrims. With onset of the winter months the entire place gets covered in a thick stark blanket of snow making accessibility impossible and this is also the time when the Dham Kapat are shut down for six months and the idol of the presiding deity is shifted to its winter abode.
Accommodation Facilities:
Gangotri is home to a range of luxury properties like 3 star hotels that are on budget. You can easily fit your budget in the type of accommodation you want for yourself and the number of people that you are travelling with. Even if your budget is extremely tight then you will have the option of choosing from lodges, cottage stays as well as others. All these hotels are verified and come with only some basic amenities like hot water, clean washroom and good beds. The regions surrounding this Dham have a number of hotels and stay options available. Another pocket friendly option here is the guesthouse from GMVN which is also clean and offers some of the basic amenities just as the hotels here.
Food Availability:
You should be mentally prepared beforehand that you won’t be getting delectable food. You will be served with some of the most widely available and basic dishes like north Indian cuisines and Chinese dishes. These selections include food items like noodles, roti, vegetables, dal etc. apart from the restaurants there are food stalls and Dhabas also available that cater to you. Close to the Dham there are also a number of tea stalls available that will keep you warm and energized for your pilgrimage.
Opening Closing Dates:
The opening and closing dates of Gangotri Dham, just like every other Dham, is decided by the temple committee here. The Kapat of the temple opens up with the onset of the summer months of end of April or early May during the auspicious eve of Akshaya Tritiya. The temple remains open for duration of 6 months. However during the monsoon months of July to early September the helicopter services and other services for the Dham are halted briefly for a few days in these months for the security and safety of the pilgrims. The temple Kapat are then closed off for pilgrims with the onset of winter months from Late October or early November to March. During this time the entire region experiences heavy and intense snowfall and all the routes are completely cut off for visitation.
Winter Abode:
When the temple Kapat is shut down for Darshan for six months, then the idol of the presiding deity of goddess Ganga is transferred to her winter abode at the nearby scenic village of Mukhba or Mukhwa. This small holy town comes on the way to the Gangotri Dham and is visited by people looking to offer their prayers to the goddess as a part of their winter Char Dham Yatra including, Ukhimath (Kedarnath), Kharsali (Yamunotri) and Joshimath (Badrinath). The idol is brought down on the auspicious day of Bhai Dooj amongst traditional music and celebrations. The idol is placed here for a duration of 6 months when the main temple is shut down due to the presence of heavy snow that is responsible for making the journey impossible and the Dham unreachable.
Travel Tips:
- Since the Dham is situated on a great elevation, it should be kept in mind that you have to plan your Yatra accordingly and in time. Although you may choose the summer months of April to June it is advised for you to carry heavy woolen clothing items and winter wear.
- Make sure all your bookings and reservations are confirmed entirely and also that all your payments are made since people from far and wide visit this Dham as well as others during this time. This makes the place thronged with pilgrims and bookings are complete by then.
- Pack all your essentials like first aids and important medicines for the trip. Include items like – cotton, band aids, Dettol, gauze, anti-fever medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, pain killers, cough syrup among other relevant medicines.
- There are a number of sightseeing options available for every adventure enthusiasts as well as for people looking to visit any place other than the Dham itself.
Char Dham Yatra Blog 