Gangotri has the main religious temple which comes under the Chota Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Gangotri is a town and also a Nagar Panchayat in Uttarakashi district. Gangotri temple is located on the Himalayan range of the Garhwal region in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state at the height of 3,100 m above sea level. This holy place Gangotri holds a special place in the heart of Hindu religion peoples. Gangotri is one of the most popular place for Hindu pilgrims in India. Gangotri is full of religious rituals and the Aarti in Gangotri temple performed by the Semwal family's Pujari. Gangotri glacier is the main source of river Ganga from where the Ganga river originated and is known as Bhagirathi. The name Ganga picks up when Bhagirathi merges with river Alakananda at Devprayag.
Gangotri Temple is established in 18th century by the general of Gorkha Amar Singh Thapa on the bank of Bhagirathi. The temple of Gangotri is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and nestled in the beautiful surroundings of pines and deodar trees. A rock known as Bhagirath Shila is close to the Gangotri Dham, people believe that King Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva here. The origin of the sacred river Ganga is at Gaumukh which is located in Gangotri Glacier, you can reach gaumukh by 19 km trek from Gangotri.
According to some legends, Gangotri is the place where the Goddess Ganga lands on earth. People believed that there was a King named Sagara in Satyug, the king has 60,000 sons with Queen Sumati and had only one son "Asamanja" with Queen Kesani. He decided to stage an Ashwamedha Yagya after killing the demons from the earth. Indra Dev was very afraid of this Yagya so he decided to steal the horse of the Ashwamedha Yagya and tied it to the ashram of sage Kapila who is an Avtar of Vishnu.
Sage Kapil Muni was in deep meditation at that time when the 60,000 sons of the King Sagara searched for the Horse of Ashwamedha Yagya and finally found the horse tied near the Sage Kapila who was in deep meditation.
All the sons of King Sagara storm at the ashram of sage Kapila. Which disrupted the deep meditation of sage Kapila and sage Kapila had so angry that he had turned all the sons of King Sagara into ashes by his powerful sight and curse them that they only get Moksha when their ashes washed by the holy water of Ganga.
At that time the river Ganga is seated only in heaven. Then Bhagirath the grandson of King Sagara penance for 1000 years to please Ganga to come to the earth and free his ancestors from the curse of Sage Kapila. Finally, river Ganga impressed by his penance and efforts and ready to come to the earth.
According to some legends, when Ganga impressed by penance and effort of Bhagirath to wash the sin of his ancestors, then Ganga agreed to come to earth to wash the ashes of Bhagirath's ancestors. At that time the intensity of Ganga is so high that the whole planet earth would have submerged into the water of Ganga. To save the earth from that disaster Bhagirath had penance to Lord Shiva. After watching his devotion Lord Shiva impressed and caught river Ganga into his blocks. Lord Shiva released the Water of River Ganga into three forms from which one came on earth and known as the Bhagirathi river. When the ashes of Bhagirath's ancestors touches the holy water of Ganga, all the sons rose from the eternal rest. It is believed that the rock in which Bhagirath has meditated for so many years is known as Bhagirath Shila and also located close to the temple of Gangotri.
The Gangotri temple opens on the special day of Akshaya Tritya. Generally the Akshaya tritya held on the last week of the month of april or the first week of May.
The temple open for pilgrims only for 6 months from April/May to November due to the climatic condition of the place. Gangotri is covered by the thick layer of snow in winter season. There is heavy snowfall in winters.
The temple of gangotri is closed in the day of Diwali which is the most popular Hindu festival in India. In winters the main idol of Gangotri be shifted from Gangotri Dham to Mukhba village when the kapat are closed for six months.
During winter when the Shrine of Gangotri is closed the idol of the deity of Gangotri mandir is worshipped in Mukhba village which is located near from Gangotri.
Gangotri Opening Date : 03 May 2022
Gangotri Temple Closing Date : 25 Oct 2022 (Next Day of Diwali)
The Gangotri Dham Temple opens every morning at 4 am and closed at 9 pm at night. The pilgrims visit or worshipped in Gangotri Dham between 4 am to 9 pm. There is a little afternoon break in a day from 2 pm to 3 pm. Temple is closed for this short period of time.
Opening Time of Temple : 4 AM
Closing Time of Temple : 9 PM
Afternoon Break : 2 PM to 3 PM
Gangotri is a famous sacred place which is the part of Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. There are many festival celebrated in Gangotri. In gangotri there are many Hindu festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm and zeal. Becoming a part of these festivals will blow up your mind and you feel like a beautifull dreams of yours is come true. These are the following festivals celebrated in Gangotri are:
Ganga Dussehra : This festival is celebrated in Gangotri at the month of May-June. The grand celebration of this festival of Devi Ganga who nourishes the millions of lives on this earth with her pure refreshing water. This holy festival is celebrated over the span of 10 days people believed that if they pray to the Goddess Ganga on these days then they will free from 10 major sins. So the pilgrims never miss this golden opportunity. Also, Fairs are organized on this special day, all the pilgrims enjoy a lot by buying some lovely things.
