Char Dham Yatra

Adi Badri – Sapta Badri

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With: Sapta Badri, Vishnu Temples

Adi Badri is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is located on the confluence of the Pindar river and Alaknanda river in Chamoli district, 17 kilometers beyond the Karnprayag. It is the second temple complex among the “Sapta Badri” temples. It’s part of the famous ‘Sapta Badri’ pilgrimage circuit. It is a part of the Char Dham Yatra Package within Uttarakhand.

This place is within the Badrikshetra, and Badrinath being the name for Vishnu, the temple is known as the Adi Badri. In ancient times, the path to the temple went through the Badri van (Forest of berries). Hence, the suffix ‘Badri‘ is added to the seven holy shrines of Lord Vishnu.

Adi Badri – Facts

Deity	Lord Vishnu
Location	Adi Badri Road, Karna Prayag, Uttarakhand
Best Time to Visit	May to June and September to October
Darshan Timings	5 AM to 12 PM 2 PM to 9 PM
Entry Fees	Free
Dress Code	Traditional Wear
Festivals	Krishna Janmashtmi, Makar Sankranti
Exploration Time	2 hr.

Adi Badri is a group of 16 temples. The main temple is dedicated to Narayan (Lord Vishnu). It’s part of the famous Sapta Badri pilgrimage circuit. It is also believed that the temple was built during the Gupta period (5th -8th century).

The temple is located 3 kilometers (1.9 min) from Chandpur fort or Garhi located on the hilltop. The fort was built by the Parmar kings of Garhwal. On shifting of Badrinath (also known as Raj Badri) to Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri will be called the Yog Badri.

The other name of this temple is Helisera according to revenue records.

What are the timings of Adi Badri?

The timings of the temple are:-

Timings	From	To
Morning	5 AM	12 PM
Evening	2 PM	9 PM

What is the significance of Adi Badri?

The significance of the temple is that whenever Badrinath temple remains closed due to extremities in weather, devotees worship Lord Vishnu in Adi Badri temple. Moreover, the sanctum of the temple has an image of Lord Vishnu which is 1 meter high and has been carved out of black stone.

Adi Badri Significance — The image of Lord Vishnu holding a mace, lotus as well as a chakra.

The chief temple priests are Brahmins from Southern India.

What is the history of Adi Badri?

According to history, Adi Shankaracharya built Sapta Badri temples, including Adi Badri during the Gupta period. As per beliefs, he did so to promote and spread Hinduism to all parts of the country, however remotely accessible. As per ancient texts, it is believed that Vishnu resided in Adi Badri during Satyug, Treta, and Dwapar. It is moved to Badrinath in Kalyug.

Adi Badri History 1 — Adi Shankaracharya built Sapta Badri temples to promote and spread Hinduism.

Another historical significance of the temple lies in the fact that Maharishi Ved Vyas divided the Vedas into Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda in this temple.

Adi Badri History 2 — Maharishi Ved Vyas wrote the holy text of Bhagwat Gita in this temple.

People beleive that pandavas came here after giving up their kingdom Hastinapur to King Parikshit.

According to prophecy, it is believed that the Lord Vishnu will shift to Bhavishya Badri with the end of Kalyug and Satyug begins thereafter. After the lord Vishnu shall shift to Bhavisya Badri, Adi Badri shall be known as Yog Badri as per the religious texts.

The architecture of Adi Badri Temple

The complex of the temple consists of the area of 14-meter x 30 meters.
The height of the temples varies from 2 meters. to 6 meters.
The main temple is of Lord Vishnu, which is raised on a platform. The Vishnu idol is 1 m, tall black stone, which depicts Lord Vishnu holding a mace, lotus, and chakra.
The other temples are dedicated to Shiva, Mantra Devi and a Kund (pond) which are also located within the premises; the Kund is believed to be the original source of the Saraswati river.

