Gangotri Temple (Shri Ganga Mata Mandir)
Gangotri, Uttarkashi district, on the Bhagirathi river (approx. 99–100 km from Uttarkashi) · Goddess Ganga (Ganga Mata), the river goddess, with Bhagiratha, Yamuna, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Annapurna and Shiva
The white-granite temple of Mother Ganga where King Bhagiratha is said to have brought the river down from heaven; the second Dham of the Char Dham yatra.
Gangotri is the shrine of the goddess Ganga at about 3,100 m (sources range from about 3,100 to 3,400 m), where the Bhagirathi – the main source stream of the Ganga – flows past in a narrow gorge. The actual glacier source, Gaumukh, is about 18–19 km further up. The temple is reachable by road. It opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes on the day after Diwali (Annakoot/Govardhan Puja), when the goddess's image is taken to her winter home at Mukhba village near Harsil. In 2026 it opened on 19 April and the closing was reported for 10 November.
Timings
- Season 2026: Opened 19 April 2026; closing reported for 10 November 2026 (Govardhan Puja/Annakoot)
- Temple open (summer): approx. 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 3:00 – 9:00 PM; check locally
- Morning aarti: approx. 6:00 AM (Mangala Aarti)
- Evening aarti: approx. 7:00 – 8:00 PM (time shifts with sunset)
- Winter seat: Mukhba (Mukhimath) village near Harsil, approx. 20–25 km
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Ganga Aarti (morning and evening) – Free to attend (approx. 6:00 AM and 7:00–8:00 PM)
- Ganga Puja / Snan Sankalp – Varies (dakshina to the priest) (Daytime at the ghats)
- Pind daan / tarpan – Varies (Daytime)
How to book darshan
There is no online seva booking for Gangotri. What you must book is the free Char Dham yatra registration; pujas are arranged with priests on the spot.
Dress code
No formal dress code; modest clothes. It is cold even in summer – carry a jacket.
Best time to visit
May–June and September–October. July–August has landslides on the Uttarkashi–Gangotri road.
How to reach
- air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, approx. 250 km.
- rail: Rishikesh/Dehradun approx. 230–250 km.
- road: Rishikesh → Chamba → Tehri/Dharasu → Uttarkashi → Gangnani → Harsil → Bhairon Ghati → Gangotri. Motorable to the temple; the last stretch is narrow and slide-prone.
Festivals
- Opening on Akshaya Tritiya – April/May (19 April 2026)
- Ganga Dussehra – May/June
- Closing on Annakoot – Day after Diwali (10 Nov 2026 reported)