Popular Temple
Gangotri Dham
Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand
The Chota Char Dham seat of Goddess Ganga, on the banks of the Bhagirathi
At a glance
- Location
- Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand
- Presiding deity
- Goddess Ganga
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Other tradition
- Nearest railway station
- Rishikesh railway station (~250 km)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~270 km)
- Best time to visit
- May-June and September-October. Landslides and road closures are common during the July-August monsoon.
History
Gangotri sits on the banks of the Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi district at about 3,100 metres. The present temple is generally credited to the Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century, and was later restored by the royal house of Jaipur. The river's actual source is Gaumukh, at the snout of the Gangotri glacier roughly 18 km further up.
Spiritual significance
According to the legend, Ganga descended to earth through the austerities of King Bhagirath, and Shiva took the force of her fall in his matted hair — which is why the river is called Bhagirathi here. Gangotri is the second stop on Uttarakhand's Chota Char Dham circuit of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, which is traditionally walked in that order.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
The temple is not open all year. The doors open around Akshaya Tritiya (April-May) and close around Bhai Dooj after Diwali (October-November); through the winter the goddess is worshipped at Mukhba village instead.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
The road runs all the way to Gangotri, so unlike Kedarnath or Yamunotri there is no trek. Buses and taxis run from Rishikesh or Dehradun via Uttarkashi. It is a long mountain drive, and most pilgrims break the journey overnight at Uttarkashi or Harsil.