India, which boasts the river Ganga, must qualify as one of the most sacred stretches of land in the world. From it icy origin in the Himalayas, the Ganga is the spiritual lifeline of India, at once a physical and a metaphysical destination: to die on its banks is salvation; to bathe in its water is believed to be in God’s arm.
Rising in the
Himalayas and emptying into the Bay of Bengal, it drains a quarter of the territory of India, while its basin supports an immense concentration of people.There is no better way to see the Ganga than to travel up to the river’s origin, the perfect setting for which is Haridwar. Just above
Haridwar is Rishikesh, another important scared center. The Ganga does not become the Ganga until the Bhagirathi merges with the Alaknanada. At this point, nestled amidst the gorges created by the two rivers sits the town of Devprayag. Because of its vital location, Devprayag is one of the more important centers of pilgrimage.
The 100 km drive from Uttarkashi to Gangotri takes one through several breathtaking sights. The valley narrows as one nears Gangnani, as stopover with hot sulfur springs and a temple of Rishi Parashar. Nearer Gangotri is Bharonghati, where pine forests and a gushing Bhagirathi greets the tired soul. From Bhagirathi to Gangotri is a12-km stretch that affords brilliant views.
Varanasi
The city is the oldest living city of India and deeply attached with the river Ganga for religious importance. The city is the main center of Hinduism for thousands of years. On the bank of river Gange,there are several Hindu temples revered by 1000,000 pilgrims who visit the city every year. It is an ancient believe to get salvation and remit all sins if one dip in the holy water of Ganga in
Varanasi. Varanasi is also famous for Ghats (steps on the bank of river Ganga). There are at least 100 ghats in Varanasi. All the rituals, sadhus and cremation are done on it. Despite of filthy look and lack of modern charm, Varanasi still hold a mystic charm one cannot escape.
Gangotri
Gangotri is small pilgrim town on the bank of river Bhagirathi, one of the tributaries of Ganga. It is situated in the state of Uttarakhand and known as one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Gangotri is revered as a place where goddess Ganga seat. The serene ambiance of Gangotri instill a sense of spiritualism, everyday a ritual of aarti ceremony happens, which is equally impressive. From Gangotri to Gaumukh (the actual source of river Ganga) trek, which is almost 18 km affair is also popular among adventurer. Gangotri mainly serve a resting place for many tourists as from here one can venture into different treks like Gangotri-Gaumukh or Gangotri – Kedarnath.
Rishikesh
At a height of 1360 feet above the sea level,
Rishikesh represents the gateway to the Himalayas. The Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is a memorable sight. Rishikesh is also place of yogis and saints who practise penance for nirvana. The beauty at sunset from the Lakshamjhula is breathtaking. The whole ambiance around Rishikesh is purely devotional where the atmosphere is embellished with music, religious songs and ritual practices.
Haridwar
Haridwar is the place from where Ganga reaches the plain. It is an age old pilgrimage site respected and visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. Whole of Haridwar is dotted with several Hindu temples and ashrams. During the Kumbh festival on the bank of river, the place is herded with people across the world to experience a divine path. Like Varanasi, it is also known for its ghats. Har-Ki-Pauri is the main ghat where you can witness the exquisite aarti occurs in the evening.
Prayag
It is the place where Ganga merges with Yamuna, other holy river of India. Prayag in located in Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, is recognized as an ancient pilgrimage site and a famous kumbh mela occurs at every 12 years.
Invaluable Suggestions
Ganga is the holiest river in India. so while visiting Ganga and its pilgrimage site, do not show derogate gesture that affect on Hindu sentiments.
There is no conduct of dress but avoid skimpy dresses.
Ganga is India’s natural treasure and also considered as Eco-tourism spot. So maintain all the Eco-tourism norms.
River Ganga is about 1557 miles long (2506 km). The Ganges basin is about 200 to 400 miles (322 to 644 km) wide.
The river Ganga originates at Gangotri glacier on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, some 14, 000 feet above sea level.
River Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join each other at Devprayag to form River Ganga.
The mouth of River Ganga forms a vast delta, the Sundarban delta (the largest delta in the world).
