Gangotri is a tiny pilgrimage town located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The holy Gangotri
temple is located in this sacred town. It is believed that at this place River Ganges descended on the
earth after severe penance of King Bhagirathi. The Gangotri Temple was built by the Gurkha general Amar
Singh Thapa in the early 18th century. The Ganges originates from Gaumakh which is accessible after 19
Kms trek from Gangotri.
During winters temple remain inaccessible due to heavy snowfall so the statue of Goddess Ganges is
brought down to Mukhba, a small village in Harsil which lies on the way to the Gangotri Shrine. During
winters, all religious ceremonies are performed at this place only. The Gangotri temple opens every year
on the auspicious day of the Akshaya Tritiya, which generally happens during the last week of April, or
the first week of April.
Darshan Timing: 6:15 am to 2:00 pm & 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Gangotri has pleasant weather during the summer. Heavy rainfall during monsoons with the problem of
frequent landslides & road blockages hence not recommended to travel from Jun – Aug. September & October
months is also good to travel.
Places to See in Gangotri
Bhagirath Shila: As per Mythology, it is believed at
this sacred rock King Bhagirathi prayed to Goddess Ganga to abandon the sins of his ancestors.
Pandava Gufa: It is the place where the Pandavas did
the meditation. Pandava Gufa has located 1.5 km from Gangotri. The place can be reached through
trekking.
Gangotri Dham is located on the banks of Bhagirathi river, in the Uttarkashi district of
state Uttarakhand.
2. How can I reach Gangotri?
By Air - To reach Gangotri, the nearby airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun
which is well connected with regular flights from Delhi. From Dehradun, you can hire any
direct taxi to Gangotri or you can take any public vehicle to reach Gangotri.
By Train - Rishikesh Railway station is in Haridwar which is approximately 25
kilometres away and it is well connected with major cities like Lucknow, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Varanasi, Delhi, etc.
By Bus - Rishikesh ISBT is the nearby station which is well connected with major
cities. Here you’ll easily get the transport for the Gangotri Dham.
3. What is the best time to visit Gangotri?
September to October, is the best time to visit Gangotri Dham. At this time the weather
remains pleasant which would be good for Yatra, and it is advised to avoid yatra during
monsoon season.
4. Is Gangotri safe to visit?
Yes, it is totally safe to travel Gangotri Dham. From May-June & Sept-Oct is the perfect
& safe time to visit Gangotri. Avoid Yatra on a rainy & monsoon time because it
increases the chances of landslides and road blockage.
5. How is the road to Gangotri?
Currently the All-Weather Road project is in progress, due to which roads are not in good
condition. The project is expected to end by 2025.
6. Can we go to Gangotri by car?
Yes, you can visit Gangotri by both car & bike, but make sure you have a skilled
driver who has experience of driving on hills. And it is advised to read the
Uttarakhand hills driving guidelines before departure.
7. How can I reach Gangotri from Delhi/Rishikesh, by bus?
You have to first visit Rishikesh or Haridwar, once you can reach Haridwar/Rishikesh
you can take a direct bus to Gangotri. By chance if you miss the direct bus you can
take a shared cab or bus to Uttarkashi. From Uttarkashi you can easily get the
shared jeep to Gangotri. It would take approx. 9-10 hours.
8. How far is Gangotri from Yamunotri?
Gangotri is 258 km from Yamunotri. From Yamunotri, you have first trek to Jankichatti
then visit Barkot, Uttarkashi, and then Gangotri.
Jankichatti - 45 km - Barkot - 82Km - Uttarkashi - 100Km - Gangotri
9. Who brought Ganga on earth?
Bhagiratha brought Goddess Ganga from Heaven to the Earth.
10. What are the places near Gangotri?
Tapovan, Gaumukh, Kedartal Trek, Harsil, Nelong Valley, Uttarkashi are some of the
best places near Gangotri where you can visit.
11. How can I go from Gangotri to Gomukh?
Gomukh is 18 km from the Gangotri Dham. To reach Gomukh you have to first take
Gaumukh Trek Permit, once you take the permit, you can start your trek to Gomukh.
For Gaumukh you can also take Pony but I would suggest you avoid Pony if you can
because at some places the trails are very narrow & risky. Once you start your trek
from Gangotri, after 9 km you will reach Chirbasa and after 5km from Chirbasa, you
will reach Bhojbasa. You can stay at Bhojbasa and the next day continues your trek
to Gaumukh. Gaumukh is just 4 km from Bhojbasa.
Gangotri—9Km—Chirbasa—5km—Bhojbasa—4km—Gaumukh.
12. How do I get permission for Gaumukh Trek?
You can apply for permits online as well as offline. Since the entrance is limited to
150 people per day, you must first get a permit. This can be collected from the
permit office above the bus stand at Gangotri, or the District Magistrate Office in
Uttarkashi.
13. What are the opening & closing dates of Gangotri Dham 2025?
14. What is the Darshan timing at Gangotri Temple?
Morning - 6:15 am to 2:00 pm Evening - 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm
15. Is any registration needed to visit Gangotri?
Yes, it is mandatory for every pilgrim to get registered before starting the Yatra.
You can register yourself either online or at the counter at different locations.
You can do registration on the Biometric centers which are located in different
places Haridwar, Rishikesh, Jankichati, Gangotri, Guptkashi, Phata, etc. For this,
you only need your Aadhar Card and mobile number. And for online registration, you
can visit http://onlinechardhamyatra.in/.
16. Are accommodation facilities available at Gangotri?
In Gangotri, there are very limited options for accommodation. If you didn’t get any
accommodation then you can also take a halt in Harsil & Uttarkashi town. For more
hotels options read this - (Chardham on route Hotels)
