Gangotri is a sacred location (tirtha) in the Himalayas, located near the headwaters of the Bhagirathi River, one of the Ganges' Himalayan tributaries.
Although the river's real source is the glacier at Gaumukh,
some twelve miles upstream, Gangotri is considered the Ganges' rite of passage.
Due to its high elevation, it is only accessible from late
April to October, after which it closes for the winter months.
The river itself is a sacred site in Gangotri, where
pilgrims wash (snana) in the freezing waters.
The temple to the goddess Ganga, erected around 250 years
ago by the Gurkha ruler Amar Singh Thapa and rebuilt by the royal line of
Jaipur in the late nineteenth century, is the other focal point.
A big stone slab beside the riverside is claimed to be where
the sage Bhagirath undertook his austerities to bring the Ganges down to earth.
Gangotri is regarded extremely sacred, as are other spots
where the Ganges makes a changeover.
Its sacredness is enhanced by the fact that it is difficult
to reach and only open during the summer months.
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