Gangotri | |
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Town | |
.jpg) Gangotri | |
 Interactive map of Gangotri | |
  Gangotri Location in Uttarakhand, India Show map of Uttarakhand Gangotri Gangotri Show map of India(India) | |
| Coordinates:30°59′38″N78°56′28″E / 30.994°N 78.941°E /30.994; 78.941 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District | Uttarkashi |
| Elevation | 3,415 m (11,204 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 606 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | UK |
| Website | badrinath-kedarnath |
Gangotri is a town and aNagar Panchayat (municipality) inUttarkashi district in the state ofUttarakhand, India. It is 99 km fromUttarkashi, the main district headquarter. It is aHindu pilgrim town on the banks of the riverBhagirathi – the origin of theriver Ganges. The town is located on the GreaterHimalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). According to a popular Hindu legend, the goddessGanga descended here whenShiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair.
Gangotri is one of the four sites in theChota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. It is also the origin of the Ganges River and, per Hinduism, the seat of the goddess Ganga. The source of the Ganges River is theBhagirathi River, originating from theGangotri Glacier.[1] Once the river confluences with theAlakananda River at a town calledDevprayag it finally acquires the nameGanga.[2]
Near the river is a stone whereKing Bhagiratha performed penance toShiva in order to bring the Ganga down to earth and absolve the sins of his ancestors.[3] According to another legend,Pandavas performed the great 'Deva Yajna' here to atone the deaths of their kinsmen in the epic battle of theMahabharata. Hindus believe that performing the ancestral rites on the banks of Bhagirathi frees the spirit of the ancestor from the cycle of rebirth and a holy dip in its waters cleanses sins committed in the present also past births.[4]
The original Gangotri Temple was built by theNepalese generalAmar Singh Thapa and later restored in the 19th century.[3] The temple is closed fromDiwali day every year and is reopened onAkshaya Tritiya.[5] During this time, the idol of the goddess is kept atMukhba village, nearHarsil. Ritual duties of the temple are supervised by theSemwal family ofpujaris. These pujaris hail from Mukhba village.
According to the 2011 census of India, there are total 47 families residing in Gangotri. The total population of Gangotri is 110 out of which 97 are males and 13 are females. The literacy rate of Gangotri is 99.1%. The entire population of Gangotri identifies as Hindu.[6]
Media related toGangotri at Wikimedia Commons
Gangotri travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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