Festivals celebrated at Adi Badri

Some of the festivals celebrated at Adi Badri are:

Krishna Janmashtmi: It is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It occurs according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar and is a very important festival for the followers of Lord Vishnu.
Makar Sankranti: The festival is celebrated in January. It is to appease the Sun God. It is the first day when Sun enters Capricorn and marks the lengthening of daytime in the forthcoming days. This day includes colorful decorations, preparation of sweets with sesame seeds and children asking for treats and pocket money.

Adi Badri Festivals — Makar Sankranti and Krishna Janmashtmi are celebrated at the temple.

How to reach Adi Badri?

Here’s how to reach Adi Badri:

Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (206.7 km away from Adi Badri)
Train: Rishikesh(189.3 km) and Haridwar(212.8 km) are the nearest railway stations.
Road: Buses are available to Rishikesh from ISBT Kashmere Gate. One can avail taxis or state transport buses for Chamoli district.

Where to stay near Adi Badri?

Some of the places where one can stay near Adi Badri while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

Hotel Sudarshan Palace: Hotel Sudarshan Palace has facilities such as 24-hour front desk, garden area and parking facility within its premises. Amenities such as bed, bottled drinking water, access to the common balcony and attached bathroom with hot/cold running water facility and toiletries are available at the Hotel.
Hotel Kuber Annex: The facilities offered here are front desk, room service, power backup, STD PCO facility, doctor on call. Massage service is also available here so that guests can relax after trekking. A helicopter booking facility is also available at the hotel.
Hotel Heaven: The hotel offers facilities suchlike parking and telephone. With a team of skilled professionals, the property ensures the fulfillment of all needs of the guest. Moreover, in case of medical emergencies, one can avail the doctor on call facility at the hotel.

Please carry valid ID proof such as Aadhar Card. It is needed at the time of booking of the hotel rooms.

What are the other SaptaBadri destinations?

The other Sapta Badri destinations are:

Vriddha Badri: It is the third among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. Devotees also believed that Adi Shankaracharya worshipped Badrinath here before enshrining Him in the main Badrinath temple. Vriddha Badri is temple is open for devotees and pilgrims throughout the year.
Bhavishya Badri: It is the fourth among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. According to beliefs, Lord Badri will take abode in Bhavishya Badri at the end of Kaliyuga. Even the name of the place literally translates to ‘Future Badri’, implying that it will be the future residence of Lord Badri.
Yogadhyan Badri: It is the fifth among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. As per mythology, the Pandavas were born here, and Pandu attained salvation and died here. Yogadhyan Badri has a bronze image of Lord Vishnu. Devotees believe that Pandu installed this meditating (Dhyan) image. Hence, the name of the shrine comes from the posture of the image, and it is popular as yoga-Dhyan’ Badri.
Dhyan Badri: It is the sixth among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. The image of Lord Vishnu which was established by Urvarishi. The image of Vishnu is four-armed, made of black stone and in a meditative posture.
Ardha Badri: It is the seventh among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. In comparison to other temples, the idol of Lord Vishnu here is smaller. Hence, the name of the temple roughly means Tthe little Badri‘.

These temples are also a part of the Char Dham Yatra within Uttarakhand.

Panch Prayag – Five Sacred Confluences in Uttarakhand

June 28, 2022, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With: Panch Prayag

Panch Prayag is a manifestation in the spirit of the Hindu religion. The expression is used to signify the five holy river confluences in the Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

The word ‘Prayag’ breaks down to the confluence of two or more rivers. Moreover, Panch Prayag goes by the name ‘Panch Pentad’ in Sanskrit. Nevertheless, five confluences in the descending order of their existence are Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag.

Holy Pathways of Panch Prayag

Alaknanda originates from the triangular lake called Satopanth. It is present 4402 metres above sea level. Moreover, Satopanth gets its name from Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Bhagirath Kharak Glaciers lying near Nanda Devi peak in Uttarakhand.

Holy trail of Panch Prayag — Satopanth is the origin of the Holy Alaknanda river.

