Gangotri is the highest and the most important temple of Goddess Ganga. Gangotri is a small town centered around the Gangotri Temple of Goddess Ganga. The present temple of Gangotri was built by Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkha General in the early 18th century. The origin of Bhagirathi River, Gaumukh glacier is 18kms from Gangotri and one must cover the distance on foot.

Gangotri offers scenic vistas of rugged terrains, gushing water of Bhagirathi River and snow clad peaks. The place holds great importance amongst Hindus. Gangotri remains opened from May and get closed on the day of Diwali festival. Gangotri temple remains closed during winters as the region is prone to heavy snowfall.Gangotri is situated at an altitude of 3,048mts above sea level in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state.

Located on the banks of the holy Bhagirathi River, Gangotri is one of the Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Submerged Shivling.There is a natural rock Shivling in Gangotri submerged under water which can be easily seen when 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 sitting when he received Ganga in his matted locks.

The revered shrine of Gangotri, situated at an altitude of 3,200 mts. about sea-level amidst sylvan surroundings, constitutes one of the most important pilgrimages for the devout Hindu.Take bus from Rishikesh to Gangotri in early morning, so that you can reach Gangotri by evening. There are lot of roadways and deluxe buses running to Uttarkashi and Gangotri.

The Shrine of Gangotri opens during the last week of April or the first week of May, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The temple opening is preceded by a special Puja of Ganga both inside the temple as well as on the river bank. The temple closes on the day of Diwali followed by a formal closing ceremony amidst a row of oil lamps. It is believed that the Goddess retreats to Mukhwa, her winter abode (12 km downstream).

The best time to visit Gangotri is between May-June and September-November. Due to heavy rainfall in the area, visitors may face difficulty reaching the temple during monsoon season (late June to Aug). The temple usually remains open from last week of April to 2nd week of November.The weather in Gangotri during summer is cool during the day and cold at night. And in winters it is Snow-bound with temperature touching to sub-zero.

The 18th century's temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga is located near a sacred stone where Kind Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva. Ganga is believed to have touched earth at this spot. According to another legend, Pandavas performed the great ‘Deva Yagna' here to atone the deaths of their kinsmen in the epic battle of Mahabharata. The temple is an exquisite 20 ft. high structure made of white granite.

Take bus from Rishikesh to Gangotri in early morning, so that you can reach Gangotri by evening. There are lot of roadways and deluxe buses running to Uttarkashi and Gangotri.