Gangotri is the one Char Dham shrine you can reach by car right to the temple gate. Three nights from Haridwar or Rishikesh, a day among deodar forests and apple orchards, and darshan of Goddess Ganga at her mountain home.
The story told at Gangotri is one of the oldest in Indian tradition. King Bhagirath performed long penance so that Goddess Ganga would descend from heaven and free the souls of his ancestors. Lord Shiva caught the falling river in his matted locks to soften her force, and she flowed out as the Bhagirathi. The stone on which the king is said to have meditated, the Bhagirath Shila, lies beside the temple.
The temple stands at 3,100 m in Uttarkashi district. The actual source of the river, the Gaumukh glacier snout, is 18 km further up the valley and needs a forest permit. For pilgrims, though, Gangotri is the dham: this is where the goddess is worshipped from Akshaya Tritiya until Annakoot, after which she moves to her winter seat at Mukhba village near Harsil.
Because a good road runs all the way, Gangotri is the easiest of the four dhams for elders and anyone who cannot trek. It is usually visited with Yamunotri in the Gangotri Yamunotri tour package, but many families who have already seen Yamunotri, or who only want a short trip, book Gangotri on its own.
Duration3 nights / 4 days
Start & endHaridwar or Rishikesh
Altitude3,100 m
AccessRoad to the temple
BaseUttarkashi (2 nights)
Winter seatMukhba
Places on the Gangotri road
The 100 km from Uttarkashi to Gangotri is one of the most scenic drives in Garhwal. Your driver will stop at the places below if time and weather allow.
Place
Distance from Uttarkashi
Why stop
Maneri
About 15 km
Dam and reservoir on the Bhagirathi
Gangnani
About 45 km
Hot spring where pilgrims bathe
Harsil
About 75 km
Deodar forests, apple orchards, riverside meadows
Mukhba
Near Harsil
Winter home of Goddess Ganga
Gangotri
100 km
Temple, ghats and Bhagirath Shila
Image space images/gangotri.jpg 800 × 600 pxGangotriImage space images/gaumukh.jpg 800 × 600 pxGaumukhImage space images/rishikesh.jpg 800 × 600 pxRishikesh
Gangotri package cost for 2027
Per person on twin or triple sharing, with four people in one private car. Breakfast, dinner, hotels and the vehicle are included.
Package
Duration
Budget
Deluxe
Luxury
Gangotri only from Haridwar / Rishikesh
3N / 4D
₹8,500
₹12,000
₹18,000
Gangotri + Yamunotri from Haridwar
5N / 6D
₹12,500
₹18,500
₹28,000
Teen Dham (Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) from Haridwar
7N / 8D
₹17,500
₹26,000
₹39,500
Estimated 2027 prices, starting from. Final quotes depend on travel dates, hotels and group size. Puja and VIP darshan are not included.
Leave after breakfast and climb past Narendranagar and Chamba, where the Tehri lake comes into view. The road then follows the Bhagirathi upstream to Uttarkashi. In the evening visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the oldest Shiva shrines in the region.
Day 2
Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Uttarkashi
100 km each way9–10 hoursNight: Uttarkashi
An early start gives you the best light in the valley. Stop at Gangnani for a dip in the hot spring and at Harsil for tea among the orchards. At Gangotri, bathe or sprinkle water at the ghat, visit the Bhagirath Shila and join the darshan queue; the evening aarti is lovely if you choose to stay later. Drive back to Uttarkashi.
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Day 3
Uttarkashi to Rishikesh
About 150 km5–6 hoursNight: Rishikesh or Haridwar
Return down the valley and reach Rishikesh by afternoon. Walk across Ram Jhula, visit the riverside temples and attend the Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan. Guests ending in Haridwar continue another 25 km.
Day 4
Departure
LocalMorningNight: Tour ends
A morning dip in the Ganga, then drop at Haridwar or Rishikesh station, the bus stand or Jolly Grant airport. Carry home Gangajal from Gangotri, which many families keep for puja through the year.
Prefer a night closer to the shrine? We can swap one Uttarkashi night for Harsil, which is quieter and only about 25 km below Gangotri. Room rates there are similar; ask when you book.
Inclusions, exclusions and hotels
Included
3 nights on twin or triple sharing
Breakfast and dinner daily (all meals on Luxury)
Private vehicle with hill driver
Fuel, tolls, parking, permits and driver allowance
Pick-up and drop in Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun airport
Help with the free yatra registration and phone support
Not included
Travel to Haridwar or Rishikesh
Gaumukh permit, guide and porters
Lunch on Budget and Deluxe
Puja and special darshan
Extra nights from landslides
Insurance and personal costs
Uttarkashi hotels cost roughly ₹1,800–5,500 a room per night, and Gangotri or Harsil stays ₹1,800–6,000. Our Gangotri hotel guide explains what each area offers.
Good to know before Gangotri
Registration: compulsory and free, online or on the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. See the registration guide.
Season: the temple usually opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Annakoot, the day after Diwali. Check opening dates.
Cold: the Bhagirathi is ice-cold even in June. Bathe quickly at the ghat and change into warm clothes.
Altitude: 3,100 m can cause headaches. Walk slowly and drink water; Uttarkashi nights help you adjust.
Gaumukh: daily permits are limited and issued by the forest department; plan two extra days.
For the ritual etiquette at the temple, including dress and photography, read the yatra do's and don'ts.
Book your Gangotri trip
Call or WhatsApp +91-99111 77951 with your dates and the number of travellers.
Choose a hotel category from the day-wise quote we send.
Pay the advance to confirm rooms and car.
Register each traveller with our help.
Meet your driver at Haridwar, Rishikesh or the airport on day 1.
Gangotri Yatra: FAQ
Is there any trek to Gangotri temple?
No. The road goes right up to Gangotri, and the temple is a short walk from the parking area. That makes it the easiest of the four dhams.
What is the cost of a Gangotri yatra package?
Estimated from ₹8,500 per person on Budget, ₹12,000 on Deluxe and ₹18,000 on Luxury, for 3 nights and 4 days with four travellers. The final quote depends on dates, hotels and group size.
How far is Gangotri from Haridwar?
About 270 km: 170 km from Haridwar to Uttarkashi and another 100 km to Gangotri.
Can I visit Gaumukh on this trip?
Gaumukh is an 18 km trek beyond Gangotri and needs a forest permit. It adds at least two days. See Char Dham with Gaumukh trek.
Where is Goddess Ganga worshipped in winter?
At Mukhba village near Harsil, after the Gangotri temple closes on Annakoot.
Can senior citizens do the Gangotri yatra?
Yes. With road access to the temple and two nights at Uttarkashi to adjust to the height, it suits most elders. Consult a doctor if anyone has heart or breathing conditions.