In the course of 229 km from its origin Alaknanda crosses all the five Prayags. Moreover, it finally unifies with Bhagirathi and gives rise to the Holy Ganges or Ganga. Nevertheless, it continues to flow down further to Rishikesh and Haridwar that share the banks of Ganges in Uttarakhand.

Each Sangam or confluence has developed religious towns near them due to the inflow of pilgrims visiting Panch Kedar and Sapta Badri temples. Also, devotees take bath at these holy Sangam while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

The town names inspired by these confluences are titled as Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. However, Vishnuprayag does not have a town at its bank yet it is 12 km from Joshimath.

The Essence of the Five Prayags

According to Hindus, Prayag is the sacred Sangam of rivers where devotees take a dip before worship. Also, people arrive at these sacred sangams to perform the last rites for the dead. Moreover, the devotees worship holy confluences as God’s manifestation on Earth.

Essence of Panch Prayag — Dip in the holy waters of Prayag is believed to wash away ones sins.

However, the Prayag at Allahabad is considered to be the holiest. Nevertheless, the Panch Prayag of Uttarakhand is just next to them. Apart from numerous tales from the Puranas, these Prayags are home to the amazing scenic beauty.

Moreover, the religious texts state that Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand is the Svargarohana route that the Pandavas took to reach heaven.

How to get to these confluences?

Rishikesh is the point of start for your Panch Prayag journey. It is near to Haridwar that has train connectivity to all the major cities of India. Moreover, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is at a distance of 18 km from Rishikesh.

Besides these, one can take a road trip to Rishikesh from different parts of the country. However, one can hire private taxis to Rishikesh as per their convenience.

From Rishikesh, the distance of the five Prayags are –

Name of the Prayag	Distance from Rishikesh
Vishnuprayag	263 km
Nandaprayag	193 km
Karnyaprayag	173 km
Rudraprayag	141 km
Devprayag	74 km

Portrayal of Panch Prayag

Vishnuprayag– After Alaknanda descends from Satopanth, Dhauliganga merges into it at this Sangam. Moreover, Ahlayabai, the queen of Indore constructed a Vishnu temple at this Prayag.
Nandaprayag– Here, Alaknanda meets Nandakini river and the two rivers unify. However, this confluence gets its name from King Nanda who performed yagna at this place in pursuit of a son.
Karnaprayag– This is the confluence of river Alaknanda and Pindar. Beliefs say that Krishna cremated Karna at this place only. Hence, there is a Karna temple by the banks of the confluence.
Rudraprayag– At this place, Mandakini river joins Alaknanda in its flow. Moreover, traditional tales suggest that Shiva appeared in its Rudra avatar at this place in front of Sage Narada. Hence, the place has Shiva temples in abundance.
Devprayag– This confluence gives birth to the mainstream Ganges as Alaknanda and Bhagirathi unify. Devprayag means ‘Godly confluence‘. Moreover, the inspiration of the confluence’s name is taken from sage Dev Sharma from Satyug, who got blessings from Lord Vishnu. Lord Ram also meditated here so it has many Ram temples too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Panch Prayag

Where is the Panch Prayag located?

Panch Prayag is present in the ‘God’s Land’ i.e. Uttarakhand.

Which river meets Alaknanda at Karna Prayag?

Pindar meets Alaknanda at Karna Prayag.

How many Prayags are there in Uttarakhand?

As the name, Panch Prayag suggests there are five Prayag in Uttarakhand.

When should one visit these Prayags?

The best time to visit these Prayags is from March to October.

Narsingh Temple Joshimath

September 25, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Narsingh Temple Joshimath is a dedication to Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Moreover, the temple sits in Joshimath, which is in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Nevertheless, this shrine is also one of the 108 ‘Divya Deshams‘ of Vishnu. Since the temple is a part of ‘Sapt Badri’, it is also popular as Narsingh or Narsimha Badri among its devotees. Moreover, Adi Shankaracharya set up this temple as a dedication to Lord Vishnu’s Narsimha avatar.

