Gangotri

2 daysBest: May–Jun, Sep–OctPilgrimage#char dham#glacier#trek

Source of the Ganga, glacier views upriver

Why this weekend?

Gangotri templeGomukh glacier trekBhagirathi river

Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The river's head
- Uttarkashi drive
- Temple darshan
- Ghat hour
- Town night
Day 2 · The source country
- Glacier walk
- Forest trails
- Harsil return

Geography & terrain

Gangotri lies in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at about 3,100 m, 100 km from Uttarkashi and 250 km from Rishikesh — the Char Dham town of the Ganga's source, its temple and the glacier's river set at the foot of the Bhagirathi's high country.

History & culture

The town's sanctity runs with the Ganga's descent — the source of the Bhagirathi at the Gangotri glacier, with the temple's tradition of the 18th-century Gorkha-era founding and the goddess's shrine; the town's role as the gateway of the Char Dham's northern circuit, with the glacier's trekking to the source and the river's holy course, gives Gangotri its place at the river's head.

Where to stay

Budget

₹800–2,000/night

Mid-range

₹2,000–4,000/night

Comfort

₹4,000+/night

Things to do

River's source
Goddess temple
Glacier country
Cedar slopes
Snow peaks

Eat & drink

Kafuli (spinach curry)
Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
Aloo ke gutke
Bal mithai (Almora sweet)

Getting there

Fly: Dehradun (DED)
Train: Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
Road from Delhi: 250–450 km depending on valley
Getting around: Shared taxis and buses on hill roads

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹4,000–9,500 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹800–4,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹500–900
Per day · Activities: ₹400–800

Month by month

Jan · Snow: −5–8°C · Snow rain
Feb · Snow: −3–10°C · Snow rain
Mar · Good: 2–14°C · Light rain
Apr · Best: 7–20°C · None rain
May · Best: 12–25°C · None rain
Jun · Good: 16–30°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 18–28°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 17–27°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Best: 14–26°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Best: 8–20°C · None rain
Nov · Cold: 2–14°C · None rain
Dec · Snow: −2–9°C · Snow rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The Char Dham season (May–Oct) opens the town — the winter's closure
The temple's queues peak at the noon — the early arrival
The altitude asks the warm layers and the steady pace

Frequently asked questions

What is Gangotri?

The Char Dham town at the source of the Ganga's headwaters.

What is there to do?

The temple, the river's ghat and the glacier's approach.

How long is the visit?

Two days of the Char Dham's north.