River Ganga is adulated as the great Mother who embraces all who approach her wholeheartedly. She washes away all the karmic anomalies that one might have accumulated, consciously or otherwise, and restores one to one’s divine perfection. No wonder worshipping her at the site of her origins carries with it a strange attraction to a devout heart. But, the spot divinely chosen by Maa Ganga to emerge from the Himalayas contains such exquisite natural wonders in its vicinity that one ought to include them too in your Gangotri Temple Yatra. 1. Harsil This quaint mountainous town lays en route one’s trail towards Gangotri Dham. In fact, many choose to make it their base for travelling till the holy shrine. The town is the ideal spot to let one dip further into the realms inner silence invites one to, supported as it is by the grandeur and majesty of external silence all around. Its enchanting apple orchards, cascading rivulets and the beautiful Bhagirathi, Majestic Mountain peaks make it appear like a dream. One need not worry about treading towards a particular checkpoint while at here. The entire village ought to be your domain of exploration, inviting you to witness the full glory of Mother Earth’s beauty. 2. Sattal Lake If treks seem to hold a particular fascination for you, do not miss trekking to Sat Tal. As the name suggests, it refers to a group of seven lakes occurring at varying altitudes. The trek can appear too steep, but the accompanying unadulterated natural beauty so away from man’s civilizing interferences makes it such an ideal haven for nature lovers. Such a heaven for those who wish to enter deep into their spiritual practice of mindfulness and meditation that one ought to experience it to know its magical effect on one’s senses. 3. Surya Kund Waterfalls, Pandav Gufa One ought to trek a bit further ahead of the Gangotri shrine to reach the enigmatic surya kund waterfalls. It is at a distance of 1 km from the temple. While a trail through Deodar trees for about 1.5-2 hours would take you till the natural cave of Pandav Gufa. The azure blue sky, sights of sky-touching peaks and the towering trees rooted deep into the bosom of Mother Earth makes you feel at home all along the way. 4. Gaumukh Glacier and Nelong Valley in Gangotri National Park One needs to obtain prior permission to enter Gangotri National Park owing to its location in ecologically sensitive area. The actual site of origin of Ganga River at Gaumukh Glacier is located within its terrain. As if its diverse flora, fauna, topography and bearing the geographical origin of India’s most revered river is not enough, the park also boasts of Nelong Valley among its chief attractions. The steep ascent till the high-altitude valley has one trailing along Neel Ganga (Jadh Ganga) whose exceptionally clear and turquoise waters justify its name. The Park has only been recently opened to domestic tourists following its closure due to Indo-China war in 1962. It takes additional permits to trek till Nelong valley. Among the more daredevil in spirit, some tend to trek further ahead of Gaumukh glacier to go till Tapovan or Nandvan. If the proposition appeals to you, ensure that you are adequately prepared and have good guides accompanying you. 5. Bhairon Ghati The beautiful Shiva Temple at Bhairon Ghati is engulfed in rich, green Himalayan vegetation. Bhairon Ghati witnesses merger of Bhagirathi River with Neel Ganga. About 3 km ahead, the quaint town of Lanka chatty boasts of Asia’s highest bridge at a whopping height of 2789 m above sea level.
Gangnani, Kedar Tal, Maneri, Dodi Tal etc. form some other attractions that surround the sanctity inspired by Gangotri. In short, there’s as much to explore and indulge in around Gangotri as to one’s heart’s delight.
0 Comments
|
AuthorRead our Tour My India blog to find vacation packages or travel destinations in India. Tour My India Blog is one of the best Indian travel blog where people share their travel experience to various tourist destinations in India. Archives
December 2023
Categories |