Introduction of Narsingh temple — Adi Shankracharya established the Shaligram idol of Vishnu’s Narsimha avatar here.

Reportedly, devotees observe shrinking in the right wrist of Narsingh idol which continues to occur. Moreover, an existing prophecy hints towards the occurrence of a destructive landslide after the wrist of the idol falls off.

Hereafter, the route to Badrinath will close forever. Nevertheless, this temple makes its place in the Char Dham Yatra packages within Uttarakhand.

According to the prophecy, after route for Badrinath temple is closed, Bhavishya Badri will be the place of worship for the devotees of Lord Badrinath.

Narsingh or Narsimha Temple – Facts

Diety	Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha or Narsingh Avatar
Temple timings	6 am – 7:30 pm
Time required for Darshan	30 minutes
Best time to visit the temple	March – June
Entry fee	No fee
Nearest Airport	Jolly Grant Airport
Location	Joshimath, Uttarakhand

What are the timings of Narsimha Badri, Joshimath?

Devotees can visit the temple during the following timings:

Timings	From
Open	6 am
Close	7:30 pm

What is the significance of Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Narsingh Temple Joshimath holds major significance as the fourth incarnation of Vishnu that depicts him being half-human and half-lion. Diety’s idol in the temple is 25 cm high and sits on a lotus. On the left-hand side of Lord Narsingh, there is an idol of Goddess Chandika.

While, on Lord Narsingh’s right-hand side are Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and Garuda. However, the temple has also installed idols of Badrinath, Kuber and Uddhav. Devotees believe that Badrivishal rests in the temple during winters. Hence, the priests move the idol of Badrinath temple to Narsingh Temple during winters and place it alongside the Narsingh idol.

The idol of Lord Vishnu in Narsingh Avatar located inside the temple is made of Shaligram.

What is the history of the Temple?

Narsingh Temple Joshimath has a history of around 1200 years and was home to a sage called Badri Nath. Also, the idol that sits inside was constructed during the reign of Lalitaditya Yukka in the 8th century.

History of Narsingh temple — Lord Vishnu appeared in Narsimha avatar to kill the arrogant demon Hiranyakashyap.

An ages-old tale states that Lord Narsingh saved his devotee Prahlad from the tyranny of his father. Eventually, Lord Narsingh took the life of the demon Hiranyakashyap.

What are the festivals celebrated at Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Narsimha Badri in Joshimath are:

Holi: It is a Hindu festival which relates with the story of Lord Narsingh saving his devotee Prahlad from his aunt Holika. Hence, when Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad on his father’s order, she was burnt off while Prahlad came out alive. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and is played with colours.
Narsingh Jayanti: It calls for a celebration on the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in his half-human and half-lion form, popular as ‘Lord Narsingh’. This festival falls on the Shukla Chaturdashi in the month of Vaisakh.

Festivals celebrated at Narsingh Temple — This festival of colours called Holi is celebrated to signify Lord Vishnu’s win over Hiranyakashyap.

How to reach Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Here’s how to reach Narsingh Temple Joshimath:

Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport available to reach Joshimath. It is at a distance of 268.4 km from Joshimath.
Train: There are two railway stations near to the temple namely, Dehradun ( 294Km) and Rishikesh ( 256Km).
Road: There are buses available for Rishikesh/Badrinath from ISBT Kashmere Gate. The temple is at walking distance from the Joshimath bus stop.

Where to stay near Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the places where one can stay near Narsingh Temple Joshimath while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

Super 8 Temple: This hotel offers a comfortable and hygienic stay. Both exteriors and interiors are a sight to watch and enjoy. Moreover, everything is available in a budget.
Country Inn & Suits: This place is an amazing blend of scenic beauty and high-tech luxuries. Moreover, everything can be availed in a budget. Also, the place is a divinity for travellers.
Temple Travelodge: This hotel offers an entire bunch of modern amenities. Moreover, it slips easily into one’s budget. Also, it is located quite close to the temple.

