Gangotri-Journey to the source of sacred Ganga

     Ganga is the lifeline of Indian sub-continentGaumukh.The place is so named as Ganga originates
whose water fed its territory.Ganga originates inhere from a glacier having the shape of cow's mouth.
Garhwal part of north Indian hill state of Uttarakhand.ItSurprisingly,the color of Bhagirathi here is viscous gray
has its origin in the snow-clad peaks of unparallel andand resembles milk.Gaumukh has no temple but
splendid beauty and travels hundreds of kilometers intemporary shrines are built near the mouth of
the snowy cliffs,ravines and gorges before it entersglacier.The river is about 30 meters wide at its mouth
the plains at Haridwar.It is generally said that Gangaand is swift river stream of milky water.It is believed by
originates from the cow-shaped part of Goumukhhindus that Ganga was a goddess who was
glacier near Gangaotri.The major tributaries of Gangacompelled to come to earth by the king Bhagirath who
namely Mandakini and Alkananda originates frommeditated here so that the sins of his ancestors can
Kedarnath and Badrinath respectively and pour theirbe washed by pious waters of goddess Ganga and
immense quantity of water into it.These sacred riverssince the power of Ganga was so ferocious that
infact strengthen the river Ganga and may bemighty lord Shiva was requested to take Ganga in his
considered as other sources of river Ganga as thesehairs when it fell on earth.Lord Shiva took Ganga in his
parts of Himalayas alongwith Gangotri constitutehairs and saved the earth from certain destruction.This
famous Chardham yatra(journey).At Rudraprayag,place has immense beauty.Then came next
Alknanda and Mandakini meet each other and finallydestination for real adventurers about 5 kms from
meets Bhagirathi at Devprayag and this river is namedGaumukh.It is wonderful heaven-Tapovan.From
Ganga when it reaches Rishikesh.Yamunotri meetsGaumukh one can see splendid peaks of Bhagirath-I,II
Ganga at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh,another sacredand III and grand shivling peak.The path to Tapovan is
place.The route of Gangotri from Haridwar is aspretty tough and climb is very steep but the reward is
follows-also amazing.Tapovan is a broad plateau having
     Delhi- Haridwarmeadows and sources of water.It falls in the protected
angotri. It takes 2 days of journey.area and is a wildlife sanctuary.Shivling,the phallic
               Gangotri,a sacred hindumanifestation of mighty lord Shiva seemingly arise out
pilgrimage is the source of sacred river Ganga which isof the meadow and has dominated the whole
called at that point as Bhagirathi.Gangotri is a beautifullandscape.Tapovan meadows resembling arctic
place which becomes highly crowded during thetundras are used as base camp by many expeditions
months of May-June. If you are interested in realand has great meditative significance.Tapovan is full of
wonders of nature then it is better you leave this placeexotic wild flowers during the months of monsoons
for Goumukh and Tapovan as early as possible. Paywhich have great ecological value. A fundamental
your obeisance at Gangotri temple and head towardsquestion arises when one tries to find the source of
Goumukh.It means Cow's mouth and is 18 kms trekriver Ganga. When one visits  tapovan, it became
from Gangotri having a steady but gradual climb. Nextclear that Ganga has its source somewhere else and
place is Chirbasa meaning place of pines, about 8 kmsGaumukh may not the real source –it may arise
from Gangotri and then 7 kms from Chirbasa liesfrom near tapovan or may originate from rocks of
Bhojbasa meaning place of birches though no suchshivling.It is also said that Ganga has its source in
tree exist there. Bhojbasa trees produce BhojpatraKailash mansarovar in Tibet,China. Gangotri is a must
having religious value as this was used by saints tovisit journey for all religious devotees and nature lovers.
write religious texts.These places have tea shops andCome and explore the ultimate destination of Indian
dhabas.Then came the splendid heaven ofHimalayas.