Gangotri Weather Update by Manchala Mushafir

Gangotri Temple is a revered Hindu pilgrimage site located in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi District, situated at an altitude of 3100 meters in the Greater Himalayan Ranges. Gangotri serves as the mythological place of the goddess Ganga and the origin of the sacred Bhagirathi river, which is the main source of the sacred river Ganges. Gangotri Temple is a part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit of Uttarakhand, surrounded by majestic peaks which offer a chance to experience high-altitude trekking. It\'s important Gangotri glacier is melting rapidly due to climate change and human impact which poses environmental risks. This was built in the 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa and renovated by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple opened for 6 months (May to October) and closed for the remaining 6 months due to the harsh winter season (October Last week to April), and during this winter period, the idol of the Gangotri temple shifted to Mukwa village to continue worshipping goddess Ganges during the winter period. The Gangotri region also features sacred Kunds and springs like Surya Kund, where devotees visit and perform the purification rituals, which shows the spiritual importance of the Ganges waters.