Located at an altitude of 3,100mts, Gangotri Temple, the highest temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is one of the four Chota Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. Goddess Ganga is the personification of the revered Ganga River. The peaceful white temple is surrounded by Deodar and pines and the Greater Himalayan Range. The holy river Bhagirathi, which is one of the two head-streams of Ganga, flows alongside Gangotri Temple.
though we could have reached Gangotri city Vaya airways or by road we prefer to reach by train and then cover the rest of the kilometers by cab. this gave us a unique opportunity of passing through away rich with scenic beauty. on reaching the city firstly and foremost we decided to book in a local tourist resort set on a hilltop and with a clear view of the silver waters of the Ganga river. there are many options for staying in the city but these small resorts are best as decide to provide all facilities. they provide a home-like atmosphere in a place 1000 kilometers away from home. my group had decided to spend the night camping in the famous mountains after checking in and having garhwali delicious snacks we decided to visit the Gangotri temple. the visit to the Gangotri temple was an experience beyond. the beautiful temple promises a scene to deacon all the tourists to come in the protection of Ganga maa. the beautiful place located at a height of 3133 meters. we felt that there may be man spots of pilgrimage between heaven and earth but none is as splendid as Gangotri. after offering prayers we reached Sunset point which is just near the temple. this is a natural thermal spring that has healing properties and it is an experience both comforting and mystical. it will be not wrong to mention the Himalayan peak set in the background of the temple which becomes golden at the time of sunset and sunrise. after visiting these places we decided to have a meal at the Gangotri restaurant some distance away from the temple. the vegetarian dishes served were very extraordinary because of the use of specific spices. all this while we had to wear heavy warmers as the temperature was almost freezing and the wind was strong. the tantalizing waters of the river and an atmosphere of the mystery of thousands of year old culture coupled with the continuous warmth of the human community around you feels you with being and essential parts of the universal cosmos. at night we had reached the camping site of Gangotri. firstly we moved on to Bhojbasa is a scenic spot on the rugged terrains, situated at an altitude of 3,775 mts above sea level. Bhojbasa can be reached by14 km trek that starts from Gangotri. The trek goes through rugged terrains along with the Bhagirathi River. then we moved on to Gangnani is a small town situated 46 km from Uttarkashi on the route to Gangotri. Gangnani is an ideal destination for the spiritually inclined and those seeking peace of mind. Being a perfect spot for meditation, Gangnani acts as an ideal retreat for nature lovers who are exploring the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state. Gangnani affords stunning mountain views surrounded near Gangotri.after this we take a rest at our hotel and next day we are planning for some fun places like the Gangotri temple
Gangotri Temple presumably follows the Nagara style of architecture. It is simple and constructed with white marble stone. There are no intrinsic carvings as popularly seen in the Hindu temples. There are five small apexes shikhars, 20ft in height. The main Sanctorum or the Garba Griha is built on a raised platform. There is a mandap in front of the Garba Griha where the devotees do puja and prayer. The inner Sanctorum has the idol of Goddess Ganga. It also contains the idols of Goddess Yamuna, Annapurna, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. The idols of Bhagirath and the sage Adi Sankara complete the set of idols present inside the inner Sanctorum. There are four little temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, and Bhagirathi.
Near the Gangotri Temple, there is a natural rock Shivling is submerged underwater. You can see the shivling easily when the winters are on their way as the water level decreases during that time. According to myths and legends, this was the place where Lord Shiva sat when Ganga ascended in his matted locks. Shiva divided Ganga into 7 streams and saved Earth. Gangotri Temple SignificanceGangotrgotri Temple is the highest temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The river Ganga originates at Gaumukh. Gaumukh is situated at the foot of Gangotri glacier. River Ganga is known as Bhagirathi here. It gets the name ‘Ganga’ at Devprayag where Bhagirathi River merges with the Alaknanda River. Gangotri Temple is built close to “Bhagirath Shila”. It is a pillar where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva to bear the descent of River Ganga. Pilgrims collect the water from the pillar and take it to their homes ad Amrit/Nectar. Amrit is used for various religious and holy purposes. After defeating Kauravas in the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas performed “Deva Yagna” at Gangotri Temple to expiate for the death of their people and relatives. and the greatly excited to experience a night under the shines of stars. they were any other groups on the site hence there was no question of loneliness. armed with a delicious packed dinner and warmers we were actually in sync with mother nature. the whole group was looking for an opportunity to have a hot drink and filling meals. many small and beautiful roadside food stalls fulfilled our desire sufficiently.in all our experience one common element was reh friendly and welcoming of the attitude of the local people. you never fault that you do not belong there. the people, mother nature, the magnificent mountain, te flowing rivers all open their arms to the traveller.as if inviting him to visit again and again. very soon it was time to start packing for the return journey. but this time we were accompanied by the beautiful memories of the Gangotri which were not the only invaluable but also timeless.
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