Gangotri Travel Guide

Gangotri sits at roughly 3,100 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, marking the point where the Bhagirathi river, one of the two headstreams of the Ganga, becomes accessible by road. The town's temple, built in the early 19th century by a Gorkha general, honours the river goddess and anchors it as one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The actual glacial source, Gaumukh, lies about 18 kilometres further upstream and is reached only on foot, a trek popular with both pilgrims and trekkers. Gangotri opens for visitors in spring and shuts for winter once snow closes the high passes, with the murti moved down to Mukhba village for the cold months. Beyond the temple, the town serves as the last major supply stop before treks toward Gaumukh and Tapovan.

Gangotri is the easiest to reach (by direct bus or taxi) out of the char dhams. It is located 300 km from Rishikesh and 100 from Uttarkashi. The main attraction of Gangotri is the Gangotri Temple, dedicated to Ma Ganga. The temple remains open for 6 months each year, from May to November. On Akshya Tritiya, the idol of Ma Ganga is shifted to the Gangotri Temple from Mukhbas (Mukhimath). On Bhai Dooj, the idol is returned to Mukhimath for the next 6 months. The temple remains open from 4 AM -9 PM. Aarti Timing is 6 AM and 7:45 PM.

The original source of River Ganga is at Gaumukh, located 19 km away. It is accessible through trekking from Gangotri. River Ganga is known as Bhagirathi as it originates from Gaumukh. It acquires the name Ganga from Devprayag, where it meets Alaknanda River. 

Gangotri is visited by millions of devotees each year due to its religious significance. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Ganga descended on earth after Lord Shiva released her from the locks of his hair.