Akshaya Tritya : This holy festival is celebrated in the month of April/May every year. On this holy day the kapat of the temple of Gangotri is opened for pilgrims after six months because Dham of gangotri is closed during winters due to heavy snowfall. The main idol of Goddess Ganga brought back to the ain temple of Gangotri from Mukhba Village. This festival of Akshaya tritya is also celebrated because of the birth of the Parshuram the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu and it is also known as Akha Teej. People buy gold, silver and diamond on this holy day.
Diwali : Diwali is the most famous festival in India. It is the last festival which is celebrated in the Temple of Gangotri because after this festival the kapat of gangotri Dham are closed for six months due to climate condition. On this day after a special pooja the main idol of Goddess Ganga is shifted from Gangotri Mandir to Mukhyamath temple in Mukhba Village.
Gangotri Dham is open for six month in the special day of Akshaya Tritiya. The temple of Gangotri remains close for six months in winters due to climatic condition of the place. Every year there is heavy snowfall occurs due to this the kapat of the temple remain close for six months.
The Shrine of gangotri is open in the month of April and May for six months. The dham of Gangotri is closed for pilgrims in the month of November. The temple opens one the day of Akshaya Tritiya and closed on the next day of the popular hindu festival “Diwali”.
In the month of May-june there are many pilgrims in Gangotri Dham. These two months are the most peek season for Gangotri Dham many pilgrims visit every year at this time which makes your trip quite difficult. In monsoon there is heavy rainfall occurs which is quite risky because there are high chances of landslide due to regular rainfall. The best time to visit Gangotri Mandir is September to November.
Summer : Gangotri Mandir is situated at a high altitude so the climate of the place is cool in the summer season also. It is good to visit Gangotri at this time because the temperature of the place is moderate.
Monsoon : It is risky for you to travel in the month of July-August because there is heavy rainfall in the monsoon every year and hight chances of landslides in the route of Gangotri Dham.
Winter : It is the best time to visit the temple if you want a hassle free trip. September to November is the best time to travel Gangotri.
Gangotri Mandir is situated at an elevation of 3100 m above the sea level in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state. It is a small town and also a Nagar panchayat of the Uttarkashi district of Garhwal region. Gangotri Dham is the part of Chota Char Dham circuit. And well connected by motorable roads. You can easily reach Gangotri Dham by road, you can also reach by driving your own car because it is well connected by roads.
By Road : Gangotri Mandir is well connected with the motorable roads. You can easily reach by using a car, bus or hire a cab.
By Air : Gangotri Temple is not connected with the airport. The nearest airport for Gangotri is Jolly Grant Airport which is 267km from Gangotri. You can travel by bus or hire a cab from here to reach Gangotri.
By Train : Gangotri is not connected with the railway. The nearest railway station for Gangotri is Rishikesh Railway Station 264 km and the Haridwar railway station is 287 km. You can board a bus or hire a taxi for Gangotri from here.
Gangotri Popular Route (Via Haridwar) : Delhi → Haridwar → Rishikesh → Narendranagar → Tehri → Dharasu Bend → Uttarkashi → Bhatwari → Gangnani → Harsil → Gangotri
Gangotri Alternate Route (Via Dehradun) : Delhi → Dehradun → Mussoorie → Chamba → Tehri → Dharasu Bend → Uttarkashi → Bhatwari → Gangnani → Harsil → Gangotri
Traveling to Gangotri is not just a pilgrimage tour or a spiritual trip but it has many more things to do and many places to see for you. Here is the list of places to explore:
Ans : Gangotri temple is situated Gangotri town or a Nagar Panchayat in Uttarakashi district of Uttarakhand state.
Ans : Gangotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga Devi.
Ans : The Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa built the Gangotri Temple in 18th century.
Ans : The best time to visit Gangotri Temple is in the month of April/May to June and September to November.
Ans Tourist can easily reach Gangotri temple by bus or by hire a cab because it is well connected by motorable roads.
Ans : Rishikesh and Haridwar railway station are the nearest railway station to reach Gangotri temple.
Ans : Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport for reaching Gangotri Temple at a distance of 267 km.
Ans : This year 03 May 2022 is the opening date of Gangotri Dham and 25 Oct 2022 is the closing date of Gangotri Mandir. Gangotri temple is closed on the next day of the popular Hindu festival “Diwali”.
Ans : The Gangotri Mandir opens daily at 4 am and closed at 9 pm everyday. There is an afternoon break in which the temple is closed for 1 hours from 2pm to 3 pm.
Ans : Yes you can easily book a helicopter for Gangotri Yatra. There are many travel agencies or Helicopter service provider company provide you helicopter for your yatra.