What are some places to visit near Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the places to visit near Narsingh Temple Joshimath are:

Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini in Uttarakhand. Moreover, it is fourth in the Panch Prayag. It’s home to numerous Shiva temples. Also, It is a part of part of the holy Dham Yatra within Uttarakhand. This confluence is 115 km away from Narsimha Badri.
Vasudeva Temple: It holds its place in the list of famous Vishnu temples in India. Nonetheless, the temple resides 30 yards away from the Narsimha Badri. The main deity of the temple is Vasudeva whose idol is carved out of black stone and is 6 feet high.

Gangotri Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2019, Darshan Timings, Travel Guide

August 2, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 2 Comments Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples

Gangotri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The temple is situated in the Uttarkashi district of the state of Uttarakhand. It is located at an altitude of 3,100 meters in the Greater Himalayan Range on the banks of Bhagirathi river. Gangotri is the source of the Ganga river. It is the second stop of the Char Dham Yatra.

Here are the opening and closing dates of Gangotri Temple for 2019:

Gangotri Temple Opening Date in 2019: 07 May, 2019

Gangotri Temple Closing Date in 2019: 27 October, 2019 (Tentative)

Gangotri Temple
Temple Timings	6:15 am to 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Aarti Timings	6:00 am and 7:45 pm
Opening Date	7-May-2019 (Akshaya Tritiya)
Closing Date	27-October-2019 (Diwali)
Time Taken for Darshan	May and June: 4 hours. July-October: 1 hour
Entry Fee	Free
Best Time to Visit	May to October
Registration	Bio-metric registration in Rishikesh
Nearest Airport	Dehradun

The temple opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya which usually occurs in May. It closes after the celebration of Diwali. After that, the temple staff return to their villages. A white sheet of snow covers the valley for the next 6 months. During this time, the idol of the goddess is kept at Mukhba village.

Gangotri glacier also called Gaumukh is the actual source of the Ganga river. It is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. The road to the glacier is extremely difficult for people to reach. Hence the shrine has been located at the foot of the hill.

Gaumukh is the Actual Source of Ganga River

Frequently Asked Questions about Gangotri Temple

What is the best time to visit Gangotri?

It is best to go in the opening months of May to June and in the closing months of September to November. Avoid going during the monsoon months of July to September. There are chances of landslides and floods in monsoon.

Is Gangotri open now?

The kapat of Gangotri temple opens on 7th May for the year 2019. One can visit after that any time.

Can I visit Gangotri in December?

At Gangotri, winter starts from October and lasts till April. The average temperature falls down to 5°C during day time. In December, Gangotri experiences heavy snowfall. It is advisable not to go during December.

How can I go to Gangotri Temple?

If you are coming from abroad, Delhi is most connected. By rail, Haridwar is best. From there you have to travel by Road to reach Uttarkashi and then Gangotri.

Can I go to Gangotri by car?

You can hire a taxi from the railway station to reach Gangotri. There are buses available too from nearest bus stations. However, it is not recommended to go by car. Find out why?

How far is Gangotri from Rishikesh and Haridwar?

The distance between Gangotri and Rishikesh is 270 km. The distance between Gangotri and Haridwar is 293 km.

Does Gangotri have snow?

From November to April, it is winter in Gangotri. Snowfall happens very often during winters. The average temperature is 5°C.

How old is Gangotri?

Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa originally built the temple in the 18th century. Also, Bhagiratha meditated for years. He called Ganga to clean the sins of his ancestors.

Which God is in Gangotri?

Gangotri temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. As per Hindu mythology, Ganga is the daughter of Lord Brahma.

Is registration compulsory for going to Gangotri?

Yes, the Uttarakhand government have made the registration compulsory after the 2013 floods. One cannot skip the registration. Steps for online registration

Gangotri Temple Decorated At The Opening Ceremony

What are the timings of Gangotri Temple?

