Gangotri Temple — the shrine of the goddess Ganga on the Bhagirathi
What it is
The Gangotri Temple stands on the bank of the Bhagirathi river at about 3,200 m in Gangotri, and is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. It is one of the four Chota Char Dham sites. Wikipedia says the Nepalese general Amar Singh Thapa raised the first temple, which was restored in the 19th century.
Photos: DipankarSen68 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The legend
Hindu tradition says Ganga came down to earth here when Shiva let the river fall from his hair. A stone near the water marks where King Bhagiratha is said to have done penance to bring her down, and another legend says the Pandavas performed a great sacrifice here. Hindus believe that ancestral rites on the banks of the Bhagirathi free the spirit of the departed.
The season
The temple closes from Diwali and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya. In the closed months the idol is kept at Mukhba village near Harsil, the home of the temple's priestly family. Check the exact dates each year.
Getting there
The temple is in the middle of the town, at the end of the road. Read how to reach Gangotri.
Combine it with
The one-day plan goes down the valley after the temple; see also Gomukh and when to visit Gangotri.
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Nearby places
All of Gangotri →
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Questions people ask
What is the Gangotri Temple?
The shrine of the goddess Ganga on the bank of the Bhagirathi at about 3,200 m, one of the four Chota Char Dham sites. Wikipedia says the Nepalese general Amar Singh Thapa raised the first temple, which was restored in the 19th century. The Bhagirathi, rising from the Gangotri Glacier, is the source stream of the Ganga.
When is it open?
From Akshaya Tritiya in spring until Diwali, by Wikipedia's account. After Diwali the temple closes and the goddess's idol is kept at Mukhba village near Harsil until it reopens. The opening date changes each year, so check the temple committee's announcement before you travel, and expect cold at that height even in summer.
What is the legend of Gangotri?
Hindu tradition says Ganga came down to earth here when Shiva let the river fall from his hair, and that King Bhagiratha did penance on a stone near the river to bring her down. Another legend says the Pandavas performed a great yajna here. Wikipedia retells these as beliefs, not as recorded history.