Gangotri

About Gangotri

According to the popular Hindu religion, it was RiSHI BHAGIRATH who praised Ganga with hard austerity to descend from heaven upon the earth, who urged Shiva to bear the threshold of Goddess Ganga and descend the mighty divine river from the locks of his hair. GANGA Is a River Goddess and the most sacred of all rivers, descended from Vaikuntha or heaven on Prithvi Lok or Earth. Gangotri Is the birthplace of the holy river Ganga-The Moksh-DAYANI goddess and thus Gangotri is one of the sacred Dham. The Gangotri Temple was built by the Nepalese General, Amar Singh Thapa. 
The origin of the holy river however is at Gaumukh, the sacred snout of the Gangotri Glacier, which is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name 'Ganga' after the river Alaknanda merges into it, near the town of Devaprayag. It is the second temple that falls on the Chota Char Dham route. Other than stunning surroundings, Gangotri offers a divine atmosphere.