Gomukh or Gaumukh is the terminus of the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state of India , from where the Bhagirathi River originates, a major headwater of the Ganges River. Situated at 4,023 metres (13,200 ft), it is a sacred site and pilgrimage in Hinduism . It is about 18 km from Gangotri settlement and is a popular hiking trail for tourists. There is a tourist bungalow at Bhojbasa , 14 km from Gomukh, which provides accommodation and food for tourists. In 1972, the then Prime Minister of Mauritius , Seewoosagur Ramgoolam , took water from here and added it to the volcanic lake Grond Bassen in Mauritius, also known as Ganga Talab , which is a Hindu pilgrimage site.
One of the char dhams (the most sacred pilgrimage circuits in northern India with four holy destinations), Gangotri, in Uttarkashi, is a small town with the temple of Goddess Ganga at its heart. A 12-hour drive from Rishikesh, Gangotri is nestled among lofty Garhwal Himalayan peaks, glaciers and dense forests, and is one of highest pilgrimages in India (approx 3,415 m). Other than its divine atmosphere, Gangotri offers stunning vistas all around. According to Hindu legends, the most sacred of all rivers, Ganges (or Ganga), descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri, when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his locks. The actual origin of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 km away from Gangotri and is accessible by trekking. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name 'Ganga' after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devaprayag. Kapat is open now for darshan.
4 окт 2024
