Gangotri
Be it man's urge to placate theGods above or to quench his desire for adventure,
Gangotri is an ideal location. Gangotri, the origin of the sacred river
Ganges, attracts tourists in large numbers every year. The confrontation
with the daunting rivers and attempts to unravel the mysteries of the supernatural
world are ubiquitous sights here. Along with the thrill of conquering nature,
what one experiences here is the mystical aura that India is so famous for.
Location
Couched in the magnificentGarhwal hills, Gangotri is at an altitude of 3048
meters above sea level. It is on the northernmost part of the state of Uttar
Pradesh and is very near the Indo-Tibetan border. It is approximately 300
km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 105 km from Uttarkashi. The
summers are relatively cooland winters are freezing cold, with rains in
the months of May and June. For the devotees and tourists, the gates of
the temple are open only in the months of May to November.
Mythological Legend
According to an old legend, Lord Shiva rewarded KingBhagirath after his
penance and Ganga came down to earth. However, due to her pride, and the
fact that the earth would be devastated if Ganga came down in her full force,
Lord Shiva caught her in his locks. It was then proclaimed that Goddess
Uma or Parvati, Shiva'sconsort, would bathe in the Ganges daily and only
then would she descend on the earth. The sacred stone near the temple denotes
the place where Ganga first came down to earth. This is why Ganga is also
called by the name of Bhagirathi.
Gangotri Temple
The 18th century's temple dedicated toGoddess Ganga is located near a sacred
stone where King Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva. Ganga is believed to have
touched earth at this spot. According to another legend, Pandavas performed
the great 'Deva Yagna' here to atone the deaths of their kinsmen in the
epic battleof Mahabharata. The temple is an exquisite 20 ft. High structure
made of white granite.
Accessibility
- Airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun 226 kms.
- Railhead
Rishikesh, 249 kms.
- Road
Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and Delhi.
Gangotri, Religious Places in India
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