1. GANGOTRI TEMPLE
BEST PLACES VISIT IN GANGOTRI Amongst the most sacred places of pilgrimage in India, Gangotri stands, the origin site of the Ganges River, called the Ganga in local parlance. Situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, the place covers an elevation of about 3,100 meters (10,200 feet) in the district of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, so it is more than a geographical location but also symbolizes a great religious significance within Hinduism. It is one of the four sites of the Char Dham Yatra besides Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Yamunotri, and has times attributed to Hindu mythology and the spirit.
Mythological Importance
The legends of Gangotri trace its origin to the ancient Hindu mythology. According to the myths, Ganga descended upon the earth from heaven because of the extreme penance that King Bhagirath had undertaken. The story points out that Bhagirath wanted to bring the holy water of the Ganges down from the heavens to purify the souls of his ancestors, who were cursed by a sage. For this purpose, he prayed to Lord Brahma for fulfilling his wish. Brahma granted him the boon and ordered Ganga to descend to earth. However, the force of Ganga’s current was so violent that it would have destroyed the world. To stop this, Lord Shiva caught Ganga in his matted locks and released her gently in streams. One of the streams formed Ganges River as known today.
2. HOLY PLACE BHUJBASA IN GANGOTRI.
BEST PLACES VISIT IN GANGOTRI The Bhujbasa region is deeply steeped into the mythological understandings of Hindus. It is believed to be sacred because it is near the birthplace of the revered Ganges River – Ma Ganga, the divine mother. According to legend, Ganga descended on earth from heaven at the request of King Bhagirath who had performed deep penance to bring the river to earth to cleanse the souls of his ancestors. Lord Shiva, fearing that this devastating torrent would ravage the Earth, caught her in his locks, with which she was released back into the world in a mild current, and flows onto the Earth as the Ganges River.
Though Bhujbasa is a remote location in itself, it represents a pivotal position of this sacred geography. Trekkers to Gaumukh make Bhujbasa not only their resting place but also a point of spirit where they can reflect and prepare for the final stretch of their journey to reach the source of this holy river.
3. GANGOTRI ( UTTARAKHAND )
BEST PLACES VISIT IN GANGOTRI Being the most sacred Hindu shrine, Gangotri is located in the state of Uttarakhand in India, at an altitude of 3,100 meters, right at the heart of the Himalayas. It forms part of the Char Dham Yatra, the four main pilgrimages along with Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. This quiet town, placed against snow-covered mountains, is famous for the river Ganga (Ganges), sacred in both its philosophical as well as cultural value in India.
Mythological Importance
According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the goddess Ganga descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri. It was due to the severe penance done by King Bhagirath that he eventually brought the divine river so that he could purify the souls of his ancestors. So, Lord Shiva captured Ganga in his matted locks to prevent the mighty river from destroying the Earth and released her with a gentle flow. It is believed that this divine event took place at Gangotri, which is an important religious site.
The Gangotri Temple is a shrine to Goddess Ganga and a center for all devotees. The temple structure, erected in the 18th century by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa, is white granite marble and simply beautiful. It remains closed from November to April due to the heavy snowfall. Pilgrims believe that the hilly waters of the Bhagirathi River, the main tributary of the Ganga River, cleanse the soul and are the way to salvation.