Gangotri

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

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

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, the 60000 children of Sagar were burnt to ashes. 

The responsibility of final rites of these children passed on from one king to next until this duty fell on Bhagiratha. He prayed to goddess Ganga to descend down to earth. But she replied that force of her flow will play havoc on earth and 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 was 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, it is called Ganga.