Gangotri National Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Vasuki Tal or Vasuki Taal is a high glacial lake situated at an impressive altitude of 14,200 feet above sea level in Kedarnath Dham of Uttarakhand. One can spot Brahma Kamal and other Himalayan flowers blooming around the placid lake, making the aura divine.

Gomukh, also known as "Gaumukh is the terminus or pout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi River, one of the primary headstreams of the Ganges River. The place is situated at a height of 13,200 ft . It is one of the largest in the Himalayas with an estimated volume of over 27 cubic kilometers. It is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site, along with Gangotri, as well as trekking destination.

Kalindi pass, or Kalindi khal is a high altitude mountain pass connecting Gangotri and Gastoli. It is situated at 5,950 metres elevation, makes it the highest pass in the world and forms the most famous trekking pass of the Garhwal Himalaya. The pass is heavily glaciated. The glacier west of the pass flows into the Gangotri Glacier which forms the source of the Ganges.

Meru peak lies in the Garhwal Himalayas in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. “Meru” is a sanskrit word for spine, that attributes the shape of this mountain. The phenomenal height of Meru peak stands upright between Thalay Sagar and Shivling. Other than the tallest southern elevation of 6,600 m, this enormous mountain has two more peaks i.e central (6,310 m) and northern (6,450 m) that altogether gives it the shape of a shark’s fin.

Gangotri, the origin of the River Ganges and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga (the Ganges) from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda. The origin of the holy river is at Gomukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri.

Kēdārnāth Mandir (Kedarnath Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, Kedarnath is located in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open to the general public only between the months of April and November. During the winters, the vigraha from Kedarnath temple is carried down to Ukhimath and where the deity is worshiped for the next six months.