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गंगोत्री
Gangotri (3,100 m), Uttarakhand · 30.9940°, 78.9410°
Source-shrine of the Ganga, where the river — called Bhagirathi here — descends from the Gaumukh glacier snout 19 km upstream. The white granite temple raised by the Gorkha general Amar Singh Thapa marks where heaven's river first touched earth; each Diwali eve the deity moves down to Mukhba village for winter.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
King Bhagiratha's generations-long penance drew Ganga down to redeem his 60,000 cursed ancestors; Shiva caught her crashing descent in his matted locks and released her gently — the Bhagirath Shila near the temple marks his seat of penance.
Road from Uttarkashi; trek to Gaumukh with permits.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Gorkha/Garhwal
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…