Gangotri Dham is a highly revered Dham located amid the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. This dham consists of a shrine belonging to Goddess Ganga, the holy river and also denotes the origin of Ganges, one of the holiest rivers according to Hindu mythology. Gangotri dham yatra is a part of the Chota Chardham Yatra of Uttarakhand as Gangotri comes second in the order of Dham in the Chota Chardham yatra. But one can also travel to Gangotri alone in the form of 'Ek Dham Yatra'. To have a fulfilling experience during your Gangotri temple travel, you need to go through the following travel guide.
Temple Location
The temple is located in Uttarakhand Uttarkashi district at an elevation of 3048 meters above the sea level. The temple lies in vicinity to the country's Indo-Tibetan border. The distance between Gangotri and Rishikesh is 250 kms between Gangotri and Dehradun is 300 kms and between Gangotri and Uttarkashi is 105 kms.
Temple Timings and Puja
The temple doors are thrown open at 6.15am and closed for the day at around 9.30pm. The pujas offered in the temple are Mangal Marti, Sandhya Aarti and Ganga Devi Puja.
How to Reach
If you wish to travel to this destinations by rail, you have to take a train to Rishikesh; the nearest rail station to Dham. From Rishikesh station you can hire a cab or take a bus to reach Gangotri. Frequent and regular trains connect Rishikesh with all other major parts of Uttarakhand and the country. If you wish to travel by air you must take a flight to Dehradun Jolly grant airport; the airport lying nearest to Gangotri. From Jolly grant airport, you can take a cab or bus to reach Gangotri. If you wish to travel by road you must know that Gangotri has well developed motorable road connections to the rest of Uttarakhand and also to some of the major cities of the neighboring states. Public and private buses plus taxis ply on these roads regularly.
When to Travel
The best time to travel is between months April and June and again between September and November. The temperature during that time hovers around 12 degree-15 degree centigrade and thus is ideal for travel. The months of July and August witness the arrival of monsoons in the Himalayas and the region becomes too slippery and landslides prone. It is risky to travel during that time as fatal accidents and road blockades are very much a possibility. The winter season; i.e. between months November and March, is totally unfit for travel as temperatures drop below the zero degree mark and heavy snowfall covers the region with thick layers of snow.
Accommodations
If you expect very high-range or luxury hotels in Gangotri, your expectations might not be met. But Gangotri does have medium range and budget hotels for a decent stay. Furthermore there are several government run guest houses and Dharamshala to accommodate tourists and pilgrims for an affordable price.
Food Available at Gangotri
There are several road side Dhabas in the region where you can get purely vegetarian food. Alcohol and non-veg food items are strictly banned in the region. So, never dare to break the rules.
How to Book Travel
There are many tour operators offering customized packages for Chardham Yatra and for Uttarakhand travel as a whole. You can contact any of these operators and book your Gangotri tour package well in advance. These days you could book your travel online too through the official websites of these travel companies. However, make sure to do adequate research before choosing any one.
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