Gangotri Temple

Gangotri Temple is one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, dedicated to Goddess Ganga at the legendary point of her descent from the heavens to earth. Located at 3,100 metres in the Uttarkashi district on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, the temple was built in the early 18th century by the Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa. The actual source of the Ganga, the Gangotri Glacier, lies 19 km upstream at Gaumukh, which is a separate trek for more adventurous pilgrims. The temple is open only from Akshaya Tritiya to Diwali, after which the deity is shifted to Mukhba village for the winter. According to legend, this is where King Bhagirath performed penance to bring the Ganga to earth to liberate his ancestors, and the Bhagirath Shila rock near the temple marks the spot of his meditation. The surrounding Gangotri National Park adds extraordinary natural beauty to the pilgrimage.