Gaumukh

One of the holiest lands in Uttarakhand, Gaumukh is thronged by devotees mainly for its serenity and pious mythological history. Gaumukh is not exactly a tourist town or city, but a glacial trekking destination located within Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

It is often considered the cradle of North Indian Hindu mythology, primarily the one centered around the river Ganges, who reincarnated on Earth upon sage Bhagirath's insistence to purge his ancestors if their sins, so they could ascend to heaven. The chief tributary of the holy river Ganges, called Bhagirathi, originates from Gaumukh. The name Gaumukh itself, can be broken down to Gau- meaning cow, and Mukh - meaning mouth. The end of the Gangotri glacier, is in the shape of a cow's mouth, and hence the name Gaumukh.