Divya Darshan 360
Gangotri Temple
Photo: Dhwani Shree, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Famous temples · Uttarakhand

Gangotri Temple

The temple of Ganga at the source of the Ganges, in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

Checked 19 Oct 2026 with 4 sources2 min read

DirectionsShare

Getting there

  • By road

    Gangotri is directly reached by motorable road. The drive from Dehradun takes about nine to ten hours, through Mussoorie, Uttarkashi and Harsil.

On the way

  • The road route from Dehradun runs through Mussoorie, Uttarkashi and Harsil to Gangotri.
  • The Gaumukh trek is 19 km through Gangotri National Park.
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Elderly visitors

  • Gangotri is directly accessible by motorable roads, which makes it easier to reach than some other Char Dham sites.
  • The drive from Dehradun takes about nine to ten hours.

Book and check

Official pages only. We do not sell darshan passes or tours.

Why devotees come here

Gangotri is a town in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, and one of the four sites of the Chota Char Dham circuit. The temple stands at about 3,100 metres and is dedicated to Ganga. The town is also the origin of the Ganges.

Gangotri is one of the four sites of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The town is the origin of the Ganges, and Hindus regard it as the seat of Ganga. Legend says Ganga came down here when Shiva released the river from the locks of his hair. Near the river is a stone where King Bhagiratha is said to have done penance to Shiva to bring the Ganga down to earth.

The temple stands at about 3,100 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas. A Gorkha commander, Amar Singh Thapa, built the first temple, and the Maharaja of Jaipur later renovated it. The temple is closed from Diwali day every year and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya. The Kapat opening date for the 2026 season was 19 April.

Festivals

This year

  • 19 April 2026Kapat opening of Gangotri Dham

    The Kapat opening date for the season, as set by the Uttarakhand registration portal.

Every year

  • Akshaya TritiyaAkshaya Tritiya

    The temple reopens on this day after closing on Diwali day each year.

Tips for your visit

  • For Char Dham yatra registration, download the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
  • Gaumukh, the source of the Ganga, is reached by a trek from Gangotri.
  • Harsil, a Himalayan village known for apple orchards and scenic landscapes, lies on the road from Dehradun.

Darshan at home

Not in the app yet

Gangotri Temple is not in the Divya Darshan 360 app yet. These Famous temples temples are, with darshan videos you can watch at home:

In the appChamundeshwari Temple, MysuruChamundi Hill, Mysuru, KarnatakaIn the appDakshineswar Kali Temple, KolkataDakshineswar, North 24 Parganas, near Kolkata, West BengalIn the appShirdi Sai Baba Temple, MaharashtraShirdi, Rahata taluka, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra
Get the appAndroid

The app is free, Android only. For darshan as if you are standing there, see the VR box (₹899, or ₹949 cash on delivery).

Questions people ask

Is Gangotri Temple open all year?

No. The temple closes from Diwali day each year and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya.

Where can I register for the Char Dham yatra?

Use the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. The Uttarakhand tourism portal also has a registration page for the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib yatra.

How far is Gaumukh from Gangotri?

The trek to Gaumukh, the source of the Ganga, is 19 km through Gangotri National Park. The trek starts from the town.

When did the 2026 season open?

The Kapat opening date for Gangotri Dham was 19 April 2026. The timings for the season are not yet published.

How we checked this page

On 19 Oct 2026 we checked every fact on this page against these sources, official ones first. Anything we could not confirm is left out.

  1. Gangotri Temple, Incredible India (Government of India) incredibleindia.gov.in
  2. Char Dham Yatra Registration, Uttarakhand Tourism (Government of Uttarakhand) registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
  3. Gangotri Dham opening on Akshaya Tritiya, Akashvani News (All India Radio) newsonair.gov.in
  4. Gangotri, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

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