The
picturesque pilgrimage in the hinter lands of the Himalayas is the most
sacred spot where
Ganga, the stream of life, touched earth
for the first time.
According to mythology, Goddess Ganga - the daughter of heaven, manifested
herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of king
Bhagirath's
predecessors, following his severe penance of several centuries.
Lord Shiva received into his matted locks to minimize the
immense impact of her fall. She came to be called Bhagirathi at her
legendary source. Along the right bank of Bhagirathi stands the shrine of
Gangotridedicated to the Goddesss. Perched at a height of
3.042 mts., it was constructed in the early 18th century by a Gorkha
Commander, Amar Singh Thapa.
The snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the
Bhagirathi river. Pilgrims trek upto the sacred spot on foot or on ponies to
take a holy dip in ice-cold water.
