History of Gangotri Dham

Situated on the banks of the roaring Bhagirathi river in the district of Uttarkashi is the gleaming white humble temple of Gangotri. As the name suggests this ancient temple is dedicated to goddess Ganga and is steeped in an incredible spiritual aura and religious values. Perched on an elevation of 3,100 metres above sea level this place is also surrounded by mesmerizing beauty of the raw untouched upper Himalayas. There are several historical accounts and mythological instances surrounding this place which makes it truly one of a kind.

Mythologies and Legends about Gangotri

As per our rich Hindu mythological accounts Gangotri is one of the most pious parts of India as this the place where ganga river is said to have taken birth t wash away the sins of the devotees and grant them moksha or salvation after their passing. Some legends are:

Legend 1 –King Sagar, who is said to have performed Ashwamedha Yajna had sent out his 60,000 sons out looking for the lost horse. It was later on then discovered at sage Kapila’s hermitage who in getting discovered turned all his sons into ashes. Later on with the passing of king Sagar, Bhagirath became the new king and his kingdom was not doing well. On advice from his very trusted priest he decided to go to Gangotri and meditate to goddess Ganga to come down to earth and wash away the sins of the departed souls of his ancestral relatives. She heard his plea and descended from her heavenly realm to earth. The Bhagirathi shila present behind the temple is where king Bhagirath had meditated and the Bhagirathi River goes on to form the most important sacred river of India – Ganga.

Legend 2 –Ganga River has also played a significant role in the legendary Hindu epic book Mahabharata. It is said that goddess Ganga had taken a human form and descended to earth and had gotten married to king Shantanu, a very powerful and famous ancestor of the Pandavas clan. Together they had 7 children who were all thrown into Ganga river n their birth in a very weird act of behavior which didn’t bode well with her husband king Shantanu. He did not allow her to do the same with their 8th child and saved him. This child later on grew up to be Bhishma who plays a very significant role throughout the epic.

Historical Account of Gangotri Temple

The temple was not there initially built was later on constructed by the ace Gurkha leader Amar Singh Thapa who not only got the whole temple made but also repaired the road leading up to the temple for the convenience of the travelers. He utilized the Katyuri style of architecture for the temple’s construction and even got 3 or 4 huts built around the complex for the pilgrims to stay in. after him Adi Shankaracharya is credited with making it a hub for pilgrimage tourism by including it in the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand and one of the ways to attaining moksha or salvation.

What to See in Gangotri?

Apart from the temple one can go around and see a number of places of religious importance and scenic values. Some of them are:

Underwater Shivling –As the name suggests, this Shivling remains submerged in water for a majority time of the year and can only be seen as the water level recedes back. This is said to be the exact place where Lord Shiva is said to have sat as he tied up Ganga River all in his matted hair. This act divided the force of Ganga and saved the earth from ultimate destruction.

Gaumukh Trek –Apart from the pilgrim part, the Gaumukh trek is also a huge attraction for avid adventurers. This glacier is the starting point for the holy Ganga River. It takes around 3-4 days for a beginner to complete this testing trekking adventure. The trek in itself is extremely beautiful and surrounded by lush green meadows.

Bhairon Nath Temple –Around 10 km going downstream from Gangotri Dham Temple, is the temple of Bhairon Nath. This place is dedicated to the protector of the region as allotted by lord Shiva. It is also a part of the ritual to visit this temple just after a visit of Gangotri Dham Temple.