Gangotri

Gangotri is the origin of River Ganga in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The place is also known for its scenic beauty, situated at an elevation of 3100 meter, surrounded by mighty Himalayan. 

There is shrine of Ganga. Every day thousands of Hindus visit this place to take the blessings of Ganga and to wash away their sins in the river. ( Or just dirty the water )

 

Like all Indian pilgrimage places, the temple is crowded, not very tidy. You need to walk around 1/2 km to the temple. And wait for a very very long time in the temple queue. And if you want you can also wash away your sins by dipping in ice cold water or like me just sprinkle some water on yourself - so as not to offend fellow travellers. 

Mythology: There was king called Sagara in Ikshvaku dynasty. Once he was performing Ashwamedha yaga. Indra captured this ceremonial horse and sequestered it in Patala - the nether world. 

Sagara’s 60000 sons went to Patala to release this horse from captivity. Their mayhem disturbed king Kapila who was performing penance. He got angry and by his stare, burnt all the  60000 children of Sagar to ashes. 

The responsibility of final rites of these children passed on from one king to his son until this duty fell on Bhagiratha. 

Bhagiratha prayed to goddess Ganga  and asked  her to descend down to earth. But she replied that force of her flow will play havoc on earth and wash away everything. But she said that Bhagiratha should pray to lord Shiva for his assistance. 

King Bhagirath now started praying to lord Shiva. Finally, lord Shiva arrested the flow of river Ganga in his locks. Ganga started flowing in the locks of lord Shiva for thousands of year. 

Then lord Shiva shook his hair and one drop fell on earth which became river Ganga.

River Ganga flew on the patala on the ashes of 60000 sons of Sagara and liberated them. 

Such is the persistent effort of Bhagiratha that the term “Bhagiratha prayatna “ has become synonymous with extreme, relentless hard work. 

In honour of the king, the river is called Bhagirathi in Gangotri. When it joins river Alakananda, then only it is called Ganga.