Best 8 Places To Visit Around Gangotri
Best 8 Tourist Places To Visit Around Gangotri
Gangotri town is blessed with some of the rare and marvelous wonders of Mother Nature. It is located around 286 kms from Haridwar & 105 kms from Uttarkashi. One of the prominent Dham among Char Dham Yatra Gangotri is associated with the most pious river of India The Ganga. Gangotri houses a beautiful temple made up of white marble dedicated to Ma Ganga. It holds a great significance among the pilgrims of Chota Chardham Yatra. It is the place where King Bhagirath meditated for centuries to seek penance for his ancestors who were cursed by Kapil Muni.
Along with the religious importance, Gangotri is the doorstep for trekkers and adventure lovers. Gangotri has some beautiful destinations around, which gives tourists and pilgrims scope to spend some leisure time and enhancing the graceful memories of wonderful nature in their travel. Let’s have a look at the places which one can plan during their Ek Dham, Do Dham OR Char Dham Yatra:-
1. Gangotri Temple
Shri Gangotri Temple is located on the bank of Bhagirathi river and is the main Shrine dedicated to Ma Ganga in Gangotridham. The temple was built by Nepalese Genral Amar Singh Thapa. The Priest of the Temple are from the Mukhawa village which is winter seat of Ma Ganga. Water of Ma Ganga is considered as the purest and believed to be nectar. Pilgrims took the holy water of river Bhagirathi with them and offer it Shivlinga. The water is then used at several different auspicious events and religious ceremonies like marriage, Navgraha Pooja, Yagya etc. The water holds a great significance and is also used for Achman during the Pooja.
Opening and closing of Shri Gangotri Ji Temple
In Indian religion for opening and closing of temple doors time is set. The time differs from Temple to Temple, Muhurat and sometime other religious aspects. Likewise there is also timing for Opening and Mangal (closing) of Gangotri dham Temple which is as follows:
Morning: 06:15 AM to 02:00 PM
Evening: 03:00 PM to 09:30 PM
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2. Gaumukh
Gaumukh is the place from where the Bhagirathi one of the main streams of Ganges originates from Gangotri Glacier. Gaumukh is a popular pilgrim site and a tourist trekking destination too. Gaumukh means ‘Mouth of Cow”. It is that the place was recognized by a shepherd who discovered this place during the search of his lost ship. The place exactly looked like the mouth of a cow and thus the site got its name as Gaumukh.
Gaumukh can be reached by 18 kms trek that starts from Gangotri. Chirbasa is the first point that comes 9 kms after the trek starts. After 3 kms trek toward Gaumukh comes Geela Pahar, as it clear from the name Geela is wet and Pahar is the mountain. Trekkers are required to pay extra attention during the pass-through this area. 4 kms from Geela Pahar comes Bhojwasa, the only night halt and resting place during the Gaumukh trek. Here one can make their night stay at GMVN Tourist Rest House or a few Ashrams. They provide night stay and meals at very nominal price. From Bhojwasa to Gaumukh trek is around 4 & half kilometers. Further, if someone would like to increase the thrill can do the tapovan trek which is further around 5 kilometers passing Gaumukh. The trek is a steep and challenging and required guide for the first time and unexperienced trekkers. The campsite of Tapovan is situated at the foot of Mt. Shivling.
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3. Harsil
Harsil is a quite peaceful and wonderful gift of nature that has given to Dev Bhumi Uttarakhand. It is the perfect place for those who are in search of solitude and calmness. Filled with extravagant natural beauty Harsil is ornated with lush green Devdar and Pine trees. When the Cool breeze filtered from the divine water of Bhagirathi touches the face takes the person to some other world. Around 72 kms from Uttarkashi and 26 Kilometers before Gangotri Harsil town and its beauty can only be experienced and felt couldn’t be explained in words.
4. Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi is a very important point and town during Shri Gangotri Dham Yatra. Uttarkashi as described from the name Kashi of North, religiously holds great importance. Here Baba Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the prime place of Darshan. Along with Ma Kuteti Devi Temple & Nehru Institute of Mountaineering are some other must visit spots.
Uttarkashi is the place from where the route passes to third Dham Shri Kedarnath Ji. One has to drive back to Uttarkashi after darshan of Gangotri Dham to head toward to Shri Kedarnath Dham. Uttarkashi is also a stopover point for the Travelers coming from Yamnotri, Barkot, Haridwar, Rishikesh, & Dehradun. Most of the pilgrims do the same day Gangotri Dham Darshan from Uttarkashi. Haridwar to Uttarkashi has a distance of around 187 kms and from Uttarkashi to Gangotri Ji is 105 Kms one way and takes around 3 & a half hour drive.
5. Dharali
Just 3 kms from Harsil beautiful and another Gem of nature welcomes the tourist and pilgrims. It is famous for Apple Orchards and red bean. While visiting Dharali one must visit village Mukhwas which is the winter home of Ma Gangotri. After the Doors of Gangotri Shrine closes the Image of Ma Gangotri is Kept and revered at this village till up to the doors of main Gangotri shrine open again.
6. Sattal
An easy trek of around 3 kms from Dharali takes you to the majestic site of Sattal means Seven Lakes. The place is a group of seven natural fresh water lakes namely Panna Tal, Ram Tal, Sita Tal, Laksham Tal, Bharat Tal, Naldyamanti Tal and Sukha Tal. The place is a paradise for bird watchers and photographers.
7. Gangnani
Gangnani is a small town situated 46 kms from Uttarkashi towards Gangotri. The place is famous for its thermal water springs and is a perfect delight to rejuvenate the body. The spring is known as Rishi Kund and is equally religiously important as the pilgrims take a holy dip in the water before darshan of Ma Gangotri Ji Temple.
8. Dayara Bugyal
Lush green meadows all around, a cool breeze carrying the aroma of flowers, herbs and plants when enters inside with our breath rejuvenates the body, mind, soul, wonderful mountain views, cattle grazing around is a fascinating reality of Dayara Bugyal. A beautiful trek passing through Uttrakhand Villages, oak and pine forests, mesmerizing views takes you to Dayara bugyal. The trek starts from Raithal which is around 38 kms from Uttarkashi and village Barsu as well. From Barsu trek of Dayara Bugyal is of 10 kms and of 11 kms from Raithal. During winter the green meadows got covered with a white blanket of snow. The beauty of Dayara can only be experienced and felt not described in words.
Chardham Yatra is a journey of lifetime, making a visit to one or more marvel of nature scattered around Gangotri will convert it into lifetime soothing memory.
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Author Bio
Mr. Vikas Sharma holds (Masters in Tourism Management from BHU, Diploma International Tourism from KUK & Yogacharya from Uttarakhand ). He has more than a decade of work and writing experience in the field of Travel & Tourism in Top shot company of India. He developed his hobby of writing and is been engaged in writing fruitful content on travel, education, spirituality and yoga.
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