Gangotri : Chardham Yatra

Gangotri is one of the sacred pilgrim centers in India and a part of the famous Chardham Yatra. The place has great significance in the Hindu mythology and is considered holy as the river Ganges, known to be the stream of Life, came on earth for the first time.

The natural setting of the place also mesmerize the devotees and experience the heavily bliss. One can also enjoy the mystic view of Indo-Tibetan border.

Gangotri is situated at the banks of river Bhagirathi, at a height of 3100 meters on the Himalayan range.

Gangotri
Temple at Gangotri
History of Gangotri
The temple of Gangotri was said to be constructed in the early years of the 18th century by a Gorkha Commander. Later, the kings of Jaipur, rebuilt it.

At Gaumukh is the origin of the sacred river that sets in 19 km trek from Gangotri, known as the Gangotri Glacier.

Mythology
The Hindu mythology states that King Bhagirath - the grandson of King Sagar - did self-punishment for almost 5500 years. This penance was to purify the ashes of the King Sagar�s 60,000 sons.

Pleased by this, Lord Shiva sent Goddess Ganga to shrive the sins of ancestors of King Bhagirath. As Goddess Ganga was sent in the form of river, Lord Shiva caught her in his matted locks to put a control over her force.

Therefore, at the source, the river is called Bhagirathi and later from Devprayag, where it meets Alaknanda, obtains the name Ganga. The pilgrims offer water collected at Gangotri to Lord Shiva.

Places of interest near Gangotri:
Gangotri has bountiful attractions for the tourists and devotees to enjoy. Nature lovers can visit Dodi Tal, Ganges Glacier, and Kedar Tal by undertaking treks ranging from moderate to difficult levels.

Pilgrims also enjoy the mystical ambiance at Gangotri Temple and Vishwanath Temple. Apart from this, Harsil, Maneri, Tapovan, and Uttarkashi are also some of the popular tourist attractions of near Gangotri.

Best time to visit Gangotri:
Best time to pay holy visit to the sacred city of Gangotri is from April to June and September to November.

  • The summer months from April to May are very pleasing as the temperature does not cross 30�C (max) and can drop to very lower point making nights very cold.
  • Monsoon months from late July to August make sojourn to the temple difficult due to heavy rainfall in the area. 
  • The winter months from November to March are not advisable for visit to the temple due to heavy snowfall and freezing cold.
How to reach Gangotri:
The city of Gangotri could be reached by various modes, say air, rail and road.
  • By Air: Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport. It is at a distance of 162 km from Gangotri.
  • By Rail: Rishikesh is the nearest railhead that is 145 km from Gangotri.
  • By Road: From Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Haridwar, and other nearby places, there are regular buses that provide service till Gangotri. For road traveol, private taxies could also be hired.



Looking for pilgrimage tours in India? You may also find following post interesting:
  1. Amarnath Cave Yatra
  2. Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra
  3. Amarnath Yatra Planning: Travel Tips
  4. Chardham Yatra 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Antyodaya Express to start from Bikaner to Bilaspur

Image
A weekly train named Antyodaya Express was started from Bikaner to Bilaspur. The train runs without reservation and was flagged off by Mr. Rajen Gohain, the union minister of state for Railways, from Bikaner Station at 1:00 PM. Train number 14719, Bikaner-Bilaspur Antyodaya Express will run from Bikaner on July 18 and will continue to run on every Wednesday. On the other hand, train number 14720 will continue to run on every Sunday from Bilaspur upon its start-off after July 20. The train features a total of 18 LHB coaches including 16 General Category coaches and 2 Generator coaches. Also, the Bikaner-Bilaspur Antyodaya Express covers a distance of 1498 km in 38 hours. This will help people with easy traveling amidst various comforts. Earlier also, people were benefitted with the services of Antyodaya Express when it first began to run on March 4, 2017. The train was flagged off by Suresh Prabhu, the former Minister of Railways and runs between Ernakulam Junction and How
Read more

Top 10 Summer Festivals in India That You Should Not Miss

Image
India is known to be the land of festivals. And, when summers arrive, they bring along summer vacations. Thus, it is not only about scorching heat but also about happy faces. Summer festivals in India add a fun charter to everyone�s life. Folk dance, music, interesting rituals and people clad in colorful attires light up the groggy atmosphere. Such fairs and festivals offer a sneak-peak into the vibrant culture and heritage of the country. Here is the list of popular summer festival in India: 1. Gangaur � A flamboyant celebration One of the most important festivals in Rajasthan, Gangaur is celebrated all around the state but mainly in the �Pink City�, Jaipur. It is also celebrated in some parts of West Bengal, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The festival starts on the day, after Holi and continue for around 18 days. During the festival, married women dress-up in best of their clothes, and worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the spouse of Lord Shiva, for a happy married life. Married ladies
Read more

Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Manifestations of Shiva

Image
The oldest and the holiest place among the Hindus, Varanasi, along the banks of the sacred Ganga is also considered as the cultural city in India. The river bank is dotted with numerous temples and shrines of several gods and goddesses. According to the Rigvedas, Varanasi is the favorite city of Lord Shiva. So in his high reverence, the Kashi Vishwanath temple stands in its splendor. It holds one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and attracts a large number of pilgrims to the site. The architecture of the temple is noteworthy and is also known as the Golden Temple, because of the gold used in the making of the tall spire and the dome. All devoted Hindus aspire to visit this site once before they die, for they believe that liberation from worldly thing can be achieved here. [Also Check out the 12 Jyotirlingas Tour Package ] Location: Along the western banks of holy river Ganga, lies the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh State, India. It is located 5 km away from the
Read more