Here are the timings of Gangotri Temple:

Gangotri Temple Timings
Timings	6:15 am to 2:00 pm (Morning) 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm (Evening)
Opening Date	7-May-2019 (Akshaya Tritiya)
Closing Date	27-October-2019 (Diwali)
Time Taken for Darshan	3-4 hours in May-June, 1 hour in July-October
Aartis	6:00 am (Morning Aarti) 7:45 pm (Evening Aarti)

What are the pooja and aarti at Gangotri Temple?

Various pujas are performed in Gangotri temple for goddess Ganga. Mangala Aarti is performed in the morning while Shayana Aarti is performed in the evening daily. Pujas are performed by Semwal family of pujaris who are the administrator of the place. These pujaris come from Mukhba village.

Mangala Aarti & Sandhya Aarti at Gangotri

The poojas and aartis of Gangotri temple are:

Gangotri Mangala Aarti – The morning Mangala Aarti takes place at 6 AM behind closed doors. The temple does not allow public viewing of this aarti.
Sandhya Aarti – The evening Aarti takes place at 7:45 PM in summers and at 7 PM in winters.
Ganga Devi Pooja – This pooja takes place at both the Ghat of Ganga as well as main shrine together. The Pooja has a special significance if it takes place on Ganga Saptami. The priests performing the pooja chant several Ganga Mantras and Stotrams.

What is the history of Gangotri Temple?

Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa originally built the temple in the 18th century. As per Hindu mythology, Ganga is the daughter of Lord Brahma. One day, Brahma was washing the feet of Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu). At that time, she was born from Vishnu’s kamandala (a spout shaped vessel).

According to a legend, King Sagara killed so many demons on the earth. To show his victory, he performed an Ashwamegh Yagya. A lot of horses hence taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth. They were accompanied by the king’s 60,000 sons. However, Lord Indra got the fear of losing his throne.

Indra then took away the horses to fail the Yagya. He tied them in the ashram of Sage Kapila who was in deep meditation. King Sagara’s sons searched and found the horses near the meditating sage. 60,000 angry sons of King Sagara disturbed sage Kapila during his meditation. As a result, sage Kapila cursed them and they all perished.

Later, the king sent his grandson Anshuman to sage Kapila for forgiveness. Kapila said that only the water of heavenly Ganga can wash away their sins. Anshuman and his son Dileep tried but could not please Brahma.

Later, Bhagiratha, the grandson of King Sagara, meditated for years. He called Ganga to clean the sins of his ancestors and to liberate their souls. Hence, Goddess Ganga took the form of a river.

Ganga Arriving on Earth after Bhagiratha's Meditation — Ganga Arriving on Earth after Bhagiratha’s Meditation

What is the significance of Gangotri Temple?

A rock shaped Shiva-Linga form naturally in Gangotri every year with the beginning of the winters. At this place, Shiva allowed Ganga to flow through his locks. At the time of Ganga’s arrival onto Earth, Lord Shiva agreed to bear its force. He absorbed it into the locks of his hair which slowed the flow.

The locks of the hair also split it into seven streams. These are Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Janhvi, Saraswati, Bhilangana, Rishiganga, and Mandakini. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source. After reaching Devprayag, it acquires the name Ganga. Later, it meets with Alaknanda river.

The water of river Ganga collected at Gangotri is believed to be an Amrit (nectar). It is considered as a holy drink. People carry this water to their home. They use this holy water in several poojas at home.

On the day of Ganga Dussehra, one should take a holy dip in the Ganga river. It cleanses the human soul of all the sins. People also dip the ashes of a dead person in Ganga river. It releases the soul from the cycles of death and rebirth.

What is inside the temple?

In architectural terms, Gangotri temple is very simple and naturally plain. It does not have any detailed carvings. Sculptures are also not present anywhere. The temple is constructed with white marble stones symbolizing peace. The steps leading to Sabha Mandap meets the main sanctum. A small Shiva temple is also present inside the main temple.

What to wear while going Gangotri?

Gangotri temple is situated in the cold valleys. The weather is cold throughout the year. Rainfalls and snowfalls often occur there. Hence, one should wear proper winter clothes with mufflers and gloves. An umbrella is also must to carry.

What are the festivals celebrated at Gangotri Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Gangotri temple are:

Ganga Dussehra – This festival signifies the day when Goddess Ganga descended on Earth. Thousands of pilgrims across the country take a holy dip in the Ganga river. A beautiful Ganga Aarti also takes place in the evening. Devotees offer various flowers and sweets to Ganga river. The offering is made in leafy boats which floats on the river.
Diwali – After the celebration of Diwali, the temple closes. Devotees take the idol of Ganga to the Mukhyamath Temple in a small village of Mukhwa. This temple is the winter home of Goddess Ganga. On this day, people of Mukhwa clean the whole village as preparation for Goddess’s arrival.
Akshaya Tritiya – On this day, devotees bring the idol of Ganga back from her winter home of Mukhwa. They clean and decorate the whole temple with flowers. The idol of Goddess Ganga is then placed in the main sanctum. The ceremony takes place along withsongs and dances performed by the devotees.

How to reach Gangotri Temple?

Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport.
Train: Nearest railway stations are Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Road: Gangotri is connected by road with major cities in Uttarakhand and Delhi NCR. Buses are also available from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Roorkee, Tehri and Hanuman Chatti. Pilgrims generally make Uttarkashi as their base camp. The time taken from Uttarkashi to Gangotri temple is about 4 hours by road.

Where to stay near Gangotri Temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near Gangotri temple are:

Bhagirathi Sadan: There are a total of 15 rooms in this hotel. Each room has bottled drinking water, a spacious bed, and basic furniture. The hotel offers facilities of front desk assistance as well as room service. Guests can also make use of luggage storage space.
Hotel Mandakini: It has 16 spacious rooms. The hotel has facilities like cable television and bottled drinking water. It also has attached bathroom with the facility of hot/cold running water. Other facilities include luggage storage space, 24-hour power back-up, and parking space.
Hotel Kalp Kedar: The hotel has an in-house restaurant where one can enjoy delicious meals. There are 10 rooms spread across 1 floor. The rooms are clean with 24 hour supply of hot and cold water. It has room service and front desk help. Parking area for cars is available within the premises.

What are some temples near Gangotri Temple?

Cheedvasa & Bhojvasa - Camping Sites Near Gangotri — Cheedvasa & Bhojvasa – Camping Sites Near Gangotri

Some of the temples near Gangotri temple are:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttarkashi: It is one of the most sacred temples in Uttarakhand. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is present on the banks of river Bhagirathi. It is also one of the Char Dham Yatra destinations. The Shiva lingam here is 56cm in height and tilted towards south.
Shakti Temple – It is present in Uttarkashi opposite to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. A massive Trishul is present in the center of the temple. The Trishul is 6 meters high and 90 cms wide. The lower half of Trishul is of copper and the upper half is of iron. According to legends, Goddess Durga aimed this Trishul to killed the devils.
Gaumukh – Gaumukh is the actual source of the Ganga river. It is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. The road to the glacier is extremely difficult for people to reach.
Pandava Gufa – It is a 1.5 km trek from Gangotri temple. It is the place where the Pandavas are believed to have meditated. They took rest here while going to Kailash.
Cheedvasa & Bhojvasa – These are ideal camping sites near Gangotri. Cheedvasa is at a distance of 28 km and Bhojvasa is at a distance of 22 km from Gangotri.
Nandanvan – Nandanvan is a 6 km trekking route along the glacier. It gives a spectacular glimpse of the Shivalinga.
Sylvan Tapovan – It is across the Gangotri glacier. It is known for its greenery encircling the base of the Shivalinga.