According to Hindu Mythology, Gangotri is a place on the Earth where river Ganga descended from the dense locks of Lord Shiva on the requests of Bhagirath. Hence, the river Ganga is also called as Bhagirathi. In general, Gangotri is a holy town famous for its Gangotri temple and serves to be one of the significant Char Dham. It is situated in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand State of India.

In this article, we will take you on a journey to discover everything you need to know about Gangotri during onboarding a Char Dham Yatra to the place.

Historical Significance 

Bhagirath was an honoured King in the past whose ancestors were cursed to wander after life without finding peace. Hence, he asked Lord Shiva for his divine permission to take Goddess Ganga in the form of a river with him to purify his ancestors’ sentiments and bless them with peace. It was to bless other life forms too living on the Earth.   

The Ganga river sources from the Gomukh in Gangotri and meets Alaknanda river at Devprayag. The Ganga and Alaknanda both descended together from heaven on the Earth to fulfil the wish of his devotee Kapila. 

When Does Gangotri Yatra Begins? 

The Gangotri temple remains closed after Diwali and reopens on Akshya Tritiya. Till this time, the idol of the Goddess Ganga is carried down to a nearby village – Mukhba Village in Harsil, Uttarakhand and is worshipped there. Thus, the yatra begins in Late April or first week of May every year. 

Considering 2024, the Gangotri yatra began on 10 May, marking the opening of doors the same day.     

How To Reach Gangotri? 

Gangotri is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 1300 metres (or 10,200 feet) above sea level. To reach Gangotri, Rishikesh is the common stop you will have to board. 

From Delhi: 

If travelling by road from Delhi, you can book a bus to Uttarkashi. This will stop once at Rishikesh, Tehri and will finally reach Uttarkashi near Gangotri. You can then book a taxi to reach the final destination. 

From Mumbai: 

The best option to travel to Gangotri from Mumbai is to take a flight. Take a flight from Mumbai Airport to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is the capital of Uttarakhand. From here, you can either board a taxi or a bus to reach Gangotri. 

You can also travel by train to Haridwar and can follow the same route as mentioned above. 

How To Register for the Yatra? 

Travel to any of the four centres of Char Dham Yatra generally takes 5-12 days. You need to register for the yatra to the place where you wish to visit. You can use the official site registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in for the registration process. You may need to submit some personal documents and also a processing fee for the yatra. Consider downloading the copy of your registration for your own use. 

How Many Pilgrims Travel?  

The number of pilgrims travelling to Gangotri can vary depending on various factors such as days of the year, number of pilgrims travelling, weather conditions, and many more. Maximum number of pilgrims travel during the peak pilgrimage season, between May to June, while lesser numbers are reported till October. 

On an average, 3.0 lacs pilgrims travel to Gangotri every year. 

Things to do in and around Gangotri 

The main attraction of Gangotri is the religious Gangotri temple worshipped by Hindus. The temple offers beautiful scenes surrounded by the holy river Ganga and Himalayan mountains. The pilgrims can also explore the other places in Gangotri. Sme of them are listed below:  

1. Gangotri Glacier 

One of the most beautiful glaciers of India, Gangotri glacier starts from the northern pole of the Chaukhamba mountainous region. It is because of this glacier that Ganges river water is so pure and medicinal. 

The terminus of this glacier is known as Gaumukh from where the Ganga river flows. It has medicinal properties because of the mineral content of its water that make the water so therapeutic. 

2. Surya Kund 

Located at just a distance of 500 metres from the Gangotri temple, Surya Kund is a beautiful waterfall in Gangotri. It is surrounded by various other waterfalls too. 

Morning is the best time to visit this place as the sunlight creates a rainbow every time the water falls. 

3. Gangotri National Park 

Spread across an area of 2390 sq. KM, the Gangotri National Park is a home to snow leopards, brown bear, black bear, bulbuls, and many other rare species found on Earth. The Ganges river and the Gangotri Glacier are all situated inside this national park. This national park serves a million living forms to support and sustain their life by providing them complete nourishment.   

This year in 2024, Akshya Tritiya fell on May 10, marking the opening of Char Dham Yatra. Hence, the Gangotri temple doors were also opened on May 10. The doors will be closed a day after Diwali on 02 Nov this year.