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GANGOTRI:
The Eternal Gift of Bhagirath's Penance
 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.
According to mythology, Goddess
Ganga - the daughter of heaven, manifested 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 her into his matted locks to minimise the intense
impact of her fall. She came to call as Bhagirathi as her
legendary source.
Along the right
bank of Bhagirathi stands the shrine of Gangotri dedicated
to the Goddess. Perched at the height of 3042 mts. it was
constructed in the early 18th Century by a Gorkha
Commander, Amar Singh Thapa.. Lakhs of pilgrims throng the
temple between May and October. By November, Gangotri is covered
by snow. It is believed that the Goddess retreats to Mukhba,
her winter abode (12 Kms downstream)
The physical source of the river is at Gaumukh, 18 Kms further
uphill, along the Gangotri glacier. Several pilgrims trek
upto the source to offer prayers either on foot or on ponies.
Altitute
: 3048 mts.
Climate
: Pleasant during the day and cold at night
Season
: April to October
Clothing
: Heavy woollen throughout the season.
Languages
: Hindi, Garhwali and English
Accessibility
Air: Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant, 17 kms. from Rishikesh
and 265 kms. from Gangotri
:
Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 248 kms. away
Gangotri
is connected by road to Uttarakashi, Tehri Garhwal and Rishikesh
and from there to other parts of the country. Bus services
of Samyukt Rotation Yatayat Vyawastha Samiti connect Gangotri
with many centres in the region like Haridwar, Rishikesh,
Tehri, Uttarkashi etc.
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