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One of the main religious places among the four Char Dham pilgrimage areas, Gangotri, situated in Uttarkashi, is closely related to Goddess Ganga, the river that we know as Ganges. The history of Gangotri dates back to centuries when Goddess Ganga transformed herself into a river to dissolve the sins of King Bhagirath’s forefathers, following his penance. Gangotri is a popular pilgrim place in India, which stands at an altitude of 3042m and emits a highly pious aura. Religious rituals are in full swing in the Gangotri temple with the Arti ceremony performed by the pujaris of the Semwal family.
The river Ganga originates from the Gangotri glacier and is known as Bhagirathi. The name Ganga picks up later on after the river passes Devaprayag and merges into the river Alaknanda.
The striking presence of the snow-clad mountains in the vicinity and the pure crystal clear water of the Ganges flowing around add to the sanctity of the place. Vegan food dominates the culture and is available in the local food joints or dhabas. Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are a strict no-no.
Tourist Places In And Around Gangotri
There are dense forests in the upper catchment area of the Bhagirathi river. The geography of the region comprises of snowy mountains, glaciers, tall ridges, deep gorges, vertical cliffs and narrow valleys. The elevation of the site ranges from 1800 to 7083 m above sea level. Tourists can see sub alpine conifer forests, alpine shrubs and green meadows here. This forest was announced as the Gangotri National Park, which spreads till the Indo-China Border.
Gangotri is famous for its ancient temples and religious beliefs. The Gangotri Temple is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre of the region. This shrine was built by the Gurkha King, Amar Singh Thapa, in the 18th century. Large numbers of devotees visit this temple to worship Goddess Ganga. Tourists can also visit the Gyaneshwar Temple and Ekadash Rudra Temple. The latter shine is famous for the celebration of Ekadash Rudrabhishekam Pooja.
Bhagirathi Shila and the submerged Shivling of Gangotri are associated with various religious values. This natural Shivling is only visible during the winter season when the level of water lessens. Bhagirathi Shila is a piece of stone atop which King Bhagirath is believed to have meditated. Tourists can also see the beautiful Gauri Kund and Surya Kund which are located near the Gangotri Temple. Trekking can be enjoyed to the fullest in Gangotri.
Pandava Gufa can be reached by a short trek from the town. This cave (‘gufa’ in Hindi) is believed to be the meditation site of the Pandavas, the mythological warriors and kings of the great epic ‘the Mahabharata’. Tourists can also enjoy trekking to Dayara Bugyal situated at an elevation of around 3000 m above sea level. This is a high-altitude beautiful meadow, from where travellers can enjoy the views of the mighty Himalayas. There are two trekking routes which start from the villages, namely Barsu and Raithal and lead to the meadow. The Sheshnag Temple can be visited on one of the trekking routes.
Tourists can also enjoy Nordic and Alpine skiing here during the winter season. Auli, Mundali, Kush Kalyan, Kedar Kantha, Tehri Garhwal, Bedni Bugyal, and Chiplakot Valley are the nearby places which are ideal for skiing. Gangotri town is the base camp of the Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan trekking. The Kedartal is also connected to the destination by a trekking route. Ganges Glacier, Maneri, Kedar Tal, Nandanvan, Tapovan Vishwanath Temple, Dodi Tal, Tehri, Kuteti Devi Temple, Nachiketa Tal, Gangnani, etc., are the popular tourist hotspots located around Gangotri.
Uttarakhand is replete with a vast array of scenic vacation spots as well as pilgrimage destinations. Apart from the popular travel destinations of Uttarakhand, there are a couple of lesser-known ones too. To know about the top hidden places of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand is a land of many marvels and amazing tourist destinations. While some like the Char Dhams, Mussoorie, and Nainital etc are very well known there are other destinations which few tourists know about. Here are the top 10 hidden gems of Uttarakhand that can capture your heart and mind with their exquisite beauty and rich heritage.