The Ganges is a northern Indian river that originates in a number of tiny streams in the Himalaya Mountains.
It enters the northern Indian plain near Haridwar, flows
east through Uttar Pradesh to Allahabad, where it joins the Yamuna River, and
then continues east through Bihar and West Bengal until reaching the sea at
Ganga Sagar.
The Ganges is shorter than many other major rivers at 1,560
kilometers, yet for Hindus, no river has more sacred significance.
To devout Hindus, the Ganges is more than a river; it is the
goddess Ganga, who has come down from heaven to cleanse them of all sin and
pollution.
There are no superlatives reserved for the Ganges—every drop
is hallowed, every inch along its banks is holy, and just viewing it, drinking
from it, touching it, or thinking about it confers enormous religious value.
It is also said to be the perfect location for performing
particular funeral rituals.
The Ganges has become a sacred site for Hindus because of
their dedication and regard for it.
The religious significance of the Ganges is evident in the
religious rites associated with it, as well as the several well-known
pilgrimage sites (tirtha) situated along its banks, notably Benares.
The Ganges is regarded as the model for a holy river.
Other holy rivers in India, such as the Godavari and the Cauvery, are said to "be" the Ganges, meaning that bathing (snana) in them confers the same religious blessings as bathing in the Ganges.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
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