Dedicated to Goddess Ganga, Gangotri is one of the important Hindu shrines in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Located at a height up to 3048 m, the temple was built by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in early 18th century. Gangotri is counted among one of the destinations of Char Dham Yatra and is visited by devotees in great numbers.
However, due to heavy snowfall during winter months (from November to March) the shrine remains closed. But for the convenience of the visitors and to continue the Char Dham Yatra, the idols of the temple are shifted to Mukhba and Kharsail in Uttarkashi district. But from April again, for the rest of the year they are transferred back to their original position. The initiative is taken by Uttakarkhand Government, so that you can worship the deities all the year long. Through our Gangotri tour packages you can also go for excursions to nearby places such as Tapovan, Uttarkashi, Kedar tal, Gomukh and Dayara.
Here are the latest SOPs for Gangotri Dham, which people are required to follow.
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Only fully vaccinated people with a mandatory COVID-19 negative report are allowed to embark on the holy yatra.
- It is mandatory to show the vaccination certificate along with the negative report issued by the ICMR authorized laboratory.
- Devotees are required to follow the strict COVID-19 protocols like social distancing and wearing masks.
- A limited number of pilgrims are allowed with the capping of 600 devotees at Gangotri Dham in a day.
- Pilgrims are not permitted to take a holy bath in any of the springs around the Gangotri temple.
Best Tourist Places to Visit during your Gangotri Dham
If you are planning to visit Gangotri yatra, then here are some of the best places to visit near nearby:
Dehradun: A beautiful city with lots of natural sceneries, markets, and renowned for its best school education at Doon School. Gangotri to Dehradun is about 240 km with a drive time of 9 hours.
Haridwar: Haridwar is located on the bank of River Ganges which is the famous holy land for Hindus. You can visit famous temples such as Har ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple or you can enjoy the charming Ganga Aarti in the morning or evening.
Uttarkashi: Uttarkashi is the land devoted to Lord Shiva and aptly called the "Kashi of North". Just like Varanasi, this town is also situated along River Ganges and has a ghat named Manikarnika. Gangotri is about 100 km away from Uttarkashi and takes approx. 3.5 hours drive to reach. On hilly terrain, you can enjoy sports like rock climbing and trekking.
Best Places to Stay during you Gangotri Yatra
Due to the lack of good options for guests in Gangotri, IHPL recommends that one’s stay should be booked in Harsil. Recommended hotels in Harsil are as follows
- Hotel Harsil Cottage
- Prakriti The Retreat
- Bhagirathi Sadan
- Himalaya Sadan
- The Chardham Camp
