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The pale granite summits of the Bhagirathi peaks rising above a green valley with banks of white cloud below
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Photo: Sharada Prasad CS from Berkeley, India · CC BY 2.0
Day planpilgrimsTemples & heritagerelaxed

One day from Gangotri — the temple, Dharali and Harsil

A one-day plan from Gangotri: the temple of the goddess Ganga at the road's end, then down the Bhagirathi valley to Dharali and the apple village of Harsil.
Planning to go?Add your dates — we’ll count down, and tell you when stays or batches open for them.

A day that begins at the Gangotri Temple, the shrine of the goddess Ganga, and goes down the Bhagirathi valley to Dharali and Harsil. For the high trek to the glacier, read about Gomukh; it is not a day trip and we do not plan it.

Photos: Sharada Prasad CS from Berkeley, India (CC BY 2.0) · Atudu (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Harshit SR (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Pilgrims and visitors with a day, between the temple's reopening in spring and its closing at Diwali.

Day by day

Day 1

The source shrine, then down the valley

3 stops · 48 min on the road

The temple early, then the drive down the Bhagirathi to Dharali and Harsil.

  1. 07:30
    Gangotri Temple
    temple · 1 min from Gangotri · about 1 h there
    The shrine of the goddess Ganga on the Bhagirathi, at the end of the road; go early.
  2. ↓ 38 min by road · 21 km
    10:30
    Dharali
    town · 37 min from Gangotri · about 30 min there
    The village about 37 minutes down the valley.
  3. ↓ 10 min by road · 5 km
    12:30
    Harsil
    town · 47 min from Gangotri · about 1 h 30 min there
    The apple village and army area among deodars, about 47 minutes from Gangotri.

Getting there

Gangotri is about 248 km from Rishikesh. See how to reach Gangotri for the arrival table, when to visit for the season and things to do in Gangotri for more.

Where to stay

Stay in Gangotri, or lower down at Harsil. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.

Know before you go

  • The road and the temple are open only in season; check the temple committee's dates and the road each morning.
  • Harsil is an army area; carry an identity card and ask locally about restrictions.
  • We have no verified opening hours; ask locally.

Places on this route

Gangotri Temple — the shrine of the goddess Ganga on the Bhagirathi
Gangotri Temple — the shrine of the goddess Ganga on the Bhagirathi
temple · 1 min from Gangotri
Harsil — the apple village among deodars on the road to Gangotri
Harsil — the apple village among deodars on the road to Gangotri
town · 47 min from Gangotri

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

More places nearby

All of Gangotri →
Gomukh — the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, 18 km on foot from Gangotri
Gomukh — the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, 18 km on foot from Gangotri
glacier · 15 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The grey stone Kedarnath Temple with its tall tower and a yellow roof, below green slopes and snow-covered peaks
Kedarnath
39 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
The painted stone façade of the Badrinath Temple with its gilt cupola, under green slopes and a blue sky
Badrinath
60 km away · 4 itineraries · 4 places
A grassy mountain meadow among rocky outcrops and forest at Chopta, with snow peaks hazy in the distance
Chopta
61 km away · 3 itineraries · 4 places
Joshimath's houses spread down a steep mountain slope above a deep valley, with high ridges and blue sky beyond
Joshimath
77 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
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Questions people ask

What can you do around Gangotri in one day?

Visit the Gangotri Temple early, then drive down the Bhagirathi valley to Dharali, about 37 minutes away on our routing, and Harsil, about 47 minutes away. Harsil is known for its apples and its deodar forest. The drive is slow on a mountain road, so start early and keep time for the return.

Can you walk to Gomukh in a day?

No. Wikipedia puts Gomukh about 18 km from Gangotri on foot, inside the national park, at about 4,023 m. We have no timed trail or permit details, so we do not plan it; ask the forest authorities, go with an experienced guide and allow several days with spare time for weather.

Is the temple open all year?

No. By Wikipedia's account it closes from Diwali and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya, and the goddess's idol is kept at Mukhba near Harsil in between. The exact dates change each year; check the announcement and the state of the road before you plan a trip.