Languages Spoken:
Garhawali, Hindi, English
Best Time To Visit:
March To October
Long Distance Code:
+91-13772
Importance:
The site where River ganga lands from the mountains
Perched at an altitude of 3200 mts above the sea level at the foothills of the Himalayas, Gangotri is nearly the northernmost tip of the state of Uttaranchal. Located in the area, known as Garhwal, Gangotri is about 300 kms from the state capital Dehradun.
Gangotri, the beautiful religious site for the Hindus, is the best place for various adventure sports as well. This ancient place has a mythological importance attached to it thus making it one of the most sacred places for the pilgrims. It is actually the place, which is the source glacier of the biggest, and the most sacred rivers of India, the Ganga.
According to the legend, King Bhagirath wanted to bring the great river Ganga from the heavens to the earth to wash the sins of his predecessors. After a great penance Lord Shiva was pleased and on his behest Ganga came rushing down, but had she come with her full force the earth would have been devastated, therefore the initial force was taken in Lord Shiva's matted hair locks and then the great River came down. At that point the Ganga is known as Bhagirathi. A temple was erected here by Amarsingh Thapa, a Gorkha command in the Garhwal region in the 18th century.
