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Uttarakhand Char Dham

Gangotri: the seat where the Ganga is worshipped as a goddess, at 3,100 metres

Perched on the right bank of the Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi district, Gangotri is the spiritual source of the Ganga and one of the four shrines of Uttarakhand's Chota Char Dham. The white Katyuri-style temple, first raised by the Gorkha general Amar Singh Thapa, opens only for roughly six months a year. When heavy snow seals the valley, the goddess is carried down to Mukhba village and the doors here stay shut until Akshaya Tritiya. This is a working pilgrimage guide: when to come, how the darshan and aarti run, what to wear at altitude, and where to sleep.

The white Gangotri temple beside the Bhagirathi river flowing through the Himalayan valleyPhoto: Dhwani Shree, via Wikimedia Commons (Wiki Loves Earth 2016)
Darshan
Approx 6:15 AM to evening, seasonal (Apr/May to Diwali)
Entry
Free; no ticket for darshan
Nearest railhead
Rishikesh, approx 250 km
Signature
Spiritual source of the Ganga, 3,100 m altitude
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Gangotri

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
Open season, mornings (Apr/May to Nov)Approx 6:15 AMMangala aarti and morning darshanContinues through middayOpen
Open season, eveningsReopens after bhogEvening darshan and Ganga aarti near sunsetApprox 9:30 PMOpen
Winter (approx Nov to Apr)Closed at GangotriDeity worshipped at Mukhba villageReopens Akshaya TritiyaClosed
Verify before you travel. Exact daily open and close times are set by the temple committee each season and shift with sunrise and sunset; treat the times above as approximate and confirm locally or via the Char Dham helpline before travel. The shrine physically closes for winter on Diwali (around early November 2026) and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya (around late April 2026).

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Gangotri Temple

Gangotri is the deepest of the four Char Dham shrines to reach and sits at the very end of the motorable road on the Bhagirathi valley. There is no railway or airport anywhere near it; every pilgrim arrives by a long mountain drive from the plains, usually staged over one or two days through Uttarkashi.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
AirJolly Grant Airport, DehradunApprox 230 kmNearest airport; then a full day by road via Uttarkashi. Helicopter charters to the Gangotri valley operate seasonally but are weather-dependent.
RailRishikesh / Haridwar / DehradunApprox 250 km (Rishikesh)Rishikesh is the nearest convenient railhead; Haridwar and Dehradun have more long-distance trains. No line goes beyond the foothills.
Road (base town)UttarkashiApprox 100 kmThe main staging town with hospitals, ATMs and buses. Most pilgrims overnight here or at Harsil before the final climb.
Road (from plains)Rishikesh via NH 34 / UttarkashiApprox 250 kmShared jeeps, GMOU buses and taxis run in season. The road is narrow and prone to landslides in monsoon; start early and avoid night driving.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Mangala aarti and temple openingApprox 6:15 AM
  • Abhishek and morning darshan of the Ganga idolMorning
  • Rajbhog and offerings; brief pause in the sanctumAround midday
  • Ganga aarti on the riverbank, the day's spiritual high pointNear sunset
  • Shayan aarti and closing for the nightApprox 9:30 PM
The riverside Ganga aarti at dusk, with lamps floated on the Bhagirathi, is the signature ritual; unlike the huge Haridwar and Varanasi aartis this one is small and intense. Aarti timings move with daylight and the temple committee's schedule, so the times shown are approximate.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees. Traditional Indian wear is ideal for the sanctum.

Carry serious warm clothing. At 3,100 m it is cold even in summer, and mornings and nights near freezing; a fleece or jacket is essential year-round.

Remove footwear and leather items before entering the temple.

This is a fragile high-Himalayan glacial zone: do not litter, avoid plastic, and do not use soap or shampoo in the Bhagirathi.

Acclimatise and carry basic altitude and cold precautions; the thin air affects the elderly and those with heart or breathing conditions.

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

Gangotri is only reachable and open for about six months, from Akshaya Tritiya to Diwali. Within that window, choose your dates around the monsoon, which brings landslides to this valley.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
Akshaya Tritiya (temple opening)Around late April 2026The doors reopen for the year and the idol returns from Mukhba in a ceremonial doli procession. Highly auspicious and very crowded. Peak
Ganga DussehraMay or June (Jyeshtha)Celebrates the descent of the Ganga from heaven to earth; one of the most sacred days to bathe in and worship the river. Peak
Ganga Saptami (Ganga Jayanti)April or May (Vaishakha)Marks the birth of the Ganga; special abhishek and worship at the shrine.
Diwali / temple closingAround early November 2026The last darshan of the season before the goddess is carried down to Mukhba for winter and the shrine is sealed. Peak

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Yamunotri

Yamunotri

The Ganga's sister shrine and the first of the Uttarakhand Char Dham, at the source of the Yamuna.

Approx 230 km by road from Gangotri →
Kedarnath

Kedarnath

The high Shiva jyotirlinga of the Char Dham, reached by a Himalayan trek from Gaurikund.

Approx 250 km by road from Gangotri →
Badrinath

Badrinath

The Vishnu shrine that completes the four Char Dham of Uttarakhand.

Approx 240 km by road from Gangotri →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

"Most pilgrims sleep in Gangotri town itself, which has GMVN tourist rest houses, dharamshalas, ashrams and modest guesthouses within walking distance of the temple; book ahead in peak season as options are basic and limited. Many prefer to break the journey at Harsil (approx 25 km before, a quiet deodar-forest hamlet with hotels and homestays) or at Uttarkashi (approx 100 km, the largest base town). Gangnani, with its hot spring, and Bhatwari are smaller stops on the way up. Accommodation is simple mountain lodging, not luxury; carry cash as digital payment and ATMs are unreliable beyond Uttarkashi."

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

Gangotri temple timings today
In the open season the temple runs roughly from about 6:15 AM, through the day, to about 9:30 PM, with a brief midday pause for bhog. Exact times shift with the season and sunset, so confirm locally. From around Diwali to Akshaya Tritiya it is closed entirely.
Nearest railway station to Gangotri
Rishikesh is the nearest convenient railhead, approximately 250 km away, followed by Haridwar and Dehradun. From there it is a long road journey via Uttarkashi; no railway reaches the shrine itself.
Is Gangotri open in winter (December to April)?
No. Gangotri shrine closes for winter around Diwali and stays shut through the snow-bound months. The goddess is worshipped at Mukhba village near Harsil, and the temple reopens on Akshaya Tritiya, around late April.
When does Gangotri temple open in 2026?
It is expected to reopen on Akshaya Tritiya, around late April 2026 (the exact date is announced by the temple committee each year). It closes again around Diwali in early November 2026.
How far is Gangotri from Rishikesh by road?
About 250 km, a full day of driving on narrow mountain roads via Uttarkashi. Most pilgrims break the journey overnight at Uttarkashi or Harsil rather than driving it in one push.

Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Gangotri · Wikimedia Commons: Gangotri image file (photo license) · Euttaranchal: Gangotri Temple · Uttarakhand Tourism (official): Gangotri. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.