Gangotri
- an introduction
Gangotri, the origin of the holy
river "Ganga or Ganges" is situated
in the magnificent Himalayas (Garhwal hills),
at an altitude of 3048 mt above sea level
very near the Indo-Tibetan border. The summers
are relatively cool and winters are freezing
cold, with rains in the months of May and
June. For the devotees and tourists, the gates
of the temple are open only in the months
of May to November. The confrontation with
the daunting rivers and attempts to unravel
the mysteries of the supernatural world offers
an unique sights here in this area. Along
with the thrill of conquering nature, what
one experiences here is the mystical aura
that India is so famous for.
Main
Sightseeing of Gangotri
Gangotri Temple : The
18th century's temple dedicated to Goddess
Ganga is located near a sacred stone where
King Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva. It
is believed that goddess Ganga first descended
to earth from Heaven, at this stone. Amar
Singh Thapa, the Gorkha Commander of Garhwal,
in the 18th century A.D. constructed this
temple. It is also believed that the Pandavas,
came here to perform the great 'Deva Yagna'
to atone the death of their kinsmen in the
battle of Mahabharata. The temple is an
exquisite 20 ft. High structure made of
white granite. .
Submerged Shivling :
Submerged in the river, this natural rock
Shivling is the place where, according to
mythology, Lord Shiva sat when he received
the Ganga in his matted locks. It is visible
in winter months when water level decreases.
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Excursions
from Gangotri
Nandanvan Tapovan : An arduous
trek along the Gangotri Glacier leads to scenic
Nandanvan - the base camp for the Bhagirathi
peaks, that offers a panoramic view of the
surrounding Shivaling peak. A trek across
the snout of the Gangotri Glacier leads to
Tapovan known for its beautiful meadows that
encircle the base of the Shivling Peak.
Kedar Tal (18 kms.)
: A spectacular lake situated at
a distance of about 18 km trek from Gangotri,
negotiable through a rough mountain trail.
The trek is very tiring and testing even for
a hardy trekker. There is no facility of any
kind on the way and one haste make all arrangements
in advance. A local guide is essential. The
lake is crystal clear with the mighty Thalaysagar
(sphatikling) peak forming a splendid backdrop.
The place is about 15,000 feet above sea-level
and is the base camp for scaling to Thalaysagar,
Jogin, Bhrigupanth and other peaks. Accessible
through a rough mountain trail, it is the
base camp for trekking to surrounding peaks.
The trek to Kedartal needs a local guide.
Gaumukh (18 kms.)
: The snout of the Gangotri Glacier
and the source of the Bhagirathi river. Pilgrims
trek upto the sacred spot on foot or on ponies
to take a holy dip in the ice-cold water.
Harsil (26 kms) : This
small hill station is famous for its natural
beauty and delicious apples. Harsil is situated
at a distance of 72 km from Uttarkashi on
the main highway to Gangotri and is at a height
of 2,620 mt above sea-level. From Harsil,
the adventurous tourist can trek to Sat Tal,
situated just above Dharali, 2 km beyond Harsil,
to be greeted by the rewarding sight of seven
lakes situated amidst beautiful natural surroundings.
The Harsil-Jangala Chatti route is amidst
dense Deodar forest.
Dayara Bugyal (93 kms.)
: A breathtakingly beautiful meadow,
situated at a height of 3,048 mts. above sea
level. A motorable road connects Bhatwari
(27 kms. from Uttarkashi) with Raithal village,
from where follows a 6 kms. long trek to Dayara.
The famous Sheshnag Temple enroute is an attraction
of the trek. From Dayara, one can also trek
down to Dodi Tal (30 kms.). During winters,
Dayara provides excellent ski slopes over
an area of 28 sq.kms.
Uttarkashi (99 kms.)
: An important pilgrimage centre,
situated at an elevation of 1,150 mts. above
sea level on the bank of river Bhagirathi.
Some of the important temples worth visiting
are - Vishwanath temple, Ekadash Rudra temple,
Gyaneshwar temple and Kuteti Devi Temple.
Nearby is the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
Every year, during the 'Magh Mela' people
visit Uttarkashi to take a holy dip in Bhagirathi
along with the image of their village deity.
Nachiketa Tal (131
kms.) : A pleasant trek through lush
green forests leads to this peaceful retreat.
A small temple along the lake and lovely surroundings
are an attraction.
Tehri (173 kms.): Lying
at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Bhilangna
rivers is the former capital of Tehri Garhwal
principality. It is the site of a giant hydel
project.
Narendranagar (239
kms.) : The new capital of erstwhile
Tehri state, offers a magnificent view of
the Ganga valley of Rishikesh and the plains
of Haridwar.
How
to reach Gangotri ?
By Air : Gaggal is the nearest
airport located 15 km. from Dharamshala. Other
airports having regular service are : Jammu
200 km., Amritsar 210 km. and Chandigarh 260
km.
By Road : The Himachal Road
Transport Corporation (HRTC) has a good road
network throught the state and connectivity
with other part of India.
By Rail : Nearest broad
gauge railhead is Pathankot 95 km. A narrow
gauge railway line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar
passes through Kangra, 17 km. from Dharamshala
.
