|
Gangotri - The Eternal Gift Of Bhagirath's
Penance
Be it man's urge to placate the Gods 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 magnificent Garhwal 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 cool and 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 King Bhagirath 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's consort, 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.
|
Unique Pilgrimage Attraction
|
-
Submerged Shivling
The natural rock Shivling, submerged
in the river, is an amazing sight
reinforcing the power of the divine.
According to mythology, Lord Shiva sat
at this spot to receive the Ganaga in
his matted locks. The shivling is
visible in the early winters when the
water level goes down. The picturesque
pilgrimage in the hinterlands of the
Himalayas is the most sacred spot
where Ganga, the stream of life,
touched earth for the first time.
-
Mythological Mystery
According to mythology, Goddess Ganga-
the daughter of heaven, manigested
herself in the form of a river to
absolve the sins of King Bhagirath's
predecessors, following his severe
penance of several centuries. Lord
Shiva received into his matted locks
to minimise the immense impact of her
fall. She came to be called Bhagirathi
at her legendary source.
A long the right bank of Bhagirathi
stands the shrine of Gangotri
dedicated to the Goddess. Perched at a
height of 3042 mts., it was
constructed in the early 18th century
by a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh
Thapa. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims
throng the sacred temple between May
and October. By November, Gangotri is
covered by snow. It is believed that
the Goddess retreats to Mukhba, her
winter abode.
|
Prime
Pilgrimage Attraction
-
Gangotri Temple
The 18th century's temple dedicated to
Goddess 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 battle of Mahabharata. The temple
is an exquisite 20 ft. High structure
made of white granite.
|
Excursion
-
Nandanvan Tapovan
An arduous trek along the Gangotri
Glacier leads to scenic Nandanvan -
the base camp for the Bhagirathi
peaks, that offers a panoramic view of
the surrounding Shivaling peak. A trek
across the snout of the Gangotri
Glacier leads to Tapovan known for its
beautiful meadows that encircle the
base of the Shivling Peak.
-
Uttarkashi (99 kms.)
An important pilgrimage centre,
situated at an elevation of 1,150 mts.
above sea level on the bank of river
Bhagirathi. Some of the important
temples worth visiting are -
Vishwanath temple, Ekadash Rudra
temple, Gyaneshwar temple and Kuteti
Devi Temple. Nearby is the Nehru
Institute of Mountaineering. Every
year, during the 'Magh Mela' people
visit Uttarkashi to take a holy dip in
Bhagirathi along with the image of
their village deity.
-
Kedar Tal (18 kms.)
An enhancing lake, 4425 mts. above sea
level against the splendid backdrop of
mighty Thalaiyasagar peak. Accessible
through a rough mountain trail, it is
the base camp for trekking to
surrounding peaks. The trek to
Kedartal needs a local guide.
-
Gaumukh( 18 kms.)
The snout of the Gangotri Glacier and
the source of the Bhagirathi river.
Pilgrims trek upto the sacred spot on
foot or on ponies to take a holy dip
in the ice-cold water.
-
Dayara Bugyal (93 kms.)
A breathtakingly beautiful meadow,
situated at a height of 3,048 mts.
above sea level. A motorable road
connects Bhatwari (27 kms. from
Uttarkashi) with Raithal village, from
where follows a 6 kms. long trek to
Dayara. The famous Sheshnag Temple
enroute is an attraction of the trek.
From Dayara, one can also trek down to
Dodi Tal (30 kms.). During winters,
Dayara provides excellent ski slopes
over an area of 28 sq.kms.
-
Nachiketa Tal (131 kms.)
A pleasant trek through lush green
forests leads to this peaceful
retreat. A small temple along the lake
and lovely surroundings are an
attraction.
-
Tehri (173 kms.)
Lying at the confluence of Bhagirathi
and Bhilangna rivers is the former
capital of Tehri Garhwal principality.
It is the site of a giant hydel
project.
-
Narendranagar (239 kms.)
The new capital of erstwhile Tehri
state, offers a magnificent view of
the Ganga valley of Rishikesh and the
plains of Haridwar.
|
Accessibility
-
Airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun 226 kms.
-
Railhead
Rishikesh, 249 kms.
-
Road
Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar,
Dehradun and Delhi.